Patent ID: 11927624
Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 15:
16. A method for measuring a quiescent current in a switching voltage regulator, the method comprising:
generating a mathematical model of a circuit design associated with the switching voltage regulator, the mathematical model comprising measurable parameters to describe an average switching current associated with a power switch of the switching voltage regulator, the measurable parameters comprising a peak switching current, a capacitor voltage, and internal operational currents of the switching voltage regulator;
fabricating a circuit comprising the switching voltage regulator based on the circuit design, the fabricated circuit comprising the power switch, a first lead adapted to be coupled to an inductor, and a second lead adapted to be coupled to a capacitor;
coupling the first and second leads of the fabricated circuit to a circuit test fixture;
providing electrical signals to the first and second leads via the circuit test fixture;
measuring the measurable parameters in response to the electrical signals;
applying the measurable parameters to the mathematical model to calculate the average switching current; and
calculating the quiescent current based on the average switching current and the internal operational currents associated with the mathematical model.