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. 26, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 17, 2006
Michael Eugene Broach, San Mateo, CA (US);
Michael D. Mulligan, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Michael Eugene Broach, San Mateo, CA (US);
Michael D. Mulligan, Palo Alto, CA (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A system, apparatus and method is arranged to adaptively adjust drive signals for a gate controlled switch circuit such that the amount of gate swing automatically changes based on the load conditions. An adaptive gate charge modulation (GCM) technique can be utilized to dynamically adjust the drive signals so that a substantially constant voltage drop is perceived across to a gate controlled switch circuit. The voltage drop across the gate controlled switch circuit can be set to a reference level that is adjusted whenever a change in system conditions are detected. The gate charge can then be adaptively increased and decreased during operation, within maximum and minimum limits, to substantially match the voltage drop of the gate control switch circuit to the reference level.