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. 20, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 30, 2008
Karl Thompson, Converse, TX (US);
John L. Melanson, Austin, TX (US);
John Paulos, Austin, TX (US);
Mauro Gaetano, Austin, TX (US);
Karl Thompson, Converse, TX (US);
John L. Melanson, Austin, TX (US);
John Paulos, Austin, TX (US);
Mauro Gaetano, Austin, TX (US);
Cirrus Logic, Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
A power control system and method senses input and/or output voltages of a power supply using sense currents in order for an integrated circuit (IC) switch state controller to generate a control signal to control a switch of the power control system. By sensing sense currents, the power control system can eliminate at least one sense resistor used in a voltage sense system. The sense current(s) can be used to provide power and sensing to the switch state controller. In at least one embodiment, the sense current(s) provide power to the switch state controller when auxiliary IC power is unavailable or diminished, such as during start-up of the IC. In at least one embodiment, the IC draws more sense current from an input of the power control system than the output of the power control system to, for example, minimize impact on the output voltage of the power supply.