Protective circuit for output transformer-less circuit

Claim 2

A protective circuit for preventing breakdown of at least one of output transistors of an OTL circuit, comprising: a power supply for producing a power supply potential; a first voltage comparator circuit having one input terminal coupled to receive an output signal of the OTL circuit and another input terminal applied with a first reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to the power supply potential and which produces a first comparator output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the first reference voltage; a second voltage comparator circuit having one input terminal coupled to receive the output signal of the OTL circuit and another input terminal applied with a second reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to earth potential and which produces a second comparator output signal in response to a comparison of said outpt signal with the second reference voltage; a control circuit responsive to the first and second comparator output signals for producing a control signal when an output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential; and a switch circuit operable in response to the control signal for cutting off at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit, said switch circuit including a first switching device coupled between the base of one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit and earth potential and a second switching device coupled between the base of the other output transistor of the OTL circuit and earth potential, at least one of said first and second switching devices being rendered conductive when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential, whereby said switch circuit does not affect the normal operation of the OTL circuit and is operated only when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit.

Claim 3

The protective circuit according to claim 1 wherein the first reference voltage lies between an average voltage of the output signal of the OTL circuit and the power supply potential and the second reference voltage lies between the average and earth potential.

Claim 4

The protective circuit according to claim 2 wherein the average voltage appears at a junction between a load directly connected to the output of the OTL circuit and an output coupling capacitor connected in series with the load.

Claim 5

In an OTL circuit having a pair of output transistors, a driver transistor, the collector of which is coupled to a base of one output transistor of the OTL circuit and a polarity inversion transistor, the collector of which is coupled to a base of another output transistor of the OTL circuit, a protective circuit for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit comprising: a power supply for producing a power supply potential; a first voltage comparator circuit having one input terminal coupled to receive an output signal of the OTL circuit and another input terminal applied with a first reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to the power supply potential and which produces a first comparator signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the first reference voltage; a second voltage comparator circuit having one input terminal coupled to receive the output signal of the OTL circuit and another input terminal applied with a second reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to earth potential and which produces a second comparator output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the seconnd reference voltage; a control circuit responsive to the first and second comparator output signals for producing a control signal when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential; and a switch circuit operable in response to the control signal for cutting off at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit, said switch circuit including a first transistor having its collector coupled to the collector of the driver transistor of the OTL circuit and its emitter coupled to earth potential and a second transistor having its collector coupled to the collector of the polarity inversion transistor of the OTL circuit and its emitter coupled to earth potential, at least one of said first and second transistors being rendered conductive when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply or earth potential, whereby said switch circuit does not affect the normal operation of the OTL circuit and is operated only when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit.

Claim 6

In an OTL circuit having a pair of output transistors, a driver transistor, the collector of which is coupled to a base of one output transistor of the OTL circuit and a polarity inversion transistor, the collector of which is coupled to a base of another output transistor of the OTL circuit, a protective circuit for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit comprising: a power supply for producing a power supply potential; a first voltage comparator circuit having one input terminal coupled to receive an output signal of the OTL circuit and another input terminal applied with a first reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to the power supply potential and which produces a first comparator signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the first reference voltage; a second voltage comparator circuit having one input terminal coupled to receive the output signal of the OTL circuit and another input terminal applied with a second reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to earth potential and which produces a second comparator output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the seconnd reference voltage; a control circuit responsive to the first and second comparator output signals for producing a control signal when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential; and a switch circuit operable in response to the control signal for cutting off at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit, said switch circuit including a first transistor having its collector coupled to the collector of the driver transistor of the OTL circuit and its emitter coupled to earth potential and a second transistor having its collector coupled to the collector of the polarity inversion transistor of the OTL circuit and its emitter coupled to earth potential, at least one of said first and second transistors being rendered conductive when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply or earth potential, whereby said switch circuit does not affect the normal operation of the OTL circuit and is operated only when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit.

Claim 7

The protective circuit according to claim 4 wherein the bases of said first and second transistors of the switch circuit are coupled to each other to receive the control signal to cut off output transistors of the OTL circuit simultaneously.

Claim 8

The protective circuit according to claim 4 wherein the first reference voltage lies between an average voltage of the output signal of the OTL circuit and the power supply potential and the second reference voltage lies between the average voltage and earth potential.

Claim 9

The protective circuit according to claim 6 wherein the average voltage appears at a junction between a load directly connected to the output of the OTL circuit and and output coupling capacitor connected in series with the load.

Claim 10

A protective circuit for preventing breakdown of at least one of output transistors of an OTL circuit, comprising: a power supply for producing a power supply potential; a first differential amplifier circuit having a first transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive an output signal of the OTL circuit and a second transistor, the base of which is applied with a first reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to the power supply potential and which produces a first differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the first reference voltage; a second differential amplifier circuit having a third transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive the output signal of the OTL circuit and a fourth transistor, the base of which is applied with a second reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to earth potential and which produces a second differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the second reference voltage; a resistor connected between the base and emitter of at least one of the transistors in at least one of the first and second differential amplifier circuits; a control circuit responsive to the first and second differential output signals for producing a control signal when an output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential; and a switch circuit operable in response to the control signal for cutting off at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit, said circuit including a first switching device coupled between the base of one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit and earth potential and a second switching device coupled between the base of the other output transistor of the OTL circuit and earth potential, at least one of said first and second switching devices being rendered conductive when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential, whereby said switch circuit does not affect the normal operation of the OTL circuit and is operated only when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit.

Claim 11

A protective circuit for preventing breakdown of at least one of output transistors of an OTL circuit, comprising: a power supply for producing a power supply potential; a first differential amplifier circuit having a first transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive an output signal of the OTL circuit and a second transistor, the base of which is applied with a first reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to the power supply potential and which produces a first differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the first reference voltage; a second differential amplifier circuit having a third transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive the output signal of the OTL circuit and a fourth transistor, the base of which is applied with a second reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to earth potential and which produces a second differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the second reference voltage; a resistor connected between the base and emitter of at least one of the transistors in at least one of the first and second differential amplifier circuits; a control circuit responsive to the first and second differential output signals for producing a control signal when an output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential; and a switch circuit operable in response to the control signal for cutting off at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit, said circuit including a first switching device coupled between the base of one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit and earth potential and a second switching device coupled between the base of the other output transistor of the OTL circuit and earth potential, at least one of said first and second switching devices being rendered conductive when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential, whereby said switch circuit does not affect the normal operation of the OTL circuit and is operated only when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit.

Claim 12

The protective circuit according to claim 8, wherein the first reference voltage lies between an average voltage of the output signal of the OTL circuit and the power supply potential and the second reference voltage lies between the average voltage and earth potential.

Claim 13

The protective circuit according to claim 9 wherein the average voltage appears at a junction between a load directly connected to the output of the OTL circuit and an output coupling capacitor connected in series with the laod.

Claim 14

A protective circuit for preventing breakdown of at least one of output transistors of an OTL circuit, comprising: a power supply for producing a power supply potential; a first differential amplifier circuit having a first transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive an output signal of the OTL circuit and a second transistor, the base of which is applied with a first reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to the power supply potential and which produces a first differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the first reference voltage; a second differential amplifier circuit having a third transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive the output signal of the OTL circuit and a fourth transistor, the base of which is applied with a second reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to earth potential and which produces a second differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the second reference voltage; a resistor connected between the base and emitter of each transistor in at least one of the first and second differential amplifier circuits; a control circuit responsive to the first and second differential output signals for producing a control signal when an output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential; and a switch circuit operable in response to the control signal for cutting off at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit, said switch circuit including a first switchng device coupled between the base of one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit and earth potential and a second switching device coupled between the base of the other output transistor of the OTL circuit and earth potential, at least one of said first and second switching devices being rendered conductive when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential, whereby said switch circuit does not affect the normal operation of the OTL circuit and is operated only when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit.

Claim 15

A protective circuit for preventing breakdown of at least one of output transistors of an OTL circuit, comprising: a power supply for producing a power supply potential; a first differential amplifier circuit having a first transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive an output signal of the OTL circuit and a second transistor, the base of which is applied with a first reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to the power supply potential and which produces a first differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the first reference voltage; a second differential amplifier circuit having a third transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive the output signal of the OTL circuit and a fourth transistor, the base of which is applied with a second reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to earth potential and which produces a second differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the second reference voltage; a resistor connected between the base and emitter of each transistor in at least one of the first and second differential amplifier circuits; a control circuit responsive to the first and second differential output signals for producing a control signal when an output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential; and a switch circuit operable in response to the control signal for cutting off at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit, said switch circuit including a first switchng device coupled between the base of one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit and earth potential and a second switching device coupled between the base of the other output transistor of the OTL circuit and earth potential, at least one of said first and second switching devices being rendered conductive when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential, whereby said switch circuit does not affect the normal operation of the OTL circuit and is operated only when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit.

