{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-11296616","patent":{"patent_number":"US-11296616","title":"Powering microcontrollers","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2018-12-18T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2022-04-05T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H02M","H02M","H02M","H02M","H02M","H02M","H02M","H02M","H02M","H02M"],"num_claims":15,"abstract":"This application relates to methods and apparatus for powering microcontrollers (104), in particular for powering microcontrollers of a personal care product, such as a shaver product (107). The microcontroller is arranged such that a first output port (206-1) of a plurality of output ports of the microcontroller receives, in use, an AC waveform. Each output port has an associated high-side switch (207) electrically connected between the output port and a high-side DC voltage rail and an associated low-side switch (208) electrically connected between the output port and a low-side DC voltage rail. A processing module (202) of the microcontroller is configured to monitor a phase of the AC waveform and to control switching of the associated high-side and low-side switches of the first output port based on the phase of the AC waveform so as to provide a rectified voltage between the high-side DC voltage rail and the low-side voltage rail for powering the processing module. The processing module (202) also controls switching of the associated switches of at least a further output port to output a control signal for controlling at least one aspect of operation of a host device. The processing module is further configured to maintain the associated high-side switch of the first output port in a turned-off state when a monitored voltage of the AC waveform at the first output port is between zero and a monitored voltage at the high-side DC voltage rail, and to maintain the associated high-side switch of the first output port in a turned-on state when the monitored voltage of the AC waveform at the first output port is greater than the monitored voltage at the high-side DC voltage rail."},"analysis":{"summary":null,"layman_explanation":null,"technical_analysis":null,"business_analysis":null,"faqs":null,"topics":[],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Powering microcontrollers","description":"This application relates to methods and apparatus for powering microcontrollers (104), in particular for powering microcontrollers of a personal care product, such as a shaver product (107). The micro","keywords":[]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-11296616","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-11296616","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Powering microcontrollers\" (US-11296616). https://patentable.app/patents/US-11296616","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-11296616","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-11296616","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-30T20:35:59.737Z"}