Analog limit on digitally set pulse widths
First Claim
1. A method using analog processing for limiting risk of overheating of circuit components due to digitally set pulse widths, the method comprising:
- integrating over time and with analog integration circuitry, digitally defined pulses that cause a turning on and off of surges of current through a load and a corresponding current switching device; and
applying an output of the analog integration circuitry to a voltage triggered clamping device, the voltage triggered clamping device having a predetermined threshold voltage at and above which it is switches from being in a first transconductance range to being in a second transconductance range, where transconductances of the second transconductance are substantially larger than corresponding ones of the first transconductance range, the voltage triggered clamping device being coupled to a current supplying circuit branch that has an ability to supply current for switching on said current switching device;
wherein if the voltage triggered clamping device is in the first transconductance range, it does not significantly interfere with the ability of the current supplying circuit branch to supply current for switching on the current switching device; and
wherein if the voltage triggered clamping device is in the second transconductance range, it removes a substantial amount of current from the current supplying circuit branch and thereby significantly impedes the ability of the current supplying circuit branch to supply current for switching on the current switching device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power switching device (e.g., a power MOSFET) drives relatively large surges of pulsed power through a laser emitter of a Time of Flight (TOF) determining system where both the power switching device and laser emitter are closely packed on a printed circuit board having further closely packed and temperature sensitive other components. Waveforms of pulse trains that control the power switching device are programmably defined and thus may include pulse durations that are unduly large or spacing between pulses that are unduly small such that overheating may occur. A pulse duration limiting circuit is provided having an analog integrator configured to integrate over time, the programmably defined pulses and a voltage triggered clamping device coupled to an output of the analog integrator. The voltage triggered clamping device has a predetermined threshold voltage at and above which it is switched from a relatively low transconductances mode to a substantially higher transconductances mode. The voltage triggered clamping device is coupled to a current supplying circuit branch of the system, the current supplying circuit branch being one that has an ability to supply current for switching on the power switching device.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method using analog processing for limiting risk of overheating of circuit components due to digitally set pulse widths, the method comprising:
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integrating over time and with analog integration circuitry, digitally defined pulses that cause a turning on and off of surges of current through a load and a corresponding current switching device; and applying an output of the analog integration circuitry to a voltage triggered clamping device, the voltage triggered clamping device having a predetermined threshold voltage at and above which it is switches from being in a first transconductance range to being in a second transconductance range, where transconductances of the second transconductance are substantially larger than corresponding ones of the first transconductance range, the voltage triggered clamping device being coupled to a current supplying circuit branch that has an ability to supply current for switching on said current switching device; wherein if the voltage triggered clamping device is in the first transconductance range, it does not significantly interfere with the ability of the current supplying circuit branch to supply current for switching on the current switching device; and wherein if the voltage triggered clamping device is in the second transconductance range, it removes a substantial amount of current from the current supplying circuit branch and thereby significantly impedes the ability of the current supplying circuit branch to supply current for switching on the current switching device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A pulse duration limiting circuit comprising:
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an analog integrator configured to integrate over time, digitally defined pulses that cause episodic turning on and off of surges of current through a load and a corresponding current switching device of a power outputting system; and a voltage triggered clamping device coupled to an output of the analog integrator, the voltage triggered clamping device having a predetermined threshold voltage at and above which it is switches from being in a first transconductance range to being in a second transconductance range, where transconductances of the second transconductance are substantially larger than corresponding ones of the first transconductance range, wherein the voltage triggered clamping device is coupled to a current supplying circuit branch of the system, the current supplying circuit branch being one that has an ability to supply current for switching on the switching device of the power outputting system; wherein if the voltage triggered clamping device is in its first transconductance range, it does not significantly interfere with the ability of the current supplying circuit branch to supply current for switching on the switching device of the power outputting system; and wherein if the voltage triggered clamping device is in its second transconductance range, it removes a substantial amount of current from the current supplying circuit branch and thereby significantly impedes the ability of the current supplying circuit branch to supply current for switching on the switching device of the power outputting system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A time of photonic flight (TOF) determining system comprising:
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a plurality of light emitters respectively configured to output respective bursts of photonic pulses for reflection from objects disposed within a predetermined range of distances; a plurality of emitter drivers connected to corresponding ones of the light emitters and respectively configured to output corresponding pulses of current for driving the light emitters and thus causing the light emitters to output their respective bursts of photonic pulses; one or more pulse train generating circuits, each being digitally programmable to output a programmably defined waveform of spaced apart pulses having respective, programmably defined pulse widths; a plurality of pulse duration limiting circuits operatively coupled to corresponding ones of the emitter drivers, where each emitter driver has a respective current supplying circuit branch having an ability to supply a control current for switching on a power switching device of the emitter driver; wherein one or more of the pulse duration limiting circuits respectively comprises; an analog integrator configured to integrate over time, the programmably defined pulses of a corresponding one of the pulse train generating circuits; and a voltage triggered clamping device coupled to an output of the analog integrator, the voltage triggered clamping device having a predetermined threshold voltage at and above which it is switched from a first transconductance mode to a second transconductance mode, transconductances of the second transconductance mode being substantially greater than corresponding transconductances of the first transconductance mode, wherein the voltage triggered clamping device is coupled to the respective current supplying circuit branch of a corresponding one of the emitter drivers; wherein if the voltage triggered clamping device is in its first transconductance mode, it does not significantly interfere with the ability of the respective current supplying circuit branch to supply current for switching on the power switching device of the corresponding emitter driver; and wherein if the voltage triggered clamping device is in its second transconductance mode, it removes current from the respective current supplying circuit branch and thereby significantly impedes the ability of the current supplying circuit branch to supply current for switching on the power switching device of the corresponding emitter driver. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification