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:
Jun. 05, 2012
Filed:
Oct. 29, 2009
W. David Pace, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Robert H. Bell, Tempe, AZ (US);
Steven L. Harris, Chandler, AZ (US);
W. David Pace, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Robert H. Bell, Tempe, AZ (US);
Steven L. Harris, Chandler, AZ (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A method includes generating a drive signal for a transistor in a switching regulator. The drive signal turns the transistor on and off to generate a regulated output voltage. The drive signal is generated based on a clock signal. The method also includes dynamically decreasing a frequency of the clock signal to decrease a dropout voltage of the switching regulator. Dynamically decreasing the frequency of the clock signal can increase a duration of switching periods defined by the clock signal. The dropout voltage could have a first value proportional to T/Tduring shorter switching periods and a second value proportional to T/Tduring longer switching periods. Trepresents a minimum amount of off-time for the transistor during each switching period, Trepresents a maximum amount of on-time for the transistor during shorter switching periods, and Trepresent a maximum amount of on-time for the transistor during longer switching periods.