Patents by Inventor Thatcher Klumpp

Thatcher Klumpp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus to allow rapid adjustment of the reference voltage in a switching regulator
    Patent number: 6965223
    Abstract: A circuit and method for enabling a rapid adjustment of a reference voltage during a disable period such as a fault condition, shutdown condition, and the like, of a voltage regulator is described. A soft start circuit that is arranged to couple a reference voltage input of an error amplifier to a portion of an output voltage avoiding high current surges and optimizing start up time is modified to include a low resistance switch that provides a path for a reference node capacitance to rapidly discharge. The faster discharge may allow the reference voltage to match the output voltage even when the switch is activated for a very brief interval. This in return allows the output voltage to start up in a controlled manner after a disable period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: William MacLean, Glenn Chance Dunlap, III, Thatcher Klumpp