Powering a circuit by alternating power supply connections in series and parallel with a storage capacitor
US8643340B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2009 |
| Grant date | Feb 4, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 4, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B70/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An integrated circuit (IC) having an internal power supply voltage step down circuit provides efficiency while requiring a minimum of external terminals. In a first operating mode, a storage capacitor is charged from the power supply return of a group of circuits, while the group of circuits is powered from an input power supply voltage provided to the IC. In a second operating mode, the group of circuits is powered from the storage capacitor. The step-down circuit provides for halving the input power supply voltage, but multiple storage capacitors and additional operating modes can be provided for voltage division by greater factors. A sensing circuit can be employed to sense the voltage across the storage capacitor(s) and in response, select the operating mode, providing hysteretic control of the voltage supplied to the group of circuits.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.