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US4806803A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Current switching circuit

Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1986-05-28
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Granted: 1989-02-21
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Expires: 2006-05-28
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Abstract

Abstract A current switching circuit enabling current switching at a speed of several gigabits per second (Gbit/sec) or several giga Hertz (GHz) in analog integrated circuits and digital integrated circuits using GaAs FETs is so constructed that the current switching is effected by a pair of diodes, whose cathodes are connected in common and which are driven by a GaAs FET circuit (source follower circuit). This current switching circuit includes first and second FETs, each of which has a source, a drain and a gate. First and second input signals are connected to the gates of the first and the second FETs, respectively. First and second diodes are provided with anodes connected with the sources of the first and the second FETs, respectively. A constant current source is connected in common with the cathodes of the first and the second diodes, and a load circuit is connected with the drain of at least one of the first and the second FETs. By virtue of this arrangement, current flowing through the load circuit is switched, depending on the first and the second input signals, with an output signal being taken out from each load circuit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kiichi Yamashita

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 17:56
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/687; H03K17/6871; H03K17/6874

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
A current switching circuit comprising: first and second FETs, each having a source, a drain and a gate, wherein first and second input signals are connected to the gates of said first and second FETs, respectively; first and second diodes, whose anodes are connected with the sources of said first and said second FETs, respectively; a constant current source, with which the cathodes of said first and said second diodes are connected in common; and a load circuit connected with the drain of at least one of said first and second FETs; wherein current flowing through said load circuit is switched, depending on said first and said second input signals, and further wherein an output signal for the current switching circuit is taken out from said each load circuit so that the output for said current switching circuit is provided on the drain side of said first and second FETs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 150 words
A current switching circuit comprising: first and second FETs, each having a source, a drain and a gate, wherein first and second input signals are connected to the gates of said first and second FETs, respectively; first and second diodes, whose anodes are connected with the sources of said first and said second FETs, respectively; a constant current source, with which the cathodes of said first and said second diodes are connected in common; and a load circuit connected with the drain of at least one of said first and second FETs; wherein current flowing through said load circuit is switched, depending on said first and said second input signals, and further wherein an output signal for the current switching circuit is taken out from said each load circuit so that the output for said current switching circuit is provided on the drain side of said first and second FETs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
A current switching circuit according to claim 1, further comprising first and second bias circuits connected with the sources of said first and said second FETs, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
A current switching circuit according to claim 1, said load circuit comprises a semiconductor laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
A current switching circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first and second input signals are complementary to one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 163 words
A current switching circuit comprising: first and second FETs, each having a source, a drain and a gate, responsive to a first and a second input signal, respectively; first and second diodes, whose anodes are connected with the sources of said first and said second FETs, respectively; a constant current source, with which the cathodes of said first and said second diodes are connected in common; first and second bias circuits controlling bias current, connected with the sources of said first and said second FETs, respectively; and a load circuit connected with the drain of at least one of said first and said second FETs; wherein current flowing through said load circuit is switched, depending on said first and said second input signals, and further wherein an output signal for the current switching circuit is taken out from said each load circuit so that the output for said current switching circuit is provided on the drain side of said first and second FETs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 163 words
A current switching circuit comprising: first and second FETs, each having a source, a drain and a gate, responsive to a first and a second input signal, respectively; first and second diodes, whose anodes are connected with the sources of said first and said second FETs, respectively; a constant current source, with which the cathodes of said first and said second diodes are connected in common; first and second bias circuits controlling bias current, connected with the sources of said first and said second FETs, respectively; and a load circuit connected with the drain of at least one of said first and said second FETs; wherein current flowing through said load circuit is switched, depending on said first and said second input signals, and further wherein an output signal for the current switching circuit is taken out from said each load circuit so that the output for said current switching circuit is provided on the drain side of said first and second FETs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
A current switching circuit according to claim 4, said load circuit comprises a semiconductor laser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
A current switching circuit according to claim 5, wherein said first and second input signals are complementary to one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 151 words
A current switching circuit comprising: first and second FETs, each having a source, a drain and a gate, wherein first and second input signals are connected to the gates of said first and second FETs, respectively; first and second diodes, whose anodes are connected with the sources of said first and said second FETs, respectively; a constant current source, with which the cathodes of said first and said second diodes are connected in common; and a semiconductor laser connected with the drain of at least one of said first and said second FETs; wherein current flowing through said laser circuit is switched, depending on said first and said second input signals, and further wherein a light signal for said current switching circuit is taken out from said each laser so that said light signal for said current switching circuit is provided on the drain side of said first and second FETs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 151 words
A current switching circuit comprising: first and second FETs, each having a source, a drain and a gate, wherein first and second input signals are connected to the gates of said first and second FETs, respectively; first and second diodes, whose anodes are connected with the sources of said first and said second FETs, respectively; a constant current source, with which the cathodes of said first and said second diodes are connected in common; and a semiconductor laser connected with the drain of at least one of said first and said second FETs; wherein current flowing through said laser circuit is switched, depending on said first and said second input signals, and further wherein a light signal for said current switching circuit is taken out from said each laser so that said light signal for said current switching circuit is provided on the drain side of said first and second FETs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
A current switching circuit according to claim 8, further comprising first and second bias circuits connected with the sources of said first and said second FETs, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
A current switching circuit according to claim 8, wherein said first and second input signals are complementary to one another.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS5685A Cited
US4366567A Cited
US4505582A Cited
US4612671A Cited
US4647800A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-02-21 1992-08-22 1993-02-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-02-21 1996-08-22 1997-02-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-02-21 2000-08-22 2001-02-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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