Patent · US Expired

Slew rate control and optimization of power consumption in a power stage

US5656969A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
14References
24Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 24, 1995
Grant dateAug 12, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 24, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K2217/0036
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Power consumption by the driving circuitry of an output stage, employing a slew-rate controlling operational amplifier, is reduced by modulating the level of the current output by the operational amplifier in function of the working conditions of the output stage. Switching delay may also be effectively reduced. An auxiliary current generator forces an additional current through the conducting one of the pair of input transistors of the operational amplifier only during initial and final phases of a transition, essentially when the slew rate control loop ceases to be effective. The boosting of the bias current through the conducting input transistor is determined by the degree of unbalance of the differential input stage of the operational amplifier, without the use of dissipative sensing elements.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.