Passive voltage limiter
US6351136B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 8, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/00361
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A circuit for providing protection to active termination devices and drive circuits from overshoot and undershoot noise is disclosed. The circuit includes an interconnect node, an active termination device, a drive circuit, and a voltage limiter for controlling noise overshoot and undershoot at the interconnect node. The voltage limiter controls the impedance at the interconnect node and the voltage swing at the interconnect node. Controlling the impedance reduces the overshoot and undershoot noise at the interconnect node. Controlling the voltage swing reduces the voltage swings across the transistors in the active termination devices and the drive circuits, which reduces the effects of overshoot and undershoot noise on the active termination devices and the drive circuits. The result is less stress on the oxide layers in the transistors and an increased transistor lifetime.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.