Methods and apparatus to predictably change the output voltage of regulators
First Claim
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1. A programmable regulator comprising:
- a counter having a first counter input coupled to a clock signal, and a counter output that counts toward a digital set-point;
a converter having a digital input coupled to the counter output, and an analog output that produces a signal responsive to the digital input; and
, a regulating device receiving the analog output and providing a regulator output voltage responsive to the analog output, the regulator output voltage determined by the digital set-point with a rate of change determined by a frequency of the clock signal.
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Abstract
Programmable voltage regulators that change from a first set-point voltage to a second set-point voltage at a controlled rate. The set-point signal is a multi-bit set-point signal with the rate of change in the regulator output between set-points being predetermined or externally controllable. Various embodiments are disclosed.
108 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A programmable regulator comprising:
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a counter having a first counter input coupled to a clock signal, and a counter output that counts toward a digital set-point;
a converter having a digital input coupled to the counter output, and an analog output that produces a signal responsive to the digital input; and
,a regulating device receiving the analog output and providing a regulator output voltage responsive to the analog output, the regulator output voltage determined by the digital set-point with a rate of change determined by a frequency of the clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A programmable regulator comprising:
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a digital to analog converter receiving a digital set-point signal and providing an analog output;
an integrator integrating the analog output to produce an integrator output; and
,a regulating device receiving the integrator output and providing a regulator output voltage responsive to the integrator output. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controlling an output of a regulator comprising;
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counting a clock signal to produce a digital count that counts toward a digital set-point;
converting the digital count to an analog signal; and
,controlling a regulating device with the analog signal to adjust the output of the regulator to a steady state value determined by the digital set-point with a rate of change for the output determined by a frequency of the clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
receiving the digital set-point; and
comparing the digital set-point to the digital count and increasing or decreasing the digital count to reach the digital set-point.
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22. The method of claim 19 wherein converting the digital count to the analog signal comprises converting the digital count to the analog signal with a digital to analog converter.
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23. The method of claim 19 wherein converting the digital count to the analog signal comprises converting the digital count to the analog signal with a multiplying digital to analog converter.
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24. The method of claim 21 wherein a difference between the digital set-point and the digital count is accumulated at the desired rate using a clocked counter.
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25. The method of claim 21 wherein a difference between the digital set-point and the digital count is accumulated using a clocked up/down counter.
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26. The method of claim 19 wherein controlling the regulating device with the analog signal comprises controlling a switching regulating device.
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27. The method of claim 19 wherein controlling the regulating device with the analog signal comprises controlling a step-down regulating device.
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28. The method of claim 19 wherein controlling the regulating device with the analog signal comprises controlling a step-up regulating device.
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29. The method of claim 19 wherein controlling the regulating device with the analog signal comprises controlling a linear regulating device.
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30. The method of claim 19 wherein controlling the regulating device with the analog signal comprises controlling an inverting regulating device.
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31. A method of controlling a programmable regulator comprising:
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providing a digital set-point signal;
converting the digital set-point signal to an analog signal;
limiting a rate of change of the analog signal; and
controlling a regulating device responsive to the analog signal. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of controlling an output of a regulator comprising;
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providing a digital set-point value;
comparing the digital set-point value to a digital count;
incrementing the digital count if the digital count is less than the digital set-point value;
decrementing the digital count if the digital count is more than the digital set-point value;
controlling a regulating device with the digital count to adjust the output of the regulator to a steady state value determined by the digital set-point value with a rate of change for the output determined by a rate of change for the digital count. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of controlling a programmable regulator comprising:
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providing a digital set-point signal;
converting the digital set-point signal to an analog signal;
integrating the analog signal to produce a control signal; and
,controlling a regulating device responsive to the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification