Patent US4386285A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4386285A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Digitally controllable analog switch

Assignee: King Instrument Corp
•
Filing: 1980-10-31
•
Granted: 1983-05-31
•
Expires: 2000-10-31
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An operational amplifier for generating an output analog signal at an output node representative of an analog signal fed to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier. A controllable switch connects the output of the operational amplifier to the output node, and the signal at the output node is fed back to the inverting input of the operational amplifier. The controllable switch is responsive to a digital logic control signal for completing the circuit path between the operational amplifier and the output node in order to generate the output analog signal. A plurality of such operational amplifiers have their feedback path connected at a common output node.

Inventors

  • 👤 David O. Neathery
  • 👤 Edward J. Riggs

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-10 00:52
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/78; H03K17/795; H03K17/7955

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 176 words
An analog switch for generating a representation of an analog input signal responsive to a predetermined logic state of a digital control signal, said switch comprising: an analog signal input terminal for receiving said analog input signal; an analog signal output terminal for providing said representation; operational amplifier means including (1) a non-inverting input terminal coupled to said analog signal input terminal, (2) an inverting input terminal, and (3) an output terminal coupled to said analog signal output terminal; variable impedance means connected between the output and inverting input terminals of said amplifier and adapted to vary its electrical impedance responsively to an optical signal; a digital signal input terminal for receiving said digital control signal; optical signal generating means electrically isolated from said variable impedance means for generating said optical signal in response to an energizing signal, and switching means coupled to said digital input terminal and adapted to be conductive in response to said digital control signal so as to generate said energizing signal, and non-conductive in the absence of said digital control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 176 words
An analog switch for generating a representation of an analog input signal responsive to a predetermined logic state of a digital control signal, said switch comprising: an analog signal input terminal for receiving said analog input signal; an analog signal output terminal for providing said representation; operational amplifier means including (1) a non-inverting input terminal coupled to said analog signal input terminal, (2) an inverting input terminal, and (3) an output terminal coupled to said analog signal output terminal; variable impedance means connected between the output and inverting input terminals of said amplifier and adapted to vary its electrical impedance responsively to an optical signal; a digital signal input terminal for receiving said digital control signal; optical signal generating means electrically isolated from said variable impedance means for generating said optical signal in response to an energizing signal, and switching means coupled to said digital input terminal and adapted to be conductive in response to said digital control signal so as to generate said energizing signal, and non-conductive in the absence of said digital control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 66 words
A switch according to claim 1 wherein said variable impedance means includes photoresistive means electrically connected between said output terminal of said operational amplifier means with said analog signal output terminal; and said optical signal generating means includes photoelectric means positioned with respect to said photoresistive means for generating light to actuate said photoresistive means, said photoelectric means generating light responsive to the digital control signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
A switch according to claim 2 wherein said photoelectric means include: voltage source means connected to one side of said photodiode for producing a current through said photodiode; and photodiode means connected between said voltage source means and said switching means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
A switch according to claim 3 wherein said switching means includes a transistor having a collector emitter path connected in series with said photodiode, the base of said transistor means being responsive to the digital control signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 59 words
A switch according to claim 1 wherein said variable impedance means indludes a pair of switching devices connected in parallel with one another each between said inverting input terminal and output terminal of said operational amplifier and unidirectional current conduction means connected to each of said switching devices so that said switching devices respectively conduct currents of opposite polarity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 62 words
A switch according to claim 5 wherein each of said switching devices includes: phototransistor means; and said optical signal generating means includes photoelectric means for each of said phototransistors, said photoelectric means being positioned relative to said phototransistor means and connected to said digital signal input terminal for reducing the impedance of said phototransistor means in response to said digital control signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
A switch according to claim 6 wherein both of said photoelectric means are actuated substantially simultaneously in response to the digital control signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
A switch according to claim 1 and further including scalar means including first and second impedance elements for scaling the value of said representation with respect to said analog input signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2812445A Cited
US3304429A Cited
US3349319A Cited
US3539928A Cited
US3885220A Cited
US4075512A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-05-30 1986-11-29 1987-05-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-05-30 1990-11-29 1991-05-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-05-30 1994-11-29 1995-05-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag