17949454. Power Switching Circuitry with Feedback Control simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)
Power Switching Circuitry with Feedback Control
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Yueming He of San Jose CA (US)
Dennis M. Fischette, Jr. of Mountain View CA (US)
Power Switching Circuitry with Feedback Control - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17949454 titled 'Power Switching Circuitry with Feedback Control
Simplified Explanation
The abstract describes an integrated circuit with power switching circuitry, including a primary power switch and multiple auxiliary power switches, controlled by a power gating circuit to charge a gated voltage and protect against inrush current surges.
- The integrated circuit includes power switching circuitry with a primary power switch and multiple auxiliary power switches.
- A power gating control circuit selectively activates the primary power switch and at least one auxiliary power switch to charge a gated voltage.
- Voltage detectors monitor the gated voltage and activate remaining auxiliary power switches if the voltage exceeds certain thresholds.
Potential Applications
This technology can be applied in various electronic devices requiring inrush current surge protection, such as power supplies, battery chargers, and motor control systems.
Problems Solved
1. Inrush current surges can damage electronic components and reduce the lifespan of devices. 2. Slow charging of gated voltage can lead to inefficiencies and delays in device operation.
Benefits
1. Efficient inrush current surge protection. 2. Fast charging of gated voltage. 3. Enhanced reliability and longevity of electronic devices.
Potential Commercial Applications
Optimizing Inrush Current Surge Protection in Integrated Circuits
Possible Prior Art
Prior art may include similar power gating control circuits in integrated circuits, but the specific configuration of primary and auxiliary power switches for inrush current surge protection may be novel.
Unanswered Questions
How does the power gating control circuit determine when to activate the auxiliary power switches?
The abstract does not provide details on the specific criteria or thresholds used by the voltage detectors to trigger the activation of the remaining auxiliary power switches.
What is the impact of using multiple auxiliary power switches on the overall efficiency and performance of the integrated circuit?
The abstract mentions the use of multiple auxiliary power switches, but it does not elaborate on how this design choice affects the operation or effectiveness of the inrush current surge protection mechanism.
Original Abstract Submitted
An integrated circuit may be provided with power switching circuitry. The power switching circuitry may include a primary power switch and multiple auxiliary power switches. A power gating control circuit may output control signals for selectively activating the primary power switch and at least one of the auxiliary power switches to charge a gated voltage. One or more voltage detectors may be configured to monitor the gated voltage and to activate the remaining auxiliary power switches in response to detecting that the gated voltage exceeds one or more thresholds. Configured and operated in this way, inrush current surge protection can be achieved while charging up the gated voltage sufficiently fast.
