Power supply reverse bias protection circuit for protecting both analog and digital devices coupled thereto
US6650520B2 · kind B2 · utility
13Cited by
12References
12Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 3, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H11/003
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
All integrated circuits (ICs) require a power supply having a potential difference for use in powering internal integrated circuit components to ensure their operation. In some cases it is possible to inadvertently reverse the bias of the applied potential difference, resulting in damage to the IC. For propagating large currents big pass transistors are used within the circuit. Reverse bias protection for these ICs is achieved by utilizing either a protection transistor in parallel with the big pass transistor, or a diode within the big pass transistor for protecting both analog and digital ICs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.