Bootstrap line power supply regulator with no filter capacitor
First Claim
1. A bootstrap line power supply regulator comprising:
- a regulated voltage source having a regulated-voltage node;
a bootstrap line having a supply node and a reference node, said reference node being at a reference voltage switchable between a first value and a second value, said first value being lower than said second value;
a unipolar switch interposed between said regulated-voltage node and said supply node; and
generating means for generating a turn-off signal for turning off said unipolar switch before each switching of said reference voltage from said first value to said second value, and for generating a turn-on signal for turning on said unipolar switch each time said reference voltage switches from said second to said first value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power supply regulator comprising a regulated-voltage source; a buffer connected to the voltage source; and a diode connected to the output of the buffer. A bootstrap capacitor is located between the diode and the output of a power stage; and the output of the power stage is switched between a low and a high value by a digital signal also supplied to the input of the buffer which therefore generates a switched regulated output voltage varying between a first value equal to the regulated voltage and a second lower value. The switched regulated voltage switches from the first to the second value before the output of the power stage switches to high, thus immediately disabling the diode and preventing current spikes due to minority carriers in the diode from being transmitted to the regulated-voltage source. The switched regulated voltage switches from the second to the first value before the output of the power stage switches to low, to permit charging of the bootstrap capacitor to the regulated voltage when the output is low.
30 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A bootstrap line power supply regulator comprising:
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a regulated voltage source having a regulated-voltage node; a bootstrap line having a supply node and a reference node, said reference node being at a reference voltage switchable between a first value and a second value, said first value being lower than said second value; a unipolar switch interposed between said regulated-voltage node and said supply node; and generating means for generating a turn-off signal for turning off said unipolar switch before each switching of said reference voltage from said first value to said second value, and for generating a turn-on signal for turning on said unipolar switch each time said reference voltage switches from said second to said first value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a power supply regulator having a first input that receives an input voltage having an input voltage value, a second input that receives a control signal and an output that provides an output voltage having one of a first output voltage value and a second output voltage value in response to a value of the control signal, the second output voltage value being greater than the first output voltage value and the input voltage value, an isolation circuit comprising:
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a first input coupled to the first input of the power supply regulator to receive the input voltage; a second input coupled to the second input of the power supply regulator to receive the control signal; and a switching circuit, coupled to the first and second inputs of the isolation circuit, that electrically isolates the input of the power supply from transient signals generated by the power supply regulator when the output voltage switches from the first output voltage value to the second output voltage value. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operating a power supply regulator having an input that receives an input voltage having an input voltage value, and a control signal having a first value and a second value, and an output that provides an output voltage having one of a first output voltage value in response to the control signal being at its first value and a second output voltage value in response to the control signal being at its second value, the second output voltage value being greater than the first output voltage value and the input voltage value, the method comprising a step of:
A. isolating, in response to the control signal being at its second value, the input of the power supply regulator from transients generated by the power supply regulator when the output voltage switches from the first output voltage value to the second output voltage value. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A power supply comprising:
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a voltage source having an output that provides a first reference voltage value; an input to receive a control signal having a value; an output that provides an output voltage having one of a first output voltage value and a second output voltage value in response to a value of the control signal, the second output voltage value being greater than the first output voltage value and the input voltage value; a regulator circuit having a first input, a second input coupled to the input of the power supply and an output coupled to the output of the power supply; and a switching circuit having a first input coupled to the output of the voltage source, a second input coupled to the input of the power supply to receive the control signal and an output coupled to the first input of the regulator circuit, the switching circuit electrically isolating the voltage source from transients generated by the regulator circuit when the output of the power supply switches from the second voltage value to the first voltage value. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. In a power supply regulator having an input that receives an input voltage having an input voltage value and an output that provides an output voltage having one of a first output voltage value and a second output voltage value in response to a value of a control signal, the second output voltage value being greater than the first output voltage value and the input voltage value, an isolation circuit comprising:
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a first input coupled to the input of the power supply regulator to receive the input voltage; a second input to receive the control signal; and isolation means, coupled to the first and second inputs of the isolation circuit, for electrically isolating the input of the power supply regulator from transient signals generated by the power supply regulator when the output voltage switches from the first output voltage value to the second output voltage value. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification