Patent ID: 7176665
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: G01R,H02M

Abstract:
1. A current-limiting step-down DC-to-DC power converter, comprising: a high-side power switch connected to an input voltage source and to an inductor; a low side power switch connected to ground and to said inductor; an amplifying means to amplify the voltage on the on-state source-to-drain resistance of said high-side power switch as input to a regulator; a regulator having an input and an output, wherein the input is said amplified voltage and the output are signals to a gate controller setting said high-side power switch and said low-side power switch ON or OFF preventing the current through said inductor to exceed a limit and to achieve a duty cycle keeping the difference between charge/discharge energy to a minimum; a capacitor being connected on one side to ground and on the other side to an output port and to said inductor; said inductor being connected on one side to said high-side power switch and to said low-side power switch and on the other side to an output port; and a gate controller to control the gate voltages of each of said high-side power switch and low-side power switch having as input signals from said control unit.