Connection of an internal regulator to an external filter/stabilization capacitor through a selectable external connection and prevention of a current surge therebetween
US7800250B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C5/147
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An integrated circuit device provides a choice of external pins (connections) that may be user selectable for coupling an external filter/stabilization capacitor to an internal voltage regulator. However, connecting the output of a internal voltage regulator to an uncharged external filter/stabilization capacitor (or to a capacitor charged to a different voltage level than the internal regulation voltage) through a low impedance path can cause the regulator output voltage to sag/spike if the internal voltage regulator tries to charge/discharge the capacitor up/down to equilibrium with the regulator output voltage. To minimize this potential sag/spike, the voltage on the external filter/stabilization capacitor may be adjusted in a controlled manner to substantially the same voltage as the voltage on the output of the internal voltage regulator, and then the internal voltage regulator is operationally coupled through a low impedance to the external regulator filter/stabilization capacitor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.