Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus for preventing inadvertent activation of power devices

US6577171B1 · kind B1 · utility

6Cited by
4References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 22, 2000
Grant dateJun 10, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 22, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K17/063
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A high side circuit includes at least one power device having a first non-drivable terminal connected to a supply voltage, at least one load connected between a second non-drivable terminal of the power device and ground, and driving circuitry. The driving circuitry includes transistors which are connected to each other and to a higher voltage than the supply voltage in order to control the turning on and the turning off of the power device and to reduce or minimize the potential difference between the second non-drivable terminal and a drivable terminal of the power device during the turning off state to avoid the re-turning on of the same power device.

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