The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 03, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 21, 2001
Randhir Singh Malik, Cary, NC (US);
William Hemena, Raleigh, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A circuit for limiting inrush current to a power source is disclosed. The circuit includes a low voltage drop semiconductor device coupled to the power source and a resistor coupled in parallel with the low voltage drop semiconductor device. The circuit further includes a diode coupled in parallel with the resistor and an AC detector coupled to the low drop semiconductor device. The AC detector controls the low voltage drop semiconductor device in a manner such that when power is applied to the power source the inrush current to the power source is minimized. The low voltage drop semiconductor device is utilized in conjunction with an AC detector to simultaneously reduce transistor power dissipation and reduce the detrimental effects of inrush current. By reducing the transistor power dissipation as well as the detrimental effects of inrush current, a significant improvement in the overall efficiency of the circuit is achieved.