Multipurpose, internally configurable integrated circuit for driving a switching mode external inductive loads according to a selectable connection scheme

Claims

2. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said configurable logic circuit comprises:

a first register for selecting the supply scheme of connection of the external load which is connected, in conformity with said selected supply scheme, across said output terminals of the integrated circuit;

a second register for controlling the driving conditions of said externally connected load;

a read-only memory (ROM) or equivalent logic circuit apt to produce a configuration of output signals for conditioning a combinatory logic circuit in conformity with data stored in said first and second registers;

said combinatory logic circuit apt to receive said control signal generated by said PWM control circuit and said output signals produced by said ROM and to produce said driving signals, as a function of said control signal generated by said PWM control circuit, in conformity with said configuration of output signals produced by said ROM;

at least a multiplexer circuit apt to select between bridge type and unipolar-motor type driving mode as a function of an output signal generated by said ROM, and to reproduce said driving signals generated by said combinatory logic circuit and fed to input terminals of said multiplexer circuit, on output terminals of said multiplexer circuit, which are operatively connected to said driving terminals of said power switching integrated devices through enabling/disabling means controlled by enable/disable signals produced by said ROM.

3. The circuit according to claim 2, wherein said enabling/disabling means of said multiplexer include a number of logic AND gates corresponding to the number of multiplexer outputs, each being capable of receiving, through a first input terminal, one of said driving signals coming from one of said output terminals of said multiplexer circuit and, through a second input terminal, an enable/disable signal coming from said ROM and to produce, while in an enable condition, on an output terminal said driving signal which is fed to the driving terminal of the respective power switching integrated circuit..Iadd.

4. A programmable circuit for driving an external load connected to output terminals of the circuit in a selected configuration, comprising:

a plurality of power switching devices that supply power to the load in response to driving signals supplied to respective driving terminals of the power switching devices;

a control circuit, including a detector and a comparator detecting and comparing a feedback signal indicative of power consumed by the load and a control reference signal to generate a control signal having a frequency and a duty-cycle respectively controlled by means of a clock signal and the control reference signal; and

a programmable logic circuit, coupled between the control circuit and the plurality of power switching devices and responsive to the control signal generated by the control circuit, for respectively supplying to each driving terminal of the power switching devices a driving signal in conformance with the selected configuration of the external load,

wherein said programmable logic circuit is programmable to select one of a plurality of driving configurations such that said selected driving configuration corresponds to said selected configuration of the external load..Iaddend..Iadd.5. The programmable circuit of claim 4, wherein the programmable logic circuit further comprises:

a first register for selecting a configuration to match the selected configuration of the external load; and

a second register for controlling the driving conditions of the externally connected load..Iaddend..Iadd.6. The programmable circuit of claim 5, wherein the programmable logic circuit further comprises:

a logic circuit, coupled to and responsive to signals generated by the first and second registers, to produce a configuration of output signals for driving the plurality of power switching devices in conformity with

data stored in the first and second registers..Iaddend..Iadd.7. The programmable circuit of claim 6, wherein the programmable logic circuit further comprises at least one combinatory logic circuit respectively coupled between the logic circuit and the plurality of power switching devices, the combinatory logic circuit being responsive to the control signal generated by the control circuit and the output signals of the logic circuit to produce the driving signal..Iaddend..Iadd.8. The programmable circuit of claim 7, further comprising a multiplexer circuit coupled between the combinatory logic circuit and the plurality of power switching devices to select between a bridge type and a unipolar type inductive load driving mode in response to the output signals generated by the logic circuit and to supply selected driving signals to the driving terminals of the plurality of power switching devices..Iaddend..Iadd.9. The programmable circuit of claim 8, further comprising an enabling/disabling circuit coupled between the multiplexer circuit and the plurality of power switching devices for operatively controlling operation of the power switching devices in response to signals generated by the logic circuit..Iaddend..Iadd.10. The programmable circuit of claim 9, wherein the circuit is constructed as an integrated circuit.

.Iaddend..Iadd.11. The programmable circuit of claim 9, wherein the logic circuit is a read only memory..Iaddend..Iadd.12. The programmable circuit of claim 9, wherein the logic circuit is a programmable logic array..Iaddend..Iadd.13. The programmable circuit of claim 9, wherein the control circuit is a pulse width modulator..Iaddend..Iadd.14. The programmable circuit of claim 9, wherein the plurality of power switching devices are coupled between a power supply voltage and a virtual ground and further comprising a sense resistor coupled between the virtual ground and a circuit ground wherein the feedback signal is generated by a current flowing through the sense resistor..Iaddend..Iadd.15. The programmable circuit of claim 9, wherein the external load is a motor.

.Iaddend..Iadd.. A programmable circuit for driving an external load connected to output terminals of the circuit in a selected configuration, comprising:

power switching means for supply power to the load in response to driving signals supplied to respective driving terminals;

control circuit means, including means for detecting and comparing a feedback signal indicative of power consumed by the load and a control reference signal, for generating a control signal having a frequency and a duty-cycle respectively controlled by means of a clock signal and the control reference signal; and

programmable logic circuit means, coupled between the control circuit means and the power switching means and responsive to the control signal generated by the control circuit means, for respectively supplying to each driving terminal of the power switching means a driving signal in conformance with the selected configuration of the external load,

wherein said programmable logic circuit means is programmable to select one of a plurality of driving configurations such that said selected driving configuration corresponds to said selected configuration of the external

load..Iaddend..Iadd.17. A programmable circuit for driving an external load connected to output terminals of the circuit in a selected configuration, comprising:

at least one power switching device that supplies power to the load in response to a driving signal supplied to a driving terminal thereof;

control circuit including means for detecting and comparing a feedback signal indicative of power consumed by the load and a control reference signal to generate a control signal having a frequency and a duty-cycle respectively controlled by means of a clock signal and the control reference signal; and

a programmable logic circuit, coupled between the control circuit and the at least one power switching device and responsive to the control signal generated by the control circuit, for supplying to the driving terminal a driving signal that conforms with the selected configuration of the external load,

wherein said programmable logic circuit is programmable to select one of a plurality of driving configurations such that said selected driving configuration corresponds to said selected configuration of the external load..Iaddend.