Abstract:
Circuits and methods that limit current through power FETs of power converter to reduce damaging current in-rush events, independent of switching frequency, device mismatches, and PVT variations. Embodiments utilize a closed-loop feedback circuit and/or a calibrated compensation circuit to regulate, substantially independent of frequency, the control voltage VGATE applied to a power FET gate. In a reduced gate-drive mode, connecting a feedback or compensation circuit to the gate of an LDO source-follower FET allows the gate voltage to be regulated to control the LDO output voltage to a final inverter coupled to the gate of a power FET so that VGATE is adjusted to provide a reduced gate-drive to the power FET; connecting to the output of the LDO allows the LDO output voltage to the final inverter to be directly regulated to adjust VGATE; connecting to the gate of the power FET allows VGATE to be directly set.
Abstract:
Clock distribution circuitry configured for duty cycle control, the circuitry comprising: a plurality of buffers connected in series along a clock path, each of the buffers having an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal being connected to the clock path via a corresponding AC coupling capacitor, and the clock, path configured to receive an input clock signal at its input node and output an output clock signal at its output node, the output clock signal having an output duty cycle; and control circuitry connected to apply a DC bias signal to the input terminal of each of the plurality of buffers, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: obtain a measurement signal indicative of the output duty cycle; and control the DC bias signals, based on a difference between the measurement signal and a reference signal, so as to control the output duty cycle.
Abstract:
A circuit for clamping current in a charge pump is disclosed. The charge pump includes switching circuitry having a number of switching circuitry transistors. Each of first and second pairs of transistors in the circuit can provide an additional path for current from its associated one of the switching circuitry transistors during off-switching of that transistor so that a spike in current from the switching circuitry transistor is only partially transmitted through a path extending between the switching circuitry transistor and a capacitor of the charge pump.
Abstract:
An apparatus comprises a sensor circuit configured to detect activation of at least one circulator arranged to circulate liquid from a boiler through at least one circulation loop and back to the boiler. An analog up/down timer circuit has an input coupled to an output of the sensor circuit and generates a variable threshold signal that varies as a function of an activation time of the at least one circulator. A burner control circuit receives the variable threshold signal from the analog up/down timer circuit and generates an ignition control signal based at least in part on comparison of a temperature sensor signal of the boiler with the variable threshold signal. An ignition driver receives the ignition control signal from the burner control circuit and generates an ignition signal for a burner configured to burn fuel to heat the liquid in the boiler based at least in part on the ignition control signal.
Abstract:
A circuit for clamping current in a charge pump is disclosed. The charge pump includes switching circuitry having a number of switching circuitry transistors. Each of first and second pairs of transistors in the circuit can provide an additional path for current from its associated one of the switching circuitry transistors during off-switching of that transistor so that a spike in current from the switching circuitry transistor is only partially transmitted through a path extending between the switching circuitry transistor and a capacitor of the charge pump.
Abstract:
A circuit for clamping current in a charge pump is disclosed. The charge pump includes switching circuitry having a number of switching circuitry transistors. Each of first and second pairs of transistors in the circuit can provide an additional path for current from its associated one of the switching circuitry transistors during off-switching of that transistor so that a spike in current from the switching circuitry transistor is only partially transmitted through a path extending between the switching circuitry transistor and a capacitor of the charge pump.
Abstract:
A divider for use in an integrated circuit chip, such as a clock generator chip, includes a ramp generator circuit configured to generate a ramp signal and a synchronous detector circuit configured to receive the ramp signal and an input clock signal and to responsively control the ramp signal generator circuit to generate an output clock signal at an output of the synchronous detector circuit. In some embodiments, the synchronous detector circuit may include a voltage threshold detector circuit configured to receive the ramp signal and to generate a detection signal responsive thereto and a synchronous latch circuit having a clock input configured to receive the input clock signal and a data input configured to receive the detection signal. The synchronous latch circuit may be configured to control the ramp generator circuit.
Abstract:
Described herein are an apparatus, system, and method for compensating voltage swing and duty cycle of a signal on an input-output (I/O) pad of a processor by adjusting the voltage swing and duty cycle of the signal. The apparatus comprises a driver to transmit a signal on an I/O pad, the signal on the I/O pad having a voltage swing and a duty cycle; and an adjustment unit, coupled to the driver, to receive the signal from the I/O pad transmitted by the driver and to generate voltage swing and duty cycle control signals for adjusting the voltage swing and duty cycle of the signal on the I/O pad respectively. Described herein is also an analog-to-digital (A2D) converter for measuring and/or calibrating various signal attributes including current, voltage, and time.
Abstract:
A circuit for clamping current in a charge pump is disclosed. The charge pump includes switching circuitry having a number of switching circuitry transistors. Each of first and second pairs of transistors in the circuit can provide an additional path for current from its associated one of the switching circuitry transistors during off-switching of that transistor so that a spike in current from the switching circuitry transistor is only partially transmitted through a path extending between the switching circuitry transistor and a capacitor of the charge pump.
Abstract:
An embodiment of an electronic device having a plurality of operative parameters is provided. The electronic device includes means for applying a plurality of trimming actions to each parameter for causing a corresponding correction of the parameter, for at least one reference parameter, means for measuring the reference parameter responsive to the application of at least part of the trimming actions, and means for forcing the application of the selected trimming action for the reference parameter. For each non-reference parameter different from the at least one reference parameter, the electronic device includes means for selecting one of the trimming actions for the non-reference parameter corresponding to the selected trimming action for the at least one reference parameter, and means for forcing the application of the selected trimming action for each non-reference parameter.