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:
Jul. 15, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 30, 1999
STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A method is provided for driving a load in a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode as a function of numeric command values having a predetermined number of N-bits. The method includes the step of incrementing by more than a unit the number of bits on which a selected command value is mapped, wherein a unit equals N-bits plus a plurality of additional bits. The N most significant bits of the selected command value are converted. The plurality of additional bits are decoded by generating a corresponding plurality of intermediate levels of variation in the duty cycle. Each intermediate level has a duration of half a clock period and produces a plurality of signals out of phase among each other by half a clock period. A driving PWM signal is generated by multiplexing the signals out of phase among each other by half a clock period, and carrying out logic combinations of these signals as a function of a most significant bit of the selected command value and as a function of the plurality of additional bits.