Patent · US Expired

Electronic protective circuit

US3979642A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
5References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 1974
Grant dateSep 7, 1976
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 20, 1994

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03F1/52
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Electronic protective circuitry for protecting an electrical circuit, such as a constant current source circuit, from damage due to an overvoltage applied to the circuit. The protective circuit employs circuitry for limiting the magnitude of the voltage across a first portion of the circuit, such as an amplifier output circuit, so that the voltage thereacross is limited to a given maximum voltage level. A current limiter is connected in series between the first portion and second portion for limiting the magnitude of current flowing through the circuitry to a given maximum current level. Essentially all of the overvoltage is applied across the current limiter. The protective circuit is particularly applicable for protecting an amplifier from damage due to an overvoltage applied to its output circuit, as well as for protecting a resistor connected in series with the output circuit of the amplifier.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.