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US4794441A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Semiconductor switch circuit

Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1985-06-24
•
Granted: 1988-12-27
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Expires: 2005-06-24
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Abstract

Abstract A semiconductor switch circuit of field-drive type includes a bipolar component having forward blocking and reverse blocking junctions, and p-channel and n-channel IGPETS connected across the bipolar component so as to short-circuit its forward blocking junction. The switch circuit operates to turn on or off in response to the voltage signal to the gate circuit which is isolated from the bipolar component, irrespective of the polarity of a voltage applied across the bipolar component.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshitaka Sugawara
  • 👤 Junjiro Kitano
  • 👤 Tadakatsu Kimura
  • 👤 Yasunobu Inabe
  • 👤 Masa-aki Tanabe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 13:45
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/567

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 55 words
A semiconductor switch circuit of field-drive type comprising: a bipolar transistor having at least one forward blocking junction and at least one reverse blocking junction; and a p-channel insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFTT) and an n-channel IGFET connected across said bipolar transistor so as to short-circuit at least one of said forward blocking junctions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 55 words
A semiconductor switch circuit of field-drive type comprising: a bipolar transistor having at least one forward blocking junction and at least one reverse blocking junction; and a p-channel insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFTT) and an n-channel IGFET connected across said bipolar transistor so as to short-circuit at least one of said forward blocking junctions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
A semiconductor switch circuit according to claim 1, wherein said bipolar transistor is one of two transistors constituting a thyristor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
A semiconductor switch circuit according to claim 1, wherein said p-channel and n-channel IGFET's have their control terminals connected with each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
A semiconductor switch circuit according to claim claim 1, wherein said p-channel and n-channel IGFETs are connected in parallel with each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 63 words
A semiconductor switch circuit of field-drive type comprising: a thyristor having at least one forward blocking junction and at least one reverse blocking junction; a first p-channel IGFET and a first n-channel IGFET connected across said thyristor to shot-circuit said forward blocking junction; and a second p-channel IGEET and a second n-channel IGFET connected across said thyristor to short-circuit said reverse blocking junction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 63 words
A semiconductor switch circuit of field-drive type comprising: a thyristor having at least one forward blocking junction and at least one reverse blocking junction; a first p-channel IGFET and a first n-channel IGFET connected across said thyristor to shot-circuit said forward blocking junction; and a second p-channel IGEET and a second n-channel IGFET connected across said thyristor to short-circuit said reverse blocking junction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
A semiconductor switch circuit according to claim 5, wherein said first p-channel and n-channel IGFETs have their control terminals connected with each other and said second p-channel and n-channel IGFETs have their control terminals connected with each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 36 words
A semiconductor switching circuit according to claim 5, wherein said first p-channel and n-channel IGFETs are connected in parallel with each other and said second p-channel and n-channel IGFETs are connected in parallel with each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 44 words
A semiconductor switch circuit comprising: a thyristor having a pnp transistor and an npn transistor connected so as to cause positive feedback; and a p-channel IGFET and an n-channel IGFET connected between a collector and an emitter of the pnp transistor of said thyristor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 44 words
A semiconductor switch circuit comprising: a thyristor having a pnp transistor and an npn transistor connected so as to cause positive feedback; and a p-channel IGFET and an n-channel IGFET connected between a collector and an emitter of the pnp transistor of said thyristor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
A semiconductor switch circuit according to claim 5, wherein gate electrodes of both the IGFETs are connected with each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 44 words
A semiconductor switch circuit comprising: a thyristor having a pnp transistor and an npn transistor connected so as to cause positive feedback; and a p-channel IGFET and an n-channel IGFET connected between a collector and an emitter of the npn transistor of said thyristor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 44 words
A semiconductor switch circuit comprising: a thyristor having a pnp transistor and an npn transistor connected so as to cause positive feedback; and a p-channel IGFET and an n-channel IGFET connected between a collector and an emitter of the npn transistor of said thyristor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 20 words
A semiconductor switch circuit according to claim 10, wherein gate electrodes of both the IGFETs are connected with each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 122 words
A semiconductor switch circuit comprising: two bipolar components having different polarities from one another, each of said bipolar components having a base, a collector and an emitter, a base of one of said two bipolar components and a collector of the other of said two bipolar components being connected with each other, and a base of said other bipolar component and a collector of said one bipolar component being connected with each other; a unipolar component of one conductivity type having its source and drain connected between an emitter and the collector of said one bipolar component; and a unipolar component of another conductivity type having its source and drain connected between an emitter and the collector of said other bipolar component.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 122 words
A semiconductor switch circuit comprising: two bipolar components having different polarities from one another, each of said bipolar components having a base, a collector and an emitter, a base of one of said two bipolar components and a collector of the other of said two bipolar components being connected with each other, and a base of said other bipolar component and a collector of said one bipolar component being connected with each other; a unipolar component of one conductivity type having its source and drain connected between an emitter and the collector of said one bipolar component; and a unipolar component of another conductivity type having its source and drain connected between an emitter and the collector of said other bipolar component.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3401319A Cited
US3753055A Cited
JPS5346589A Cited
US4330849A Cited
US4199774A Cited
US4595941A Cited
JPS57196626A Cited
JPS57208176A Cited
JPS57208177A Cited
US4581543A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-12-27 1992-06-27 1992-12-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-12-27 1996-06-27 1996-12-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-12-27 2000-06-27 2000-12-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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