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:
Apr. 20, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 01, 1999
Rick D. Giles, Sandy, UT (US);
Tim Urry Price, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
3Com Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A power management circuit for use in a terminal interface device such as a modem which converts available line side power into usable power for use by the terminal interface device to activate a variety of line status indicators. These line status indicators signaling the off-hook status of the terminal interface device, low line side power, or the presence of excessive line current. The line status indicators draw power from the available line side power without placing a burden on the attached digital device or its power source. Certain line status indicators utilize flasher/oscillator circuits to increase the functionality of the line status indicators by providing a frequency based pulse to more accurately describe the operating environment of the circuit. The power management circuit is additionally comprised of a voltage regulator which, when a terminal interface device becomes operational, is enabled and regulates available voltage and current into usable power as available from the interfacing communication network. The preferred embodiment of the power management circuit is further comprised of a programmable hold current sink which enables a terminal interface device incorporating the power management circuit to be compatible with multiple communication networks having diverse hold current specifications.