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:
Apr. 16, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 31, 2010
Roberto LA Rosa, Catania, IT;
Massimo Michele Antonio Sorbera, Valverde, IT;
Roberto La Rosa, Catania, IT;
Massimo Michele Antonio Sorbera, Valverde, IT;
STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
An embodiment of a driving device is proposed for supplying at least one regulated global output current to a load. The driving device includes programming means for programming a value of the global output current within a global current range. Reference means are provided for supplying a reference voltage, which has a value corresponding to the value of the global output current. Conversion means are then used for converting the reference voltage into the global output current. In the driving device according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the conversion means include a plurality of conversion units for corresponding partial current ranges, which partition the global current range. Each conversion unit is adapted to convert the reference voltage into a partial output current that contributes to the global output current, with the partial output current that is within the corresponding partial current range. The driving device further includes control means for selectively enabling the conversion units according to the partial current range wherein the global output current falls and for controlling the reference voltage so as to swing in a partial voltage range for each partial current range (with the partial voltage ranges that are at least partly superimposed).