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US 9,172,264 B2Granted
Capacitor charge circuit
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
InventorsLaurent Gonthier, Antoine Passal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit can be used for charging a capacitor with an AC voltage. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a capacitor coupled to be charged with the AC voltage. An adjustment is configured to adjust a capacitor charge speed according to a value of the AC voltage. The adjustment circuit includes at least one bipolar transistor coupled to receive a voltage at a base of the bipolar transistor. The voltage is a function of the value of the AC voltage.
Claims26
A circuit comprising:
- a capacitor coupled to be charged with an AC voltage;
- and
- an adjustment circuit configured to adjust a capacitor charge speed according to a value of the AC voltage, wherein the adjustment circuit comprises a bipolar transistor receiving a voltage at a base of the bipolar transistor, the voltage being a function of the value of the AC voltage.
A method for charging a capacitor with an AC voltage, the method comprising:
- applying the AC voltage across the capacitor;
- and
- while applying the AC voltage, adjusting a charge speed of charging the capacitor according to a value of the AC voltage, wherein the adjusting is accomplished by applying a voltage to a base of a bipolar transistor coupled in parallel with the capacitor, the voltage being a function of the value of the AC voltage.
A circuit comprising:
- a first charging node and a second charging node, wherein a charging AC voltage can be applied between the first charging node and the second charging node;
- a capacitor coupled between the first charging node and the second charging node;
- and
- a transistor with a current path coupled between the first charging node and the second charging node and a control terminal configured to receive a voltage with a magnitude that is a function of the charging AC voltage.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.