US Patent No: 4,347,447

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Current limiting MOS transistor driver circuit

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Importance

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Abstract

A current limiting driver circuit (10) receives a first logic level input signal (.phi..sub.1) and drives an output pin (26). A node (14) is pulled to ground by a pull-down transistor (16) which receives the first input signal (.phi..sub.1) and is driven to a high voltage state by a pull-up transistor (12). A driver transistor (28) is turned on by a high voltage state at the node (14) and is turned off by a low voltage state at the node (14). The driver transistor (28) is connected to provide a high voltage state to the output pin (26). A pull-down transistor (30) is connected to receive the first input signal (.phi..sub.1) in order to pull the output pin (26) to ground. A series of transistors (18, 20, 22) are connected between the gate and source terminals of the driver transistor (28) such that when the gate-to-source voltage of the driver transistor (28) exceeds the combined thresholds of the three transistors (18, 20, 22) they will be turned on and thereby limit the maximum gate-to-source voltage of driver transistor (28). This in turn serves to limit the maximum current flow through the driver transistor (28). Disabling transistors (17, 32) are included for providing a high impedance output to the output pin (26).

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First Claim

Related Publications

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
MOSTEK CORPORATIONCARROLLTON, TX151
SGS-THOMSON MICROELECTRONICS, INC.CARROLLTON, TX824

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Proebsting, Robert J Senora, CA 110 1701

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
BELL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED (1)
4,275,313 Current limiting output circuit with output feedback 22 1979

Patent Citation Ranking

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