Clamping circuit
US4109166A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 1977 |
| Grant date | Aug 22, 1978 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 15, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/0422
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The collector current of a first transistor serves as the base drive current for a second transistor of opposite conductivity type than the first transistor. When conduction occurs through the collector-to-emitter path of the second transistor, a conducting diode connected between the emitter of the first transistor and the collector of the second transistor clamps this collector to a relatively fixed voltage level referenced to the fixed base voltage of the first transistor. This prevents saturation of the second transistor and thus reduces the "storage delay", that is the turn-off time delay of the second transistor. In addition, the charge stored at the base electrode of the second transistor is removed when its collector-to-emitter current flow is interrupted to further reduce the turn-off time of this transistor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.