EP0089091A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Voltage translator
Assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
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Filing: 1983-03-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A bipolar voltage translator contains a pair of differentially-coupled transistors for converting an input voltage supplied to the base of a first (Q1) of the pair into an output voltage taken between a first resistor (R9) and the collector of the second (Q2) of the pair. A second resistor (R12) is coupled between a V EE supply and a current-source transistor (Q4) which supplies current to the differential pair. The current-source transistor is controlled by a reference voltage which equals V EE + (1 + a) V BE where a is in the range 0.2 to 3.0. The ratio of the first resistor to the second resistor is desirably β/α where β V BE is the output voltage swing. Circuitry such as a Schottky diode (S4) is coupled between the emitters of the differential pair to prevent the emitter-base junction of the second transistor from breaking down. Where the transistors are NPN devices and equals 1, the output voltage is provided at levels suitable for current tree logic.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas Duke Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:05
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/0175; H03K19/018; H03K19/01806; H03K19/01812
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
An electronic circuit for converting an input voltage into an output voltage at a different level wherein (1) a first bipolar transistor of a given polarity has an emitter, a base for receiving the input voltage, and a collector coupled to a source of a first supply voltage, (2) a second bipolar transistor of the given polarity has an emitter coupled through a first node to the emitter of the first transistor, a base for receiving a first reference voltage, and a collector for supplying the output voltage, (3) a first resistor is coupled between the source of the first supply voltage and the collector of the second transistor, (4) a current-source bipolar transistor of the given polarity has an emitter, a base for receiving a second reference voltage, and a collector coupled to the node, and (5) a second resistor is coupled between a source of a second supply voltage and the emitter of the current-source transistor, characterized in that the second reference voltage equals the second supply voltage plus (1+α)V BE where α is in the range 0.2 to 3.0 and V BE is the average base-to-emitter voltage of the transistor when their base-emitter junctions are just conductively forward biased.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
An electronic circuit for converting an input voltage into an output voltage at a different level wherein (1) a first bipolar transistor of a given polarity has an emitter, a base for receiving the input voltage, and a collector coupled to a source of a first supply voltage, (2) a second bipolar transistor of the given polarity has an emitter coupled through a first node to the emitter of the first transistor, a base for receiving a first reference voltage, and a collector for supplying the output voltage, (3) a first resistor is coupled between the source of the first supply voltage and the collector of the second transistor, (4) a current-source bipolar transistor of the given polarity has an emitter, a base for receiving a second reference voltage, and a collector coupled to the node, and (5) a second resistor is coupled between a source of a second supply voltage and the emitter of the current-source transistor, characterized in that the second reference voltage equals the second supply voltage plus (1+α)V BE where α is in the range 0.2 to 3.0 and V BE is the average base-to-emitter voltage of the transistor when their base-emitter junctions are just conductively forward biased.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A circuit as in Claim 1 characterized in that the resistance ratio of the first resistor to the second resistor is β/α where β V BE is the voltage swing in the output voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
147 words
An electronic circuit for translating an input voltage into an output voltage at a different level wherein (1) a first bipolar transistor of a given polarity has an emitter, a base for receiving the input voltage, and a collector coupled to a source of a first supply voltage, (2) a second bipolar transistor of the given polarity has an emitter coupled through a node to the emitter of the first transistor, a base for receiving a first reference voltage, and a collector for supplying the output voltage, (3) a first resistor is coupled between the source of the first supply voltage and the collector of the second transistor and (4) a current source is coupled between a source of a second supply voltage and the node, characterized by means coupled between the emitters for pre - venting the emitter-base junction of the second transistor from breaking down.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
An electronic circuit for translating an input voltage into an output voltage at a different level wherein (1) a first bipolar transistor of a given polarity has an emitter, a base for receiving the input voltage, and a collector coupled to a source of a first supply voltage, (2) a second bipolar transistor of the given polarity has an emitter coupled through a node to the emitter of the first transistor, a base for receiving a first reference voltage, and a collector for supplying the output voltage, (3) a first resistor is coupled between the source of the first supply voltage and the collector of the second transistor and (4) a current source is coupled between a source of a second supply voltage and the node, characterized by means coupled between the emitters for pre - venting the emitter-base junction of the second transistor from breaking down.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A circuit as in Claim 3 characterized in that the means for preventing comprises a diode coupled between the node and the emitter of the second transistor in an opposing configuration with the base-emitter junction of the first transistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit as in Claim 4 characterized in that the diode is a Schottky diode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
A circuit as in Claim 5 wherein the current source comprises (1) a current-source bipolar transistor of the given polarity having an emitter, a base for receiving a second reference voltage, and a collector coupled to the node, and (2) a second resistor coupled between the source of the second supply voltage and the emitter of the current-source transistor, characterized in that the second reference voltage equals the second supply voltage plus (1 + α )V BE where α is in the range 0.2 to 3.0 and V BE is the average base-to-emitter voltage of the transistors when their base-emitter junctions are just conductively forward biased.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A circuit as in Claim 6 characterized in that the resistance ratio of the first resistor to the second resistor is β/α where f'V BE is the voltage swing in the output voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A circuit as in Claim 2 or 7 characterized in that the circuit is a monolithic integrated circuit in which the resistors have substantially the same orientation and width.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit as in Claim 8 characterized in that the resistance ratio of the resistors varies less than 1 percent over a temperature range of -55 C to 125 C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A circuit as in Claim 2 or 7 characterized by means for providing the reference voltages comprising (1) a set of cathode-to-anode serially coupled diodes comprising a first diode coupled through a second node to the base of the second transistor, an intermediate second diode, and a third diode forwardly coupled to the source of the second supply voltage and (2) a pair of resistors coupled across the second diode and commonly through a third node to the base of the current-source transistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
A circuit as in Claim 10 characterized in that the means for supplying further includes (1) a bipolar transistor of the given polarity having an emitter coupled to the base of the second transistor, a base coupled to the second node, and a collector coupled to the source of the first supply voltage, (2) a bipolar transistor of the given polarity having an emitter coupled to the base of the current-source transistor, a base coupled to the third node, and a collector coupled to the source of the first supply voltage, and (3) a PN junction diode cathode-to-anode coupled between the third diode and the source of the second supply voltage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A circuit as in Claim 11 characterized in that the transistors are NPN transistors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A circuit as in Claim 12 characterized in that the first diode is a Schottky diode and that the second and third diodes are PN junction diodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit as in Claim 13 characterized in that the first transistor is Schottky clamped.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A circuit as in Claim 14 characterized by a Schottky diode forwardly coupled between the source of the first supply voltage and the collector of the first transistor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A circuit as in Claim 12 characterized in that the resistances of the pair of resistors are substantially the same whereby C4 is 0.5.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A circuit as in Claim 2 or 7 characterized in that the transistors are NPN transistors and that β is 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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