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. 01, 2014
Filed:
Mar. 07, 2011
Reda R. Razouk, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Peter J. Hopper, San Jose, CA (US);
Reda R. Razouk, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Peter J. Hopper, San Jose, CA (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
An optically-controlled shunt (OCS) circuit includes a switch and a light sampler. The light sampler is coupled to the switch and is configured to sample light at a photovoltaic (PV) cell corresponding to the OCS circuit and to turn on the switch when the sampled light comprises insufficient light for the PV cell. The light sampler may also be configured to turn off the switch when the sampled light comprises sufficient light for the PV cell. The light sampler may further be configured to partially turn on the switch when the sampled light comprises adequate light for the PV cell and to turn off the switch when the sampled light comprises full light for the PV cell. The switch could include a transistor, and the light sampler could include a photodiode.