DETECTION OF INSUFFICIENT SUPPLIED POWER
First Claim
1. An apparatus that determines the adequacy of the current sourcing capability of a power source that supplies power to a device, the apparatus comprising:
- a current multiplier of the device, operable as a voltage regulator, that is coupled to the power source, receives a clock signal, and generates a control signal; and
a digital counter, clocked by the clock signal and reset by the control signal, that generates an overflow output in response to an overflow condition of the digital counter that indicates that the current sourcing capability of the power source has fallen below a current threshold of the device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and device provide for the detection of insufficient supplied power supplied to a device. A current multiplier of the device, operable as a voltage regulator, is coupled to the power source, receives a clock signal, and generates a control signal. A digital counter, clocked by the clock signal and reset by the control signal, generates an overflow output in response to an overflow condition of the digital counter that indicates that the current sourcing capability of the power source has fallen below a current threshold of the device. A compensatory response by the device in response to the detection of insufficient supplied power may be provided as well.
16 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus that determines the adequacy of the current sourcing capability of a power source that supplies power to a device, the apparatus comprising:
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a current multiplier of the device, operable as a voltage regulator, that is coupled to the power source, receives a clock signal, and generates a control signal; and a digital counter, clocked by the clock signal and reset by the control signal, that generates an overflow output in response to an overflow condition of the digital counter that indicates that the current sourcing capability of the power source has fallen below a current threshold of the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A device provided power by a power source, comprising:
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a detection element operable to dynamically detect a current sourcing capability of the power source and generate an insufficient-supply indication when the current sourcing capability of the power source has fallen below a current threshold of the device, wherein the detection element comprises; a current multiplier, operable as a voltage regulator and having a control signal, that is coupled to the power source and receives a clock signal; and a digital counter, clocked by the clock signal and reset by the control signal, that generates an overflow output as the insufficient-supply indication in response to an overflow condition of the digital counter; and a control element operable to monitor the insufficient-supply indication and, in response to generation of the insufficient-supply indication by the detection element, the control element controls the device to have a compensatory response to the insufficient-supply indication. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of determining the adequacy of the current sourcing capability of a power source, comprising:
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dynamically detecting a current sourcing capability of the power source; generating an insufficient-supply indication, that the current sourcing capability of the power source has fallen below a current threshold of a device supplied power by the power source, in response to an overflow condition of a digital counter of the device, the overflow condition caused by a current multiplier of the device to which the digital counter is coupled being unable to achieve a threshold voltage within Ncount cycles of a clock signal used to clock the digital counter; and in response to the insufficient-supply indication, a control element of the device controlling the device to have a compensatory response. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for determining the adequacy of the current sourcing capability of a power source, comprising:
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dynamically detecting a current sourcing capability of the power source; generating an insufficient-supply indication, that the current sourcing capability of the power source has fallen below a current threshold of a device supplied power by the power source, in response to an overflow condition of a digital counter of the device, the overflow condition caused by a current multiplier of the device to which the digital counter is coupled being unable to achieve a threshold voltage within Ncount cycles of a clock signal used to clock the digital counter; and in response to the insufficient-supply indication, a control element of the device controlling the device to have a compensatory response.
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Specification