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:
May. 29, 2012
Filed:
Jan. 12, 2010
Roberto Alini, Dublin, CA (US);
Roberto Casiraghi, Milan, IT;
Roberto Alini, Dublin, CA (US);
Roberto Casiraghi, Milan, IT;
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A driver and capacitance measuring circuit includes a voltage source that selectively generates an output voltage at a first node during a driver mode to alter a capacitance of a device that is connected to the first node and that has a variable capacitance. A current source selectively provides one of a charging and discharging current at the first node during a measurement mode. A capacitance calculating circuit samples a voltage at the first node during the measurement node, determines a voltage change rate of the first node during the measurement mode and calculates the capacitance of the device based on the voltage change rate and a value of the one of the charging and discharging current.