Circuit for controlling current in an adapter card
US5572395A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 1993 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H9/004
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A circuit embodied within an adapter card for hot-plugging with a card slot in a card slot coupled to a processor based system utilizes a biasing circuit for ensuring that the input voltage to the load of the adapter card is of a sufficient magnitude. The circuit also includes a FET/feedback circuit for opening and closing the circuit provided between the input voltage to the adapter card and the load. This FET/feedback circuit operates as a constant current source to charge the input capacitance of the load and converts to a switched mode when the load capacitance is fully charged. The biasing circuit controls the FET/feedback circuit so that it remains open during hot-plugging of the adapter card into the card slot to alleviate pin arching. A monitor/timer circuit prevents the FET/feedback circuit from operating in the constant-current mode for no longer than a predetermined amount of time. A latch circuit is provided to turn off the FET within the FET/feedback circuit upon sensing of a transient current through the load.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.