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US4629880A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Gate bias generating circuit for field effect transistors

Assignee: Siemens AG
•
Filing: 1984-03-19
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Granted: 1986-12-16
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Expires: 2004-03-19
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Abstract

Abstract A circuit for generating a gate bias for field effect transistors in which one or several field effect transistor(s), identical within certain tolerances are paralleled and have a channel current above a predetermined value, is (are) connected to one or more electrically operated light sources so that at least a part of the channel current operates the light sources which radiate light. The light is received in a photocell and is converted to a dc voltage fed directly or indirectly to the gate(s) of the field effect transistor(s) in such a manner that the gate voltage thus supplied counteracts the channel current, and that an electrical device for the adjustment of the channel current is provided. The device described is especially well suited for application in microwave technology.

Inventors

  • 👤 Walter Zimmermann

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 06:02
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/04; H03F3/08; H03F3/082; H03F3/189; H03F3/19; H03F3/193; H03F3/1935

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 184 words
A circuit for generating a gate bias voltage, a source current and a drain current, and hence, an operating point, for at least one field effect transistor (FET), which requires a channel current above a predetermined value, the circuit comprising: (a) at least one electrically operated light source connected in series with said at least one transistor so that at least a part of said channel current flows through said light source, said light source radiating light energy when the part of said channel current flowing through said light source exceeds a predetermined threshold; (b) a least one photocell connected to the gate of the at least one transistor, for receiving said light energy and for generating a dc voltage in response thereto, said voltage applied to the gate of said at least one FET in such a manner that the applied gate voltage counteracts said channel current; and (c) an electrical device connected in parallel with said at least one electrically operated light source for the adjustment of the channel current and the part of said channel current flowing through said light source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 184 words
A circuit for generating a gate bias voltage, a source current and a drain current, and hence, an operating point, for at least one field effect transistor (FET), which requires a channel current above a predetermined value, the circuit comprising: (a) at least one electrically operated light source connected in series with said at least one transistor so that at least a part of said channel current flows through said light source, said light source radiating light energy when the part of said channel current flowing through said light source exceeds a predetermined threshold; (b) a least one photocell connected to the gate of the at least one transistor, for receiving said light energy and for generating a dc voltage in response thereto, said voltage applied to the gate of said at least one FET in such a manner that the applied gate voltage counteracts said channel current; and (c) an electrical device connected in parallel with said at least one electrically operated light source for the adjustment of the channel current and the part of said channel current flowing through said light source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said electrical device for the adjustment of the channel current comprises a potentiometer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The circuit according to claim 2, wherein said at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 46 words
The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one photocell comprises up to six photocells connected in series, the end photocell of the up to six series connected photocells being the photocell connected to the gate of the at least one field effect transistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 46 words
The circuit according to claim 2, wherein said at least one photocell comprises up to six photocells connected in series, the end photocell of the up to six series connected photocells being the photocell connected to the gate of the at least one field effect transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 46 words
The circuit according to claim 3, wherein said at least one photocell comprises up to six photocells connected in series, the end photocell of the up to six series connected photocells being the photocell connected to the gate of the at least one field effect transistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 46 words
The circuit according to claim 4, wherein said at least one photocell comprises up to six photocells connected in series, the end photocell of the up to six series connected photocells being the photocell connected to the gate of the at least one field effect transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circuit according to claim 3, characterized in that said light source and said photocells are combined in the form of optocouplers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circuit according to claim 4, characterized in that said light source and said photocells are combined in the form of optocouplers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that said light source and said photocells are combined in the form of optocouplers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circuit according to claim 6, characterized in that said light source and said photocells are combined in the form of optocouplers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circuit according to claim 7, characterized in that said light source and said photocells are combined in the form of optocouplers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circuit according to claim 8, characterized in that said light source and said photocells are combined in the form of optocouplers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 16 words
The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said FET comprises a gallium arsenide field effect transistor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
The circuit according to claim 2, wherein said FET comprises a gallium arsenide field effect transistor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 16 words
The circuit according to claim 3, wherein said FET comprises a gallium arenside field effect transistor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 16 words
The circuit according to claim 5, wherein said FET comprises a gallium arsenide field effect transistor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 16 words
The circuit according to claim 9, wherein said FET comprises a gallium arsenide field effect transistor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 22 words
A circuit according to claim 1 where there are provided at least two FETs connected in parallel and having substantially identical characteristics.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3878406A Cited
US4323799A Cited
US4390790A Cited
US4307298A Cited
US4408131A Cited
US4395637A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-12-15 1990-06-16 1990-12-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-12-15 1994-06-16 1994-12-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-12-15 1998-06-16 1998-12-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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