US3824408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Driver circuit
Assignee: Microsystems International Ltd
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Filing: 1973-07-20
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1993-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A high speed inverting driver circuit, having a pair of serially arranged bipolar transistors in its output stage, for providing an interface between low level logic signals and a load. During operation of said driver circuit a logic gate, which is coupled to the base electrode of a bipolar transistor switch bridging the base and emitter electrodes of one transistor in the output stage, compares the voltage signals appearing at the input and output terminals of the driver circuit. If, due to slow turn OFF of said one transistor in the output stage, said voltage signals are simultaneously at their logical ''''0'''' level (ground potential), the bipolar transistor switch is turned ON by a signal from the logic gate, and the base and emitter electrodes of said one transistor of the output stage are effectively joined. By joining the base and emitter electrodes via the transistor switch, as aforesaid, charge stored in the base region of said one transistor in the output stage is rapidly depleted and the turn OFF time of said one transistor thereby greatly reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 L Brunel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:56
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/003; H03K19/00346; H03K19/00353; H03K19/01; H03K19/013; H03K19/0136; H03K19/0175; H03K19/018; H03K19/01806
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
A driver circuit having an input terminal for connection to an input signal source, an output terminal for connection to a lOad circuit, and first and second supply terminals for connection to a direct current supply, said driver circuit further comprising: a. first, second, third and fourth bipolar transistors and a first resistor, the emitter electrode of the first transistor being connected to the collector electrode of the second transistor and to the base electrode of the third transistor, the collector electrode of the first transistor being connected to the base electrode of the fourth transistor and via the first resistor to the first supply terminal, the emitter electrode of the second and third transistors being connected to the second supply terminal and the collector electrode of the third transistor being connected to the output terminal; b. means connecting the collector electrode of the fourth transistor to the first supply terminal; c. diode means connecting the emitter electrode of the fourth transistor to the collector electrode of the third transistor; d. current routing means connected to the first supply terminal and linking the input terminal of the driver circuit to the base electrode of the first transistor, said routing means providing a current path from the first supply terminal to either the input terminal of the driver circuit or the base electrode of the first transistor; e. logic gate means having a first gate input terminal, a second gate input terminal, and a gate output terminal, the first gate input terminal being connected to the input terminal of the driver circuit, the second gate input terminal being connected to the output terminal of the driver circuit and the gate output terminal being connected to the base electrode of the second transistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
291 words
A driver circuit having an input terminal for connection to an input signal source, an output terminal for connection to a lOad circuit, and first and second supply terminals for connection to a direct current supply, said driver circuit further comprising: a. first, second, third and fourth bipolar transistors and a first resistor, the emitter electrode of the first transistor being connected to the collector electrode of the second transistor and to the base electrode of the third transistor, the collector electrode of the first transistor being connected to the base electrode of the fourth transistor and via the first resistor to the first supply terminal, the emitter electrode of the second and third transistors being connected to the second supply terminal and the collector electrode of the third transistor being connected to the output terminal; b. means connecting the collector electrode of the fourth transistor to the first supply terminal; c. diode means connecting the emitter electrode of the fourth transistor to the collector electrode of the third transistor; d. current routing means connected to the first supply terminal and linking the input terminal of the driver circuit to the base electrode of the first transistor, said routing means providing a current path from the first supply terminal to either the input terminal of the driver circuit or the base electrode of the first transistor; e. logic gate means having a first gate input terminal, a second gate input terminal, and a gate output terminal, the first gate input terminal being connected to the input terminal of the driver circuit, the second gate input terminal being connected to the output terminal of the driver circuit and the gate output terminal being connected to the base electrode of the second transistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein the routing means comprises a sixth bipolar transistor, a second diode and a third and fourth resistors, the collector and base electrodes of said sixth transistor being respectively connected via the third and fourth resistors to the first supply terminal, the emitter electrode of the said sixth transistor being connected to the base electrode of the first transistor, and the base electrode of said sixth transistor being connected via said second diode to the input terminal of the driver circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein the routing means comprises a seventh bipolar transistor and a fifth resistor, the collector electrode of said seventh transistor being connected to the base electrode of the first transistor, the emitter electrode of said seventh transistor being connected to the input terminal of the driver circuit and the base electrode of said seventh transistor being connected via the fifth resistor to the first supply terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein the diode means is a first diode, said first diode being poles in the same direction as the base emitter diode junction of the fourth transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 2 wherein the diode means is a first diode, said first diode being poled in the same direction as the base emitter diode junction of the fourth transistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 3 wherein the diode means is a first diode, said first diode being poled in the same direction as the base emitter diode junction of the fourth transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein the diode means is the base emitter diode junction of a fifth bipolar transistor, the base and collector electrodes of the fifth transistor being respectively connected to the emitter and collector electrodes of the fourth transistor, and the emitter electrode of said fifth transistor being connected to the output terminal of the driver circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 2 wherein the diode means is the base emitter diode junction of a fifth bipolar transistor, the base and collector electrodes of said fifth transistor being respectively connected to the emitter and collector electrodes of the fourth transistor, and the eMitter electrode of said fifth transistor being connected to the output terminal of the driver circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 3 where the diode means is the base emitter diode junction of a fifth bipolar transistor, the base and collector electrodes of said fifth transistor being respectively connected to the emitter and collector electrodes of the fourth transistor, and the emitter electrode of said fifth transistor being connected to the output terminal of the driver circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein the means connecting the collector electrode of the fourth transistor to the first supply terminal is a second resistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 6 wherein the means connecting the collector electrode of the fourth transistor to the first supply terminal is a second resistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 8 wherein the means connecting the collector electrode of the fourth transistor to the first supply terminal is a second resistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 9 wherein the means connecting the collector electrode of the fourth transistor to the first supply terminal is a second resistor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein the collector electrode of the fourth transistor is directly connected to the first supply terminal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 6 wherein the collector electrode of the fourth transistor is directly connected to the first supply terminal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 8 wherein the collector electrode of the fourth transistor is directly connected to the first supply terminal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 9 wherein the collector electrode of the fourth transistor is directly connected to the first supply terminal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein the logic gate means is a dual input AND gate with inverting inputs and wherein the first and second gate input terminals are connected to said inverting inputs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 6 wherein the logic gate means is a dual input AND gate with inverting inputs and wherein the first and second gate input terminals are connected to said inverting inputs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 8 wherein the logic gate means is a dual input AND gate with inverting inputs and wherein the first and second gate input terminals are connected to said inverting inputs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 9 wherein the logic gate means is a dual input AND gate with inverting inputs and wherein the first and second gate input terminals are connected to said inverting inputs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein the logic gate means is a dual input NOR gate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 6 wherein the logic gate means is a dual input NOR gate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 8 wherein the logic gate means is a dual input NOR gate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The driver circuit as defined in claim 9 wherein the logic gate means is a dual input NOR gate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3602735A
Cited
US3641362A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |