Circuitry and method for limiting peak current from a voltage source
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorGeorge Cebry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Circuitry (20) and a method are provided for limiting peak current while supplying a constant voltage to a load (42). The circuit (20) comprises an input terminal (32) for coupling to the voltage supply, current sense circuitry (26) coupled to the input terminal (32), a capacitor (30) coupled to an output terminal (40), a converter power stage (22) coupled between the current sense circuitry (26) and the output terminal (40); and a converter controller (24) having inputs coupled to the output terminal (40) and the current sense circuitry (26), and an output coupled to the converter power stage (22) for switching the converter power stage (22) from a voltage mode to a current mode.
Claims10
A circuit for limiting current from a voltage supply, comprising:
- an input terminal for coupling to the voltage supply;
- an output terminal;
- current sense circuitry coupled to the input terminal;
- a capacitor coupled to the output terminal;
- a converter power stage coupled between the current sense circuitry and the output terminal;
- and
- a converter controller having inputs coupled to the output terminal and the current sense circuitry, and an output coupled to the converter power stage for switching the converter power stage from a voltage mode to a current mode.
A circuit for limiting current from a voltage supply, comprising:
- a first power supply input terminal;
- a second power supply input terminal;
- an output terminal;
- a current sense circuit coupled to the first power supply input terminal;
- a capacitor coupled between the output terminal and the second power supply input terminal;
- a converter power stage coupled between the current sense circuitry and the output terminal;
- and
- a voltage error amplifier having a negative input coupled to the output terminal and a positive input coupled to a reference voltage;
- and
- a pulse width modulator comparator having a positive input coupled to the output of the voltage error amplifier, a negative input coupled to the current sense circuit, and an output coupled to the converter power stage for switching the converter power stage from a voltage mode to a current mode.
A method for limiting the current to a load from a voltage source, comprising:
- sensing the current being drawn from the voltage source;
- operating a converter power stage in a voltage mode when the current is below a predetermined value to provide a voltage to the load and to charge a capacitor coupled to the load;
- and
- operating the converter power stage in a current mode when the sensed current is above the predetermined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.