Claim 16

A protective circuit for preventing breakdown of at least one of output transistors of an OTL circuit, comprising: a power supply for producing a power supply potential; a first differential amplifier circuit having a first transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive an output signal of the OTL circuit and a second transistor, the base of which is applied with a first reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to the power supply potential and which produces a first differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the first reference voltage; a second differential amplifier circuit having a third transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive the output signal of the OTL circuit and a fourth transistor, the base of which is applied with a second reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to earth potential and which produces a second differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the second reference signal; a resistor connected between the base and emitter of each of the transistors of each of the first and second differential amplifier circuits; a control circuit responsive to the first and second differential output signals for producing a control signal when an output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential; and a switch circuit operable in response to the control signal for cutting off at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit, said switch circuit including a first switching device coupled between the base of one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit and earth potential and a second switching device coupled between the base of the other output transistor of the OTL circuit and earth potential, at least one of said first and second switching devices being rendered conductive when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential, whereby said switch circuit does not affect the normal operation of the OTL circuit and is operated only when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit.

Claim 17

A protective circuit for preventing breakdown of at least one of output transistors of an OTL circuit, comprising: a power supply for producing a power supply potential; a first differential amplifier circuit having a first transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive an output signal of the OTL circuit and a second transistor, the base of which is applied with a first reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to the power supply potential and which produces a first differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the first reference voltage; a second differential amplifier circuit having a third transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive the output signal of the OTL circuit and a fourth transistor, the base of which is applied with a second reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to earth potential and which produces a second differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the second reference signal; a resistor connected between the base and emitter of each of the transistors of each of the first and second differential amplifier circuits; a control circuit responsive to the first and second differential output signals for producing a control signal when an output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential; and a switch circuit operable in response to the control signal for cutting off at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit, said switch circuit including a first switching device coupled between the base of one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit and earth potential and a second switching device coupled between the base of the other output transistor of the OTL circuit and earth potential, at least one of said first and second switching devices being rendered conductive when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential, whereby said switch circuit does not affect the normal operation of the OTL circuit and is operated only when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit.

Claim 18

A protective circuit for preventing breakdown of at least one of output transistors of an OTL circuit, comprising: a power supply for producing a power supply potential; a first differential amplifier circuit having a first transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive an output signal of the OTL circuit and a second transistor, the base of which is applied with a first reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of OTL circuit and to the power supply potential and which produces a first differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the first reference voltage; a second differential amplifier circuit having a third transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive the output signal of the OTL circuit and a fourth transistor, the base of which is applied with a second reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to earth potential and which produces a second differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the second reference voltage, at least one of said first and second differential amplifier circuits having Darlington connection transistors and a resistor connected between the base and emitter of a second stage resistor of the Darlington connection transistors; a control circuit responsive to the first and second differential output signals for producing a control signal when an output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential; and a switch circuit operable in response to the control signal for cutting off at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit, said switch circuit including a first switching device coupled between the base of one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit and earth potential and a second switching device coupled between the base of the other output transistor of the OTL circuit and earth potential, at least one of said first and second switching devices being rendered conductive when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential, whereby said switch circuit does not affect the normal operation of the OTL circuit and is operated only when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit.

Claim 19

A protective circuit for preventing breakdown of at least one of output transistors of an OTL circuit, comprising: a power supply for producing a power supply potential; a first differential amplifier circuit having a first transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive an output signal of the OTL circuit and a second transistor, the base of which is applied with a first reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of OTL circuit and to the power supply potential and which produces a first differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the first reference voltage; a second differential amplifier circuit having a third transistor, the base of which is coupled to receive the output signal of the OTL circuit and a fourth transistor, the base of which is applied with a second reference voltage which has a preselected relationship to the output signal of the OTL circuit and to earth potential and which produces a second differential output signal in response to a comparison of said output signal with the second reference voltage, at least one of said first and second differential amplifier circuits having Darlington connection transistors and a resistor connected between the base and emitter of a second stage resistor of the Darlington connection transistors; a control circuit responsive to the first and second differential output signals for producing a control signal when an output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential; and a switch circuit operable in response to the control signal for cutting off at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit, said switch circuit including a first switching device coupled between the base of one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit and earth potential and a second switching device coupled between the base of the other output transistor of the OTL circuit and earth potential, at least one of said first and second switching devices being rendered conductive when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential, whereby said switch circuit does not affect the normal operation of the OTL circuit and is operated only when the output of the OTL circuit is substantially coupled to the power supply potential or earth potential for preventing breakdown of at least one of the output transistors of the OTL circuit.