Trapezoidal waveform generator circuit

Claim 1

A circuit which in response to a pulse-type signal provides a voltage which linearly ramps between a first voltage value and a second voltage value in response to the leading edge of said pulse-type signal and which linearly ramps between said second voltage value and said first voltage value in response to the trailing edge of said pulse-type signal, said circuit comprising: inverting amplifying means having an input and an output, said pulse-type signal being applied to said input; capacitance means coupled between said input and said output; first switching means having two terminals respectively direct current coupled to said input and said output, wherein said first switching means includes a solid state device having first and second main electrodes, each coupled respectively to one of said two terminals thereof and a control electrode coupled to a point of first fixed potential, said solid state device of said first switching means allowing current to flow between said output and said input whenever the voltage as said output becomes said first vOltage value; second switching means having two terminals respectively direct current coupled to said input and said output, wherein said second switching means includes a solid state device having first and second main electrodes each coupled respectively to one of said two terminals thereof and a control electrode coupled to a point of second fixed potential, said solid state device of said second switching means allowing current to flow between said input and said output whenever the voltage at said output becomes said second voltage value; wherein said solid state device of said first switching means is a PNP transistor having a base, an emitter and a collector, said base being coupled to said point of first fixed potential, said emitter being coupled to said output, and said collector being coupled to said input; and wherein said solid state device of said second switching means is an NPN transistor having a base, an emitter, and a collector, said base being coupled to said point of second fixed potential, said emitter being coupled to said output, and said collector being coupled to said input.