US3684900A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bistable multivibrator including special charging circuit for capacitive links for improved power to switching speed ratios
Assignee: Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Forschung an der Eidgenoessischen Technischen Hochschule
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Filing: 1970-06-02
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Granted: 1972-08-15
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Expires: 1990-06-02
Abstract
Abstract An electronic circuit arrangement having at least one bistable multivibrator, particularly improved for use in integrated switching circuits at reduced power input for the same switching frequency or at an increased switching frequency for the same power input. The multivibrator has two switch stages, each having a switching transistor and a control transistor of the same polarity with parallel collector-emitter paths and bases connected through capacitive links to the stepping input of the multivibrator. A preliminary transistor of the same polarity has its collector-emitter section connected between the base and collector of the control transistor of a given switch stage for charging the capacitive links with a constant current during multivibrator switching. In modified embodiments, two sets of further transistors provide constant current to the preliminary transistor base and to the collectors of the switching and control transistors respectively, of the several stages. In one such embodiment, separate reference voltage sources provide base current to the two sets. In another, the same source is used for both sets. In still another, the same source is used for both sets, but indirectly as to one set. In a further modification, a plurality of multivibrators are connected in a counter chain, the reference voltage sources of which are energized by a further circuit having a plurality of constant current sources.
Inventors
- 👤 Andre Greuter
- 👤 Arpad Korom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:02
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K23/00; H03K23/002; G; G04; G04F; G04F5/00; G04G; G04G3/00; G04G3/02; H03K3/00; H03K3/01; H03K3/012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
An electronic circuit arrangement in which the ratio of the upper frequency limit to power input is improved, more especially for integrated circuits, comprising at least one bistable multivibrator having two stages and a common triggering input and a signal output, each said stagE including a switching transistor and a control transistor of the same type, the collector-emitter sections of said switching transistor and control transistor of each stage being connected in parallel to each other, a capacitive link connecting the base of the control transistor of each stage to said common triggering input of the multivibrator, the base of the switching transistor of each stage being coupled directly to the collectors of the switching and control transistors of the other stage, the collectors of the switching and control transistors of one stage being connected to said signal output of the multivibrator, an input transistor in each stage of the multivibrator, supply means supplying said input transistors with an at least substantially constant base current, the collector-emitter section of each input transistor being connected between the base and collector of the control transistor of the relevant stage for rapid charging of said capacitive links, said input transistor being of the same type as the control transistor in the same stage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
An electronic circuit arrangement in which the ratio of the upper frequency limit to power input is improved, more especially for integrated circuits, comprising at least one bistable multivibrator having two stages and a common triggering input and a signal output, each said stagE including a switching transistor and a control transistor of the same type, the collector-emitter sections of said switching transistor and control transistor of each stage being connected in parallel to each other, a capacitive link connecting the base of the control transistor of each stage to said common triggering input of the multivibrator, the base of the switching transistor of each stage being coupled directly to the collectors of the switching and control transistors of the other stage, the collectors of the switching and control transistors of one stage being connected to said signal output of the multivibrator, an input transistor in each stage of the multivibrator, supply means supplying said input transistors with an at least substantially constant base current, the collector-emitter section of each input transistor being connected between the base and collector of the control transistor of the relevant stage for rapid charging of said capacitive links, said input transistor being of the same type as the control transistor in the same stage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein in each stage of the multivibrator the collector of the input transistor is connected to the collector of the control transistor of the relevant stage, and the emitter of the input transistor is connected to the base of the control transistor of that stage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said capacitive links comprise diodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supply means include a constant current source which includes a further transistor as an element which keeps the current constant, said further transistor being of a type which is complementary to the type of the input transistor, means supplying the base-emitter section of the further transistor with a reference voltage which keeps the current in the collector-emitter circuit of said further transistor at least approximately constant, the collector of said further transistor being connected to the base of the input transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which said supply means includes a current supply source and an ohmic resistance, wherein in each stage of the multivibrator the base of the input transistor is connected via said ohmic resistance to said current supply source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, including a constant current source having a further transistor as an element which keeps the current constant, said further transistor being of a type complementary to the type of the switching and control transistors, means defining a reference voltage source connected to the base-emitter section of said further transistor for keeping the current in the collector-emitter circuit of said further transistor at least approximately constant, the interconnected collectors of the switching and control transistors being connected to the collector of said further transistor for receiving constant current therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, including a current supply source and an ohmic resistance connecting same to the collectors of the switching transistor and of the control transistor of each stage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said supply means includes a second constant current source which delivers the base currents of the input transistors at a lower current level than the first mentioned constant current source to which the collectors of the switching transistors and of the control transistors are connected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second constant current source has a still further transistor as an element which keeps the current constant and including means connecting the base-emitter sections of said further and still further transistors in parallel to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base-emitter sections of said further transistors are connected directly to said refereNce voltage source, including a common emitter resistance connecting the base-emitter sections of said still further transistors to the same reference voltage source, said reference voltage source including a resistance dependent upon temperature and charged with an at least approximately constant reference current, said dependent resistance comprising an additional transistor of the same type as that of said further and still further transistors, the emitter electrode of said additional transistor forming one pole and the collector and base electrodes of said additional transistor being connected together to form the other pole of said resistance dependent upon temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
114 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base-emitter sections of said further transistors are connected to said reference voltage source, and the base emitter sections of said still further transistors being connected to a further separate reference voltage source, said reference voltage sources including a resistance dependent upon temperature which is charged in each case with an at least approximately constant reference current, said dependent resistance comprising an additional transistor of the same type as that of said further and still further transistors, the emitter electrode of said additional transistor forming one pole, and its collector and base electrodes, connected together, forming the other pole of said resistance dependent upon temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
189 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second constant current source has a still further transistor as an element which keeps the current constant, the base-emitter section of said still further transistor and the base-emitter section of said further transistor belonging to the same stage are connected in series, to form a series line for each stage, a common reference voltage source, the series lines of the various stages of the multivibrator being connected to said common reference voltage source, a resistance dependent upon temperature and charged with an at least approximately constant reference current, said resistance being formed from two transistors of the same type as that of said further and still further transistors, the base-emitter sections of said two transistors being connected in series to form a second series line, the emitter electrode situated at the one end of said second series line forming one pole of said resistance dependent on temperature, the base electrode situated at the other end of said second series line together with the collector electrodes of said two transistors forming the other pole of said resistance dependent upon temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a large number of bistable multivibrators are connected together into a chain, whereby at least one part of the bistable multivibrators which form the chain is provided with preliminary transistors in their individual stages, and these bistable multivibrators, provided with preliminary transistors, are arranged in uninterrupted sequence from the input of the chain to a definite stage of the chain.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein the chain is a counter chain.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein the chain is an impulse frequency reducer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |