US4825108A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voltage translator with restricted output voltage swing
Assignee: Philips North America LLC
•
Filing: 1987-06-15
•
Granted: 1989-04-25
•
Expires: 2007-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A voltage translator containing a bipolar transistor (Q1), a rectifier (10), a resistor (R1), and a first clamp (12) converts an input voltage (V I ) into one or more output voltages of restricted voltage swing. The first clamp clamps the emitter voltage of the transistor when it is turned on. In one version, the translator includes a second clamp (14) that clamps the collector voltage of the translator when it is turned off. The translator then provides an output voltage (V O ) inverse to the input voltage. In another version, the first clamp is connected between a voltage supply (V EE ) and the emitter of the transistor. Its collector is connected directly to another voltage supply (V CC ) so that the translator only makes non-inverting translations.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward A. Burton
- 👤 Charles E. Dike
- 👤 Thomas D. Fletcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:31
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/01; H03K19/013; H03K19/0175; H03K19/018; H03K19/01806
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A voltage translator comprising: an input terminal for receiving an input voltage; a bipolar transistor having a base coupled to a node, an emitter coupled to a source of a first supply voltage, and a collector directly connected to a source of a second supply voltage that differs in magnitude from the first supply voltage by a selected voltage V PS ; a rectifier coupled between the input terminal and the node in the current-flow direction opposite to that of the base-emitter junction of the transistor; a resistor coupled between the node and the source of the second supply voltage; a clamp that, when the transistor is turned on, prevents the magnitude of the difference between the first supply voltage and the voltage at the emitter from exceeding a value V CL1 less than V PS but greater than zero; an output terminal coupled to the base for providing an output voltage logically the same as the input voltage; and an output terminal coupled to the emitter for providing an output voltage logically the same as the input voltage but at a different voltage level from the other output voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A voltage translator comprising: an input terminal for receiving an input voltage; a bipolar transistor having a base coupled to a node, an emitter coupled to a source of a first supply voltage, and a collector directly connected to a source of a second supply voltage that differs in magnitude from the first supply voltage by a selected voltage V PS ; a rectifier coupled between the input terminal and the node in the current-flow direction opposite to that of the base-emitter junction of the transistor; a resistor coupled between the node and the source of the second supply voltage; a clamp that, when the transistor is turned on, prevents the magnitude of the difference between the first supply voltage and the voltage at the emitter from exceeding a value V CL1 less than V PS but greater than zero; an output terminal coupled to the base for providing an output voltage logically the same as the input voltage; and an output terminal coupled to the emitter for providing an output voltage logically the same as the input voltage but at a different voltage level from the other output voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
203 words
A voltage translator comprising: an input terminal for receiving an input voltage; a bipolar transistor having a base coupled to a node, an emitter coupled to a source of a first supply voltage, and a collector coupled to a source of a second supply voltage that differs in magnitude from the first supply voltage by a selected voltage V PS ; a rectifier coupled between the input terminal and the node in the current-flow direction opposite to that of the base-emitter junction of the transistor; a resistor coupled between the node and the source of the second supply voltage; a first clamp that, when the transistor is turned on, prevents the magnitude of the difference between the first supply voltage and the voltage at the emitter from exceeding a value V CL1 less that the V PS but greater than zero; a second clamp that, when the transistor is turned off, prevents the magnitude of the difference between the first supply voltage and the voltage at the collector from exceeding a value V CL2 less than V PS but greater than V CL1 ; and an output terminal coupled to the collector for providing an output voltage logically inverse to the input voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
203 words
A voltage translator comprising: an input terminal for receiving an input voltage; a bipolar transistor having a base coupled to a node, an emitter coupled to a source of a first supply voltage, and a collector coupled to a source of a second supply voltage that differs in magnitude from the first supply voltage by a selected voltage V PS ; a rectifier coupled between the input terminal and the node in the current-flow direction opposite to that of the base-emitter junction of the transistor; a resistor coupled between the node and the source of the second supply voltage; a first clamp that, when the transistor is turned on, prevents the magnitude of the difference between the first supply voltage and the voltage at the emitter from exceeding a value V CL1 less that the V PS but greater than zero; a second clamp that, when the transistor is turned off, prevents the magnitude of the difference between the first supply voltage and the voltage at the collector from exceeding a value V CL2 less than V PS but greater than V CL1 ; and an output terminal coupled to the collector for providing an output voltage logically inverse to the input voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A translator as in claim 2 further including an output terminal coupled to one of the base and the emitter for providing an output voltage logically the same as the input voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A translator as in claim 3 further including an output terminal coupled to the other of the base and the emitter for providing another output voltage logically the same as the input voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A translator as in claim 4 further including means having an output terminal for providing another output voltage logically inverse to the input voltage but at a different voltage level from that of the first-mentioned output voltage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A translator as in claim 3 further including means for preventing the transistor from going into deep saturation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A translator as in claim 3 wherein the transistor is an NPN transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A translator as in claim 7 wherein the rectifier comprises a diode having its anode and cathode respectively connected to the node and the input terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A translator as in claim 8 wherein the first clamp comprises a pair of further diodes connected in series such that one has its anode connected to the emitter and the other has its cathode connected to the source of the first supply voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A translator as in claim 9 wherein: the first-mentioned diode and one of the further diodes are Schottky diodes; and the other further diode is a base-emitter junction of a second NPN bipolar transistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A translator as in claim 9 wherein the second clamp comprises: means for providing a reference terminal with a reference voltage substantially equal to V CL2 ; and a second resistor coupled between the collector and the reference terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A translator as in claim 9 wherein the second clamp comprises: at least one diode connected in series between the emitter and the collector; and a second resistor coupled between the collector and the source of the second supply voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A translator as in claim 8 wherein the first clamp comprises: a second NPN bipolar transistor having a base connected to the emitter of the first-mentioned transistor, an emitter, and a collector; and a second diode having its anode and cathode respectively coupled to the emitter of the second transistor and the source of the first supply voltage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A translator as in claim 13 wherein the second clamp comprises: means for providing a reference terminal with a reference voltage substantially equal to V CL2 ; and a second resistor coupled between the collector and the reference terminal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A translator as in claim 14 wherein the collector of the second transistor is connected to the base of the first-mentioned tranisitor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
179 words
A voltage translator comprising: an input terminal for receiving an input voltage; a bipolar transistor having a base coupled to a node, an emitter coupled to a source of a first supply voltage, and a collector directly connected to a source of a second supply voltage that differs in magnitude from the first supply voltage by a selected voltage V PS ; a rectifier coupled between the input terminal and the node in the current-flow direction opposite to that of the base-emitter junction of the transistor; a resistor coupled between the node and the source of the second supply voltage; a clamp that, when the transistor is turned on, prevents the magnitude of the difference between the first supply voltage and the voltage at the emitter from exceeding a value V CL1 less than V PS but greater than zero, the clamp connected between the emitter and the source of the first supply voltage; and an output terminal coupled to one of the base and the emitter for providing an output voltage logically the same as the input voltage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
179 words
A voltage translator comprising: an input terminal for receiving an input voltage; a bipolar transistor having a base coupled to a node, an emitter coupled to a source of a first supply voltage, and a collector directly connected to a source of a second supply voltage that differs in magnitude from the first supply voltage by a selected voltage V PS ; a rectifier coupled between the input terminal and the node in the current-flow direction opposite to that of the base-emitter junction of the transistor; a resistor coupled between the node and the source of the second supply voltage; a clamp that, when the transistor is turned on, prevents the magnitude of the difference between the first supply voltage and the voltage at the emitter from exceeding a value V CL1 less than V PS but greater than zero, the clamp connected between the emitter and the source of the first supply voltage; and an output terminal coupled to one of the base and the emitter for providing an output voltage logically the same as the input voltage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A translator as in claim 16 further including an output terminal coupled to the other of the base and the emitter for providing an output voltage logically the same as the input voltage but at a different voltage level from the other output voltage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
A translator as in claim 16 wherein the transistor is an NPN transistor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
A translator as in claim 18 wherein: the rectifier comprises a first diode having its anode and cathode respectivly coupled to the node and the input terminal; and the clamp comprises a pair of further diodes connected in series such that one has its anode connected to the emitter and the other has its cathode connected to the source of the first supply voltage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A translator as in claim 19 wherein one of the further diodes is the base-emitter junction of a second NPN bipolar transistor having a collector connected to the base of the first-mentioned transistor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A translator as in claim 20 wherein the first-mentioned diode and the other of the further diodes are Schottky diodes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A translator as in claim 2 wherein the rectifier is connected directly to the base by way of the node.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A translator as in claim 10 wherein the second clamp comprises: means for providing a reference terminal with a reference voltage substantially equal to V CL2 ; and a second resistor coupled between the collector and the reference terminal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
A translator as in claim 10 wherein the second clamp comprises: at least one diode connected in series between the emitter and the collector; and a second resistor coupled between the collector and the source of the second supply voltage.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A translator as in claim 16 wherein the rectifier is connected directly to the base by way of the node.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3259761A
Cited
US3560760A
Cited
US3778646A
Cited
US3742250A
Cited
US3755693A
Cited
US3987310A
Cited
JPS5737930A
Cited
US4394588A
Cited
US4501976A
Cited
US4536664A
Cited
WO1985001165A1
Cited
US4749885A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-24 | 1992-10-24 | 1993-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-24 | 1996-10-24 | 1997-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-24 | 2000-10-24 | 2001-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |