US4808845A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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High voltage pulse generating semiconductor circuit with improved driving arrangement
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1986-12-02
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Granted: 1989-02-28
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Expires: 2006-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A semiconductor electronic circuit, which can generate high voltage pulses, includes a current source coupled to form a series circuit with a pair of impedances between first and second voltage source terminals. A driving source is connected with a control terminal of the current source. Output voltage-current characteristics of the driving source are such that its output current is almost 0, when the output voltage is in the proximity of 0 V and that it is not 0 for other voltages. Thus, the voltage at the control terminal of the current source is clamped at a predetermined voltage level determined by the circuit structure of the driving source, when the voltage at the output terminal is lower than the predetermined voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Masayoshi Suzuki
- 👤 Naoyuki Izaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 01:38
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/10; H03K17/102; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/60; H03K17/66; H03K17/665; H03K17/666; H03K17/667
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between a first voltage source terminal having a first voltage level applied thereto and a second voltage source terminal having a second voltage level applied thereto; drive means having an input terminal and coupled to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltage within a prdetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means; and means for applying a clamp voltage to said transistor circuit means, said clamp voltage being at a voltage level between the first and second voltage levels applied to said first and second voltage source terminals, an input signal to the semiconductor electronic circuit being applied across said input terminal of said drive means and said clamp voltage applying means so that the input signal is superposed on said clamp voltage and so that the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to said clamp voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between a first voltage source terminal having a first voltage level applied thereto and a second voltage source terminal having a second voltage level applied thereto; drive means having an input terminal and coupled to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltage within a prdetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means; and means for applying a clamp voltage to said transistor circuit means, said clamp voltage being at a voltage level between the first and second voltage levels applied to said first and second voltage source terminals, an input signal to the semiconductor electronic circuit being applied across said input terminal of said drive means and said clamp voltage applying means so that the input signal is superposed on said clamp voltage and so that the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to said clamp voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein the current source includes a transistor coupled to have a conductive path in said series circuit between the first and second impedance means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 2, wherein said impedance means are resistors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein said impedance means are active elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 4, wherein said active elements include transistors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein said transistor circuit means comprises a transistor coupled between said input signal and said current source means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 2, wherein said transistor circuit means comprises a transistor coupled between said input signal and the transistor of said current source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 2, wherein said transistor is an FET.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 5, wherein said transistors are FETs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 6, wherein said transistor is an FET.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein said current source includes at least one bipolar transistor coupled to have a collector-emitter path in said series circuit to be in series with said first and second impedance means, and wherein said transistor circuit means includes at least one FET having a source-drain path coupled to the base of said bipolar transistor of the current source and having a gate coupled to receive said input signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 11, wherein said first and second impedance means are bipolar transistors each having collector-emitter paths in said series circuit to be in series with the collector-emitter path of said bipolar transistor of said current source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein the output current-output voltage characteristics of the drive means is such that the output current is substantially zero for both positive and negative output voltages within said predetermined vicinity of zero output voltage, and wherein the output current is not zero for both positive and negative output voltages outside said predetermined vicinity of zero output voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein said current source is composed of bipolar transistors coupled in said series circuit and said transistor circuit means includes field effect transistors coupled to said bipolar transistors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein said clamp applying means voltage is located in the proximity of a connection point between said current source and said drive means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of input terminals are provided to receive input pulses for said drive means and wherein pulses at different input terminals have different delay times.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein said transistor circuit means comprises a bipolar transistor having a base coupled to receive the input signal, a collector coupled to receive the clamp voltage and an emitter coupled to the current source means to provide the output of the drive means to the current source means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 17, wherein said clamp voltage is set at substantially 0 volts.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein said transistor circuit means comprises a field effect transistor having a gate coupled to receive the input signal, wherein said field effect transistor has a source-drain path coupled between the clamp voltage applying means and the current source means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 19, wherein said clamp voltage is set at substantially 0 volts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
216 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between first and second voltage source terminals; and drive means coupled to receive an input signal and to provide an output to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltages within a predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means, wherein the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to a predetermined voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means, and further wherein said current source is composed of bipolar transistors coupled in said series circuit and said transistor circuit means includes field effect transistors coupled to said bipolar transistors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
