초록 ▼

Method and apparatus for providing a regulated, direct current (DC) output voltage for use in computers. An unregulated voltage source is regulated by a power converter of the present invention that produces the regulated voltage reliably, inexpensively, and without requiring heat sinks or auxiliary

Method and apparatus for providing a regulated, direct current (DC) output voltage for use in computers. An unregulated voltage source is regulated by a power converter of the present invention that produces the regulated voltage reliably, inexpensively, and without requiring heat sinks or auxiliary fans. In a preferred embodiment, the power converter includes a buck regulator and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a resistor-divider feedback loop connected to the output of the buck regulator in order to provide a feedback voltage. The feedback voltage is supplied to an error amplifier which compares the feedback voltage to an internal reference voltage and produces an output that is the amplified difference between the two voltages. The amplified output is then provided to a frequency modulation (FM) port of a multipurpose timer. As a result, the timer can control and modulate the frequency and pulse width of the buck regulator.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [4.] A computer comprising an unregulated voltage source, a load, and a power converter for supplying a regulated voltage source at an output node for use by the load, the power converter comprising:a switch with a first terminal connected to the unregulated power source;a dio

[ What is claimed is:] [4.] A computer comprising an unregulated voltage source, a load, and a power converter for supplying a regulated voltage source at an output node for use by the load, the power converter comprising:a switch with a first terminal connected to the unregulated power source;a diode with the cathode of the diode connected to a second terminal of the switch;an inductor connected between the cathode of the diode and the output node;a capacitor with the first capacitor terminal connected to the output node and the second capacitor terminal connected to the anode of the diode;a feedback loop connected to the output node to provide a feedback voltage;a shunt regulator with a voltage input for receiving the feedback voltage; anda multipurpose timer for controlling the operation of the switch, the timer having a frequency modulation input connected to the cathode of the shunt regulator; the timer generating a timing signal having a variable on-time and a variable off-time to produce a variable frequency, the timing signal being supplied to the switch to control pulse width modulation thereof.