# US 9,640,991 B2 · Device and method for generating an electrical power supply in an electronic system with a variable reference potential > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,640,991 B2 - Document ID: US9640991B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/126,163 - Filed: 2012-06-08 - Published: 2014-04-17 - Granted: 2017-05-02 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-16 - Assignees: Quickstep Technologies LLC - Applicants: Christophe Blondin; Christian Neel; Didier Roziere - Inventors: Christophe Blondin; Christian Neel; Didier Roziere - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9640991B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - H02J 1/08: Three-wire DC power distribution systems; Systems having more than three wires - H02M 7/02: Conversion of AC power input into DC power output without possibility of reversal - H02M 7/06: using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode - H03K 17/9622: {using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard} - H03K 2217/9607: Capacitive touch switches - H03K 2217/960745: Capacitive differential; e.g. comparison with reference capacitance - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract A method and device for generating a power supply voltage (Vf), referenced to a first reference potential (4), in an electronic system including an energizing source (3) connected to the first and second reference potentials (4, 5) so as to impart an AC voltage differential between the reference potentials (4, 5), wherein the device includes: (i) a source (10) for supplying AC voltage, which is referenced to the second reference potential (5), connected to the first reference potential (4), and encompasses the energizing source (3); and (ii) rectifying and filtering elements (1) connected, at the input thereof, to the first reference potential (4) and to the source (10) for supplying AC voltage, respectively, so as to generate, at an output (8), a power supply voltage (Vf) referenced to the first reference potential (4) by rectifying a voltage at the terminals of the source (10) for supplying AC voltage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Device for generating a power supply voltage (Vf) referenced to a first reference potential, in an electronic system comprising a first excitation source configured for generating said first reference potential and referenced to a second reference potential so as to impose an alternating current (AC) voltage difference between these reference potentials, the device comprising: an AC voltage supply source referenced to said second reference potential, generating said first reference potential, and encompassing said first excitation source, and rectifying and filtering means connected to said first reference potential and to said AC voltage supply source to generate, at an output, the power supply voltage (Vf) referenced to said first reference potential by rectification of a voltage at terminals of the AC voltage supply source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the first excitation source is referenced to the second reference potential. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Device according to claim 2, the first excitation source comprising a buffer referenced to the second reference potential, connected at its output to the first reference potential, and controlled at its input by an oscillator referenced to said first reference potential. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, the rectifying and filtering means connected to the first excitation source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, the AC voltage supply source comprising at least one second excitation source connected to the second reference potential, the rectifying and filtering means connected to said second excitation source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Device according to claim 5, wherein an output of the second excitation source is referenced to the first reference potential. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the rectifying and filtering means comprise switching means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the rectifying and filtering means comprise at least one diode inserted between the AC voltage supply source and the power supply voltage (Vf). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the rectifying and filtering means comprise at least one diode having a low threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the rectifying and filtering means comprise a filtering capacitor connected to the first reference potential and to the power supply voltage (Vf). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, produced using integrated electronics technologies. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Electronic capacitive measurement system comprising a first sub-system electrically referenced to the first reference potential, a second sub-system electrically referenced to the second reference potential, the electronic capacitive measurement system further comprising the device according to claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Electronic capacitive measurement system according to claim 12, further comprising a charge amplifier referenced to the first reference potential and supplied by the device for generating the supply voltage (Vf) referenced to said first reference potential. ### Claim 14 Method for generating a supply voltage (Vf) referenced to a first reference potential in an electronic system comprising an excitation source configured for generating said first reference potential and referenced to a second reference potential so as to impose an alternating current (AC) voltage difference between these reference potentials, the method comprising: generating an AC supply voltage by means of an AC voltage supply source referenced to said second reference potential to generate said first reference potential, the AC voltage supply source encompassing said excitation source, and rectifying and filtering a voltage at terminals of said AC voltage supply source to generate the supply voltage (Vf) referenced to said first reference potential.