Circuit simulating a diode
US6060943A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 9, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2017/307
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A circuit simulating the function of a diode in the sense that it conducts current in one direction and blocks current in the opposite direction, but which has a low forward voltage drop. A voltage comparator and a three terminal switch are connected so that the intrinsic reverse diode associated with the switch is harnessed to conduct current in the direction in which it is desired to conduct current and to block current in the direction in which it is desired to block current. A voltage comparator controls the control terminal of the three terminal switch to turn on the switch to conduct current from a terminal A to a terminal K when the voltage at terminal A is higher than the voltage at terminal K and to interrupt current from terminal K to terminal A when the voltage at terminal K is higher than the voltage at terminal A. The switch terminal (source or drain) that is typically connected to the higher voltage of two voltage terminals is instead connected to the lower voltage of the two voltage terminals. The switch may be a MOSFET, p- or n-channel, depletion or enhancement. Alternatively, a bipolar transistor may be connected to a voltage comparator to simulate the function of …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.