Patent ID: RE41599

Claim:
An apparatus for generating a regulated direct current (DC) voltage comprising: a DC-DC converter operative to generate a regulated DC output voltage derived from a supply voltage, said DC-DC converter having a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator which generates a PWM-based output voltage at an output node thereof, said output voltage being coupled through an inductor element to an output voltage terminal for application to a load; a PWM controller for controlling the operation of said PWM generator, said PWM controller including an operational amplifier having a first input coupled to receive a reference voltage, a second input, and an output coupled to said PWM generator, and a current feedback resistor coupled between said output node and said second input of said operational amplifier; and a user-programmable bi-directional, constant current generator circuit for controlling the operation of said PWM controller, and being configured to generate a user-programmable one of a positive (+) or a negative (−) polarity current, and to supply said a user-programmable current to a user-selected location of said PWM controller for controlling the operation of said PWM generator.