Integrated circuit with current-limited power output and associated method
AssigneeIntersil Americas Inc.
InventorsWilliam Shearon, Salomon Vulih, Donald Preslar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The integrated circuit includes a power FET for generating an output voltage, a pilot FET for sensing current through the power driving device and generating a reference voltage, and an amplifier circuit for comparing the reference voltage of the pilot device with the output voltage of the power driving device. The amplifier circuit includes a differential pair of matched bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) having a common base. A first BJT of the differential pair being diode-connected. The amplifier circuit controls the gates of the power FET and the pilot FET.
Claims21
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a power driving device for generating an output voltage;
- a pilot device for sensing current through the power driving device and generating a reference voltage;
- and
- an amplifier circuit for comparing the reference voltage of the pilot device with the output voltage of the power driving device, and comprising a differential pair of bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) having a common base.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a power FET for generating an output voltage;
- a pilot FET for sensing current through the power FET and generating a reference voltage;
- and
- an amplifier circuit for comparing the reference voltage of the pilot FET with the output voltage of the power FET, and comprising a differential pair of matched bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) having a common control terminal, a first BJT of the differential pair being diode-connected.
A method of limiting the current in a power driving device of an integrated circuit, the method comprising:
- sensing current through the power driving device with a pilot device and generating a reference voltage;
- comparing the reference voltage with an output voltage of the power driving device with an amplifier circuit comprising a differential pair of bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) having a common base;
- and
- generating a control signal for the power driving device and the pilot device based upon the comparison of the reference voltage and the output voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.