Methods and apparatus for controlling a power supply with improved techniques for providing protection limits
US6011679A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/006
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique for controlling a power supply involves receiving a programming signal that indicates a power supply output voltage limit, activating the power supply such that the power supply provides a power supply output voltage according to a power supply threshold voltage, generating a tracking signal that tracks the programming signal, and generating a compare signal according to the tracking signal and an actual value of the power supply output voltage. The technique further involves comparing the compare signal to a protection threshold voltage, maintaining activation of the power supply when the compare signal is less than the protection threshold voltage, and deactivating the power supply when the compare signal is greater than the protection threshold voltage. The protection threshold voltage is independent of the power supply threshold voltage. In particular, a power supply threshold reference source provides the power supply threshold voltage, a protection threshold reference source, which is independent of the power supply threshold reference source, provides the protection threshold voltage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.