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:
Oct. 29, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 12, 2000
Joseph C. Buxton, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Paul R. Collanton, Jr., Fremont, CA (US);
Analog Devices, Inc., Norwood, MA (US);
Abstract
A failure detection scheme for switching voltage regulators senses a parameter which normally transitions above and below a predetermined threshold during each clock cycle. A decision circuit tracks the sensed parameter, and toggles an output when the sensed parameter transitions normally. A counter counts clock cycles, and toggles its output when a predetermined number is reached. The counter also has a reset input which receives the output of the decision circuit, and is reset to an initial value when the decision circuit output toggles. If the sensed parameter fails to transition normally, the reset input is not toggled and the count value increments with each clock cycle. If the failure persists for the predetermined number of clock cycles, the counter output toggles to indicate a failure, enabling the failed regulator to be repaired or replaced before additional failures occur.