216 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between first and second voltage source terminals; and drive means coupled to receive an input signal and to provide an output to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltages within a predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means, wherein the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to a predetermined voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means, and further wherein said current source is composed of bipolar transistors coupled in said series circuit and said transistor circuit means includes field effect transistors coupled to said bipolar transistors.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
215 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between first and second voltage source terminals; and drive means coupled to receive an input signal and to provide an output to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltages within a predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means, wherein the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to a predetermined voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means, and further wherein a plurality of input terminals are provided to receive input pulses for said drive means and wherein pulses at different input terminals have different delay times.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
215 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between first and second voltage source terminals; and drive means coupled to receive an input signal and to provide an output to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltages within a predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means, wherein the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to a predetermined voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means, and further wherein a plurality of input terminals are provided to receive input pulses for said drive means and wherein pulses at different input terminals have different delay times.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
195 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between first and second voltage source terminals; and drive means coupled to receive an input signal and to provide an output to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltages within a predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means, wherein the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to a predetermined voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means, and further wherein said impedance means are active elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
195 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between first and second voltage source terminals; and drive means coupled to receive an input signal and to provide an output to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltages within a predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means, wherein the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to a predetermined voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means, and further wherein said impedance means are active elements.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 23, wherein said active elements include transistors.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 24, wherein said transistors are FETs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
256 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between first and second voltage source terminals; and drive means coupled to receive an input signal and to provide an output to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltages within a predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means, wherein the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to a predetermined voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means, and further wherein said current source includes at least one bipolar transistor coupled to have a collector-emitter path in said series circuit to be in series with said first and second impedance means, and wherein said transistor circuit means includes at least one FET having a source-drain path coupled to the base of said bipolar transistor of the current source and having a gate coupled to receive said input signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
256 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between first and second voltage source terminals; and drive means coupled to receive an input signal and to provide an output to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltages within a predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means, wherein the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to a predetermined voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means, and further wherein said current source includes at least one bipolar transistor coupled to have a collector-emitter path in said series circuit to be in series with said first and second impedance means, and wherein said transistor circuit means includes at least one FET having a source-drain path coupled to the base of said bipolar transistor of the current source and having a gate coupled to receive said input signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit according to claim 26, wherein said first and second impedance means are bipolar transistors each having collector-emitter paths in said series circuit to be in series with the collector-emitter path of said bipolar transistor of said current source.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
245 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between first and second voltage source terminals; and drive means coupled to receive an input signal and to provide an output to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltages within a predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means, wherein the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to a predetermined voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means, and further wherein the output current-output voltage characteristics of the drive means is such that the output current is substantially zero for both positive and negative output voltages within said predetermined vicinity of zero output voltage, and wherein the output current is not zero for both positive and negative output voltage outside said predetermined vicinity of zero output voltage.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
245 words
A semiconductor electronic circuit comprising: first and second impedance means; current source means coupled between said first and second impedance means so that said current source means and said first and second impedance means constitute a series circuit, said series circuit being coupled between first and second voltage source terminals; and drive means coupled to receive an input signal and to provide an output to drive said current source means, said drive means including transistor circuit means possessing output current-output voltage characteristics for the drive means such that an output current of said drive means is substantially zero for a zero output voltage or for output voltages within a predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, and is not zero for output voltages other than zero voltage or voltages not in the predetermined vicinity of a zero output voltage, wherein the output of said semiconductor electronic circuit is derived from one end of said current source means, wherein the voltage of the output of said drive means applied to said current source is clamped to a predetermined voltage depending upon said characteristics of said drive means, and further wherein the output current-output voltage characteristics of the drive means is such that the output current is substantially zero for both positive and negative output voltages within said predetermined vicinity of zero output voltage, and wherein the output current is not zero for both positive and negative output voltage outside said predetermined vicinity of zero output voltage.
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