Large scale array driver for bipolar devices

Claim 2

A large scale array driver for bipolar devices having an input and an output, said driver comprising, a first field effect transistor for providing a current source at said output for holding a bipolar device on, said first field effect transistor having a first control electrode, and a second field effect transistor for providing a transient current sink at said output for turning said bipolar device off, said second field effect transistor having a second control electrode, said first and second field effect transistor means having first and second electrodes connected together at said output, first and second channel means connected to the first and second control electrodes of said first and second field transistor respectively for controlling the conduction of said first and second field effect transistor, said channels being gated by control signals for switching the output from said current source to said transient current sink as a function of an input voltage level.

Claim 3

A large scale array driver for bipolar devices having an input and an output, said driver comprising, first means including first field effect transistor means for providing a current source at said output for holding a bipolar device on, and second means including second field effect transistor means for providing a transient current sink at said output for turning said bipolar device off, said first and second means being gated by control signals for switching the output from said current source to said transient current sink as a function of an input voltage level, said first and second field effect transistor means having a common connection at said output, said transient current sink comprises a voltage level for turning a bipolar device off, said first field effect transistor means being relatively larger than said second field effect transistor.

Claim 4

A large scale array driver for bipolar devices having an input and an output, said driver comprising, first means including first field effect transistor means for providing a current source at said output for holding a bipolar device on, and second means including second field effect transistor means for providing a transient current sink at said output for turning said bipolar device off, said first and second means being gated by control signals for switching the output from said current source to said transient current sink as a function of an input voltage level, said first and second field effect transistor means having a common connection at said output, said transient current sink comprises a voltage level for turning a bipolar device off, said first field effect transistor means being relatively larger than said second field effect transistor.

Claim 5

A large scale array driver for bipolar devices having an input and an output, said driver comprising, first field effect transistor means for providing a current source at said output for holding a bipolar device on, said first field effect transistor means having a first control electrode, and second field effect transistor means for providing a transient current sink at said output for turning said bipolar device off, said second field effect transistor having a second control electrode, said first and second field effect transistor means having first and second electrodes connected together at said output, first and second channel means connected to the first and second control electrodes of said first and second field effect transistor means respectively for controlling the conduction of said first and second field effect transistor means, said channels being gated by control signals for switching the output from said current source to said transient current sink as a function of an input voltage level, said input being connected at a common point between said first and second channels, said control signals comprising first and second control signals synchronized for gating a voltage level in said first channel to the control electrode of said first field effect transistor whereby the first field effect transistor is turned on to provide the current source at the output and for gating a different voltage level in said second channel to the control electrode of said second field effect transistor whereby the second field effect transistor is turned on to provide the transient current sink at the output.

Claim 6

A large scale array driver for bipolar devices having an input and an output, said driver comprising, first field effect transistor means for providing a current source at said output for holding a bipolar device on, said first field effect transistor means having a first control electrode, and second field effect transistor means for providing a transient current sink at said output for turning said bipolar device off, said second field effect transistor having a second control electrode, said first and second field effect transistor means having first and second electrodes connected together at said output, first and second channel means connected to the first and second control electrodes of said first and second field effect transistor means respectively for controlling the conduction of said first and second field effect transistor means, said channels being gated by control signals for switching the output from said current source to said transient current sink as a function of an input voltage level, said input being connected at a common point between said first and second channels, said control signals comprising first and second control signals synchronized for gating a voltage level in said first channel to the control electrode of said first field effect transistor whereby the first field effect transistor is turned on to provide the current source at the output and for gating a different voltage level in said second channel to the control electrode of said second field effect transistor whereby the second field effect transistor is turned on to provide the transient current sink at the output.

Claim 7

The driver recited in claim 3 wherein said first channel includes means storing said recited voltage level for holding said first transistor on until said second transistor is turned on during one phase of one of said control signals when said input has a predetermined voltage level.

Claim 8

The driver recited in claim 3 wherein said second channel includes means for turning said second transistor on during one phase time of one of said control signals by providing a transient voltage level on the control electrode of said second field effect transistor.

Claim 9

The driver recited in claim 3 wherein said first channel comprises a first input field effect transistor having its control electrode connected to the input, one of its other electrodes connected to a reference voltage, and having another electrode, said channel further comprising a first load field effect transistor having its control electrode connected to one of said control signals, one of its other electrodes connected to one of said control signals, one of its other electrodes connected to the last recited electrode of said first input field effect transistor and its other electrode connected to a load voltage, and a first switching field effect transistor connected between the control electrode of said first field effect transistor and a common point between said input field effect transistor and the load field effect transistor, said switching field effect transistor having its control electrode connected to said first control signal whereby a first voltage level appearing on the input turns the input field effect transistor off for gating approximately the load voltage to the control electrode of said first field effect transistor for turning said first field effect transistor on.

Claim 10

The driver recited in claim 3 wherein said second channel comprises a switching field effect transistor connected in series with said input and having its control electrode connected to a second of said control signals, and a load field effect transistor having a first electrode connected to a first of said control signals and a second electrode connected to the control electrode of said second field effect transistor, said load field effect having its control electrode connected to one electrode of said switching field effect transistor, the other electrode of said switching field effect transistor being connected to said input, a second voltage level appearing on the input being gated to the control electrode of said load field effect transistor during one phase of said second control signal for turning said load field effect transistor on, capacitor means connected between the control electrode of said load field effect transistor and the second electrode of said load fIeld effect transistor for feeding back voltage to said control electrode, said feedback voltage enhancing the conduction of said load field effect transistor whereby the voltage level of said first control signal appears on the control electrode of said second field effect transistor for turning the second field effect transistor on at least during the transient period of one phase of said first control signal.