Power control system with power drop out immunity and uncompromised startup time
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a startup capacitor configured to couple to a controller; and
a dropout immunity capacitor configured to couple between a first voltage source and the controller, wherein a capacitance of the dropout immunity capacitor is greater than a capacitance of the startup capacitor;
wherein the startup capacitor is configured to provide sufficient energy to the controller to allow the controller to begin normal operation prior to the dropout immunity capacitor having sufficient energy to provide to the controller to allow the controller to operate normally; and
wherein the dropout immunity capacitor is configured to provide sufficient energy to the controller for a period of time when the first voltage source provides insufficient power to allow the controller to continue normal operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power control system provides immunity from power supply dropout for a controller without compromising a startup time of the controller. In at least one embodiment, the power control system includes separate startup and dropout immunity capacitors. In at least one embodiment, selection of the capacitance of the startup capacitor is independent of selection of the capacitance of the dropout immunity capacitance. In at least one embodiment, the startup capacitance can be minimized to provide sufficient energy for the controller to normally operate during one missed cycle of an input voltage and, thus, provide a minimum startup time for the controller. The capacitance of the dropout immunity capacitor can be maximized to provide sufficient energy for the controller to operate normally during a time period longer than one cycle of the input voltage.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a startup capacitor configured to couple to a controller; and a dropout immunity capacitor configured to couple between a first voltage source and the controller, wherein a capacitance of the dropout immunity capacitor is greater than a capacitance of the startup capacitor; wherein the startup capacitor is configured to provide sufficient energy to the controller to allow the controller to begin normal operation prior to the dropout immunity capacitor having sufficient energy to provide to the controller to allow the controller to operate normally; and wherein the dropout immunity capacitor is configured to provide sufficient energy to the controller for a period of time when the first voltage source provides insufficient power to allow the controller to continue normal operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A power control system comprising:
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a switching power converter; a controller coupled to the switching power converter, wherein the controller is configured to generate a switch control signal to control the switching power converter; a startup capacitor coupled to the controller; and a dropout immunity capacitor coupled to the controller and configured to couple to a first voltage source, wherein a capacitance of the dropout immunity capacitor is greater than a capacitance of the startup capacitor; wherein the startup capacitor is configured to provide sufficient energy to the controller to allow the controller to begin normal operation prior to the dropout immunity capacitor having sufficient energy to provide to the controller to allow the controller to operate normally; and wherein the dropout immunity capacitor is configured to provide sufficient energy to the circuit for a period of time when the first voltage source provides insufficient power to allow the controller to continue normal operation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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providing sufficient energy to a controller from a startup capacitor to allow the controller to begin normal operation prior to a dropout immunity capacitor having sufficient energy to provide to the controller to allow the controller to operate normally; and providing sufficient energy to the controller from the dropout immunity capacitor for a period of time when a first voltage source provides insufficient power to allow the controller to continue normal operation, wherein a capacitance of the dropout immunity capacitor is greater than a capacitance of the startup capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification