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:
May. 09, 2006
Filed:
Nov. 07, 2003
Michael Eugene Broach, San Mateo, CA (US);
Michael Eugene Broach, San Mateo, CA (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method measures parameters associated with an inductor such as in a switching converter. The inductance value can be determined by monitoring voltages and currents associated with the inductor when a measurement mode is activated. In one example, the measurement is provided by a signal processing system that includes an analog differentiator. In another example, the measurement is provided by a signal processing system that converts the analog measurement voltages into digital quantities that are analyzed in the digital domain. The value of the inductance value is determined by calculating of ΔVand ΔI/Δt. The saturation point in the inductance is located by measuring the change in slew rate of the inductance during the measurement mode. Average values for the inductor and the slew rate can be determined using digital techniques. Other parameters such as current limit and on-time of the inductor can be adjusted by this methodology.