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:
Mar. 01, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 24, 2008
Charles A. Casey, West Kingston, RI (US);
Federico Piccitto, Ragusa, IT;
Paolo Nora, Belgioioso, IT;
Marcello Criscione, Ragusa, IT;
Charles A. Casey, West Kingston, RI (US);
Federico Piccitto, Ragusa, IT;
Paolo Nora, Belgioioso, IT;
Marcello Criscione, Ragusa, IT;
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus, such as a Buck converter system, for generating an output voltage while at the same time monitoring whether an overload or over current condition occurs at the output, and protecting the system if the overload or over current condition occurs. The apparatus includes a first circuit adapted to monotonically change a control voltage from a first voltage (e.g., approximately ground potential) towards a second voltage (e.g., a reference voltage V); a second circuit adapted to generate the output voltage based on the control voltage; a third circuit adapted to detect whether a magnitude of an output current exceeds a current threshold; and a fourth circuit adapted to change the control voltage from the second voltage towards the first voltage in response to the third circuit detecting that the magnitude of the output current exceeds the current threshold.