IP Library Granted Patent US 11,824,536
Granted Patent B2
US 11,824,536 · App. 18/112,812 · Granted Nov 21, 2023

Automatic protection against runt pulses

Inventors: Yong Yuenyongsgool (Gilbert, AZ); Stephen Bowling (Chandler, AZ); Pedro Ovalle (Chandler, AZ)
Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
H03K3/017G06F1/06H03K21/02
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,824,536
App. No.
18/112,812
Granted
Nov 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus includes an adjustment circuit configured to receive a pulsed-width modulation (PWM) input, generate an adjusted PWM signal based upon the PWM input, and determine that a first pulse of the PWM input is shorter than a runt signal limit. The adjustment circuit is further configured to, in the adjusted PWM signal, extend the first pulse of the PWM input based on the determination that the PWM input is shorter than the runt signal limit, and output the adjusted PWM signal to an electronic device.

Claims (78)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an adjustment circuit to:

receive a pulsed-width modulation (PWM) input;

generate an adjusted PWM signal based upon the PWM input;

determine that a first pulse of the PWM input is shorter than a runt signal limit;

in the adjusted PWM signal, extend the first pulse of the PWM input based on the determination that the PWM input is shorter than the runt signal limit; and

output the adjusted PWM signal to an electronic device; and

a counter to begin a determination of a length of the first pulse of the PWM input after a prescribed delay between the PWM input and the output of the adjusted PWM signal.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

an adjustment circuit to:

receive a pulsed-width modulation (PWM) input, the PWM input to include a PWML signal and a PWMH signal;

generate an adjusted PWM signal based upon the PWM input, the adjusted PWM signal to include an adjusted PWML signal and an adjusted PWMH signal, the PWMH signal and the PWML signal to include PWM signals and to be complements of each other during a plurality of clock cycles, the adjusted PWMH signal and the adjusted PWML signal to include PWM signals and to be complements of each other during a plurality of clock cycles;

determine that a first pulse of the PWM input is shorter than a runt signal limit;

in the adjusted PWM signal, extend the first pulse of the PWM input based on the determination that the PWM input is shorter than the runt signal limit;

selectively adjust the PWMH signal to generate the adjusted PWMH signal and selectively adjust the PWML signal to generate the adjusted PWML signal; and

output the adjusted PWM signal to an electronic device; and

a counter to:

continuously determine lengths of respective pulses of the PWMH signal or the PWML signal; and

begin determination of a length of a respective pulse of one the PWMH signal or the PWML signal after a changed edge on the PWMH signal or the PWML signal and after a changed edge on the adjusted PWMH signal or on the adjusted PWML signal since a last reset of the counter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the first pulse and a second pulse are of the PWMH signal;

the adjustment circuit is further to, based upon extension of the first pulse, shorten the second pulse to generate the adjusted PWMH signal, the second pulse immediately following the first pulse;

the PWML signal includes a third pulse and a fourth pulse, the third pulse a complement of the first pulse, the fourth pulse a complement of the second pulse;

the adjustment circuit is to:

determine that the third pulse is a runt pulse;

extend the third pulse based upon the determination that third pulse is a runt pulse and, based upon extension of third pulse, shorten the fourth pulse to generate the adjusted PWML signal.

4. A method, comprising:

receiving a pulsed-width modulation (PWM) input;

generating an adjusted PWM signal based upon the PWM input;

determining that a first pulse of the PWM input is shorter than a runt signal limit;

with a counter, beginning a determination of a length of the first pulse of the PWM input after a prescribed delay between the PWM input and the output of the adjusted PWM signal;

in the adjusted PWM signal, extending the first pulse of the PWM input based on the determination that the PWM input is shorter than the runt signal limit; and

outputting the adjusted PWM signal to an electronic device.

