Versatile control pin electronics
AssigneeAnalog Devices, Inc.
InventorCrispin Metzler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Versatile control pin electronics are disclosed. The control pin electronics are coupled to a control pin and allow for the passing of both analog and digital control signals. The control pin electronics work with digital logic having logic levels that are compatible with analog signals having predefined voltage and current limits. The versatile control pin electronics include both a voltage regulator that sets a regulated voltage at the control pin and a current limiter. The versatile control pin electronics can be coupled to a comparator to provide both hysteresis and latching functionality from a single pin.
Claims20
A comparator having a control pin module allowing for latching an input signal or setting hysterisis for the comparator, the control pin module comprising:
- an input pin;
- a voltage regulator for maintaining the input pin at a predetermined voltage;
- and
- a current limiter for limiting the current through the input pin to no greater than a predetermined value.
A system, the system including a control pin module, the control pin module comprising:
- an input;
- a voltage regulator for maintaining the input at a predetermined voltage;
- and
- a current limiter for limiting the current through the input to no greater than a maximum value.
A method of using a control pin having associated control pin electronics in an electronic circuit where an input signal into the control pin can be either an analog input signal or a digital input signal, the analog input signal having an associated operational current range and the digital input signal being part of a digital logic family having an operational current range, the method comprising:
- providing a regulated voltage at the control pin;
- providing an input signal to the control pin;
- and
- current limiting the input signal at the control pin to a predefined current using a current limiter circuit;
- wherein if the input signal is a digital input signal, the operational current range of the digital input is outside of the operational current range for the analog input signal and the operational current range for the digital input signal is at least in part less than the predefined current of the current limiter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.