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:
Sep. 13, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 26, 2008
Nathanael Griesert, Grass Valley, CA (US);
Damian Swank, Rocklin, CA (US);
Nathanael Griesert, Grass Valley, CA (US);
Damian Swank, Rocklin, CA (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A circuit for monitoring the inductance value of a switching regulator is provided. The circuit includes an inductance sensor circuit that is coupled to a switch node of a switching regulator. The inductor sensor circuit includes a switch, a ramp circuit, and a comparison circuit. The switch is arranged to receive a switch control signal that is based, at least in part, on a switching signal of the switching regulator. When the switch control signal is asserted, the comparison circuit receives a comparison input voltage that is based, at least in part, on the inductance value of the switching regulator. The comparison circuit compares the comparison input voltage to a ramp voltage of the ramp circuit and outputs a signal indicative of whether the inductance value of the switching regulator is at or below a predetermined threshold inductance value.