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:
Jan. 07, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 02, 2001
Gregory J. Smith, Tucson, AZ (US);
Francisco J. Guerrero Mercado, Landsberg am Lech, DE;
National Seminconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
An electronic circuit produces a measurement signal and a regulated power supply from a single common connection to a raw power supply signal. The electronic circuit can be used as a module in a power control circuit, such as a circuit for charging a battery cell. In an integrated circuit (IC), the electronic circuit has a single pin connection for accepting signals or connecting to elements external to the IC. The electronic circuit sub-regulates the potential at the common connection or node using a voltage regulator. The electronic circuit produces a measurement signal that corresponds to a potential of the unregulated power supply. A sense circuit measures a potential drop from the common connection to an internal node of the electronic circuit. The measurement signal corresponds to the drop in potential. The raw power supply signal can be calculated from examining the measurement signal. The measurement signal can be used by another circuit to generate one or more control signals. The control signals can then be used for applications in other circuits. One example of the application of the electronic circuit is in the charging circuit for a battery cell. The control signals can be used to regulate the rate and amount of charge delivered to the battery cell during charging.