5. A method, comprising:

receiving a pulsed-width modulation (PWM) input, the PWM input to include a PWML signal and a PWMH signal;

generating an adjusted PWM signal based upon the PWM input, the adjusted PWM signal to include an adjusted PWML signal and an adjusted PWMH signal, the PWMH signal and the PWML signal to include PWM signals and to be complements of each other during a plurality of clock cycles, the adjusted PWMH signal and the adjusted PWML signal to include PWM signals and to be complements of each other during a plurality of clock cycles;

determining that a first pulse of the PWM input is shorter than a runt signal limit;

in the adjusted PWM signal, extending the first pulse of the PWM input based on the determination that the PWM input is shorter than the runt signal limit;

selectively adjusting the PWMH signal to generate the adjusted PWMH signal and selectively adjust the PWML signal to generate the adjusted PWML signal;

with a counter:

continuously determining lengths of respective pulses of the PWMH signal; and

beginning determination of a length of a respective pulse of one the PWMH signal or the PWML signal after a changed edge on the PWMH signal or the PWML signal and after a changed edge on the adjusted PWMH signal or on the adjusted PWML signal since a last reset of the counter; and

outputting the adjusted PWM signal to an electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the first pulse and a second pulse are of the PWMH signal;

the PWML signal includes a third pulse and a fourth pulse, the third pulse a complement of the first pulse, the fourth pulse a complement of the second pulse; and

the method includes:

based upon extension of the first pulse, shortening the second pulse to generate the adjusted PWMH signal, the second pulse immediately following the first pulse;

determining that the third pulse is a runt pulse; and

extending the third pulse based upon the determination that third pulse is a runt pulse and, based upon extension of third pulse, shortening the fourth pulse to generate the adjusted PWML signal.

7. A microcontroller, comprising:

a pulsed-width modulation (PWM) generation circuit to generate a PWM input;

an adjustment circuit to:

receive the PWM input;

generate an adjusted PWM signal based upon the PWM input;

determine that a first pulse of the PWM input is shorter than a runt signal limit;

in the adjusted PWM signal, extend the first pulse of the PWM input based on the determination that the PWM input is shorter than the runt signal limit; and

output the adjusted PWM signal to an electronic device; and

a counter to begin a determination of a length of the first pulse of the PWM input after a prescribed delay between the PWM input and the output of the adjusted PWM signal.

8. A microcontroller, comprising:

a pulsed-width modulation (PWM) generation circuit to generate a PWM input;

an adjustment circuit to:

receive the PWM input, the PWM input to include a PWML signal and a PWMH signal;

generate an adjusted PWM signal based upon the PWM input, the adjusted PWM signal to include an adjusted PWML signal and an adjusted PWMH signal, the PWMH signal and the PWML signal to include PWM signals and to be complements of each other during a plurality of clock cycles, the adjusted PWMH signal and the adjusted PWML signal to include PWM signals and to be complements of each other during a plurality of clock cycles;

determine that a first pulse of the PWM input is shorter than a runt signal limit;

in the adjusted PWM signal, extend the first pulse of the PWM input based on the determination that the PWM input is shorter than the runt signal limit;

selectively adjust the PWMH signal to generate the adjusted PWMH signal and selectively adjust the PWML signal to generate the adjusted PWML signal; and

output the adjusted PWM signal to an electronic device; and

a counter to:

continuously determine lengths of respective pulses of the PWMH signal or the PWML signal; and

begin determination of a length of a respective pulse of one the PWMH signal or the PWML signal after a changed edge on the PWMH signal or the PWML signal and after a changed edge on the adjusted PWMH signal or on the adjusted PWML signal since a last reset of the counter.

9. The microcontroller of claim 8 , wherein:

the first pulse and a second pulse are of the PWMH signal;

the adjustment circuit is further to, based upon extension of the first pulse, shorten the second pulse to generate the adjusted PWMH signal, the second pulse immediately following the first pulse;

the PWML signal includes a third pulse and a fourth pulse, the third pulse a complement of the first pulse, the fourth pulse a complement of the second pulse;

the adjustment circuit is to:

determine that the third pulse is a runt pulse;

extend the third pulse based upon the determination that third pulse is a runt pulse and, based upon extension of third pulse, shorten the fourth pulse to generate the adjusted PWML signal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2023
From: YUENYONGSGOOL, YONG; BOWLING, STEPHEN; OVALLE, PEDRO
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 062770/0062 →