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:
Aug. 02, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 08, 2008
William J. Mcintyre, Wheatland, CA (US);
John Philip Parry, Grass Valley, CA (US);
Nathanael Griesert, Grass Valley, CA (US);
William J. McIntyre, Wheatland, CA (US);
John Philip Parry, Grass Valley, CA (US);
Nathanael Griesert, Grass Valley, CA (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A circuit and method for charging a super capacitor to an optimal voltage that provides a desired flash diode current value while minimizing power dissipation in circuit elements other than the flash diode. One embodiment uses periodic sampling of the current through the flash diode and termination of the charging upon the super capacitor having been charged to a voltage value that produces the desired flash diode current. Another embodiment includes a current regulator in the flash diode firing circuit that keeps the current at a substantially constant level during the time that the flash diode is being fired.