Method of modulating current regulation control loop's current magnitude from a second control signal
AssigneeNational Semiconductor Corporation
InventorsGregory J. Smith, Yinming Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides current regulation. The circuit includes a current regulation loop that includes a second control signal that is used to adjust the magnitude of the regulated current. The second control signal provides a signal that regulates the amount of current being supplied to a load. According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one current source is used to modulate the magnitude of the regulated current when a predetermined condition occurs. The predetermined condition may relate to temperature, current, voltage, and the like.
Claims19
A circuit for current regulation, comprising:
- a regulation circuit coupled to a power supply and to a first node and configured to generate a regulated current;
- a first resistor coupled between the first node and a second node and configured to generate a signal relating to the regulated current that is supplied to a load;
- a second controller coupled to the second node and configured to generate a second control signal used to adjust the regulated current;
- and
- a controller having a first input coupled to the first node and a second input coupled to the second control signal and an output coupled to the regulation circuit, wherein the controller is configured to generate a control signal used to generate the regulated current.
An apparatus for current regulation, comprising:
- a transistor coupled to a power supply, a first node, and a second node;
- a sense resistor coupled between the first node and a third node;
- a second resistor coupled between the third node and a fourth node;
- a first current source coupled to the fourth node;
- and
- an amplifier having a first input coupled to the first node and a second input coupled to a fourth node, and an output coupled to the second node.
A method for current regulation of a circuit, comprising:
- utilizing a regulation circuit that is coupled to a power supply and to a first node and that is configured to generate a regulated current;
- sensing the regulated current and generating a signal relating to the regulated current that is supplied to a load;
- utilizing a second controller that is coupled to a second node and that is configured to active a second control signal that is used to adjust the regulated current;
- and
- utilizing a controller including a first input coupled to the first node and a second input coupled to the second control signal and an output coupled to the regulation circuit, wherein the controller is configured to generate a control signal that is used to adjust the regulated current.
An apparatus for current regulation, comprising:
- means for generating a regulated signal;
- means for sensing the regulated signal between a first node and a second node;
- means for generating a signal relating to the regulated signal that is supplied to a load;
- means for utilizing a second controller that is coupled to the second node and that is configured to generate a second control signal that is used to adjust the regulated signal;
- and
- means for utilizing a controller including a first input coupled to the first node and a second input coupled to the second control signal and an output coupled to the means for generating a regulated sigal, wherein the controller is configured to generate a control signal that is used to adjust the regulated signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.