Load actuation circuit
US6396249B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 28, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/145
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A load actuation circuit is provided which is capable of placing a limit on load current to a load below a predetermined value with high accuracy. In the load actuation circuit, a series circuit comprising a detection transistor and an NPN transistor is connected in parallel with an output transistor for supplying a load current to the load, and a diode is placed between the gates of the output transistor and the detection transistor for producing a voltage drop equal to a voltage drop in the NPN transistor. In addition, a constant-current circuit for supplying a constant current is connected to the gate of the detection transistor, and another transistor for constituting a current mirror circuit together with the NPN transistor is connected to the gate of the output transistor. This circuit arrangement prevents a limit value of the load current from fluctuating due to the non-uniformity of circuit elements or the like, thus achieving high-accuracy load-current limitation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.