Patent · US Expired

Output protection circuit for preventing a reverse current

US4471237A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
5References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 13, 1982
Grant dateSep 11, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 13, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10D89/711
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In an integrated circuit in which an output transistor connected between an output terminal and a point of reference potential normally conducts current in one direction between the output terminal and the reference point and in which a potential may be developed at the output terminal causing a reverse current (i.e. one of opposite direction to the one direction) between the reference and the output terminal through the substrate, circuitry is coupled to the output terminal which is responsive to values of reverse potential at the output terminal for providing a control current at the output terminal and for holding its voltage at a value which limits the flow of reverse current.

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