Driver circuit providing controllable battery overload protection
US5744984A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 28, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/60
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A driver circuit (100) is utilized to drive a high current load (116) in an electronic device powered by a battery (118) having a terminal voltage which varies in relation to a level of energy being consumed. The driver circuit (100) includes a differential amplifier (110) which is responsive to a predetermined reference voltage and to the terminal voltage for generating a drive control signal which proportionally reduces a current supplied to the high current load (114) when the terminal voltage is substantially equal to and lower than the predetermined reference voltage. A slope control element (112) is coupled to the differential amplifier (110) to control a rate at which the drive control signal reduces proportionally the current supplied to the high current load (116). A load control element (114), coupled to the differential amplifier (100), provides the supply of current to the high current load (116).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.