Low power diode
US5506527A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 15, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2017/307
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A common dictionary definition of a "diode" is "any electronic device that restricts current flow chiefly to one direction." This definition covers not only the conventional two lead PN junction semiconductor device presently known in the prior art (referred to herein as a "conventional diode") but also the electronic device of this invention (referred to herein as a "low power diode"). A low power diode has a comparator for comparing the voltage present at the anode and cathode of the diode. When the comparator determines that the voltage present at the anode of the low power diode equals or exceeds the voltage present at the cathode of the low power diode by a predetermined forward voltage, a signal is generated. This signal turns on a transistor acting as a switch, which in turn electronically connects the anode and the cathode of the low power diode together. Unlike conventional diodes that have a forward voltage (dependent on the physical silicon junction property of the diode) of approximately 0.7 Volts, this low power diode has a very small forward voltage (dependent on the drain to source resistance of the switch when on and the offset of the comparator) as low as 0.25 mill…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.