Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
372 words
A capacitive load driving apparatus comprising: a first power source terminal; a second power source terminal; a third power source terminal; an input terminal; a plurality of output terminals connected to capacitive loads, respectively; a plurality of first switching elements being coupled respectively between said first power source terminal and said plurality of output terminals; a plurality of bipolar transistors being coupled respectively between said second power source terminal and said plurality of output terminals, emitters of said plurality of bipolar transistors being commonly connected and being coupled to said second power source terminal, collectors of said plurality of bipolar transistors being respectively coupled to said output terminals; a plurality of second switching elements, each one thereof being respectively coupled between said third power source terminal and a base of a respective one of said plurality of bipolar transistors, wherein when a respective one of said plurality of second switching elements is turned ON, there is applied therethrough a base current signal to a corresponding one of said plurality of bipolar transistors in accordance with a potential being applied at said third power source terminal; a logic circuit, coupled to said input terminal, for forming a driving signal which turns on selectively either one or all of said second switching elements in accordance with an input signal from said input terminal, wherein the selective turning ON of either one or all of said second switching elements correspondingly results in one or all of said plurality of bipolar transistors being selectively turned on in response to said driving signal being applied to a respective one or all of said second switching elements to which said plurality of bipolar transistors are correspondingly coupled to; and means for providing a base current to be supplied in accordance with applying a potential to said third power terminal such that when a selection is made for one of said plurality of bipolar transistors to be turned ON, base current drive signal is provided for effecting said base current of a magnitude which is greater than that for providing the respective base currents to be supplied to each one of said plurality of bipolar transistors when all of said plurality of transistors are selected to be turned ON.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
372 words
A capacitive load driving apparatus comprising: a first power source terminal; a second power source terminal; a third power source terminal; an input terminal; a plurality of output terminals connected to capacitive loads, respectively; a plurality of first switching elements being coupled respectively between said first power source terminal and said plurality of output terminals; a plurality of bipolar transistors being coupled respectively between said second power source terminal and said plurality of output terminals, emitters of said plurality of bipolar transistors being commonly connected and being coupled to said second power source terminal, collectors of said plurality of bipolar transistors being respectively coupled to said output terminals; a plurality of second switching elements, each one thereof being respectively coupled between said third power source terminal and a base of a respective one of said plurality of bipolar transistors, wherein when a respective one of said plurality of second switching elements is turned ON, there is applied therethrough a base current signal to a corresponding one of said plurality of bipolar transistors in accordance with a potential being applied at said third power source terminal; a logic circuit, coupled to said input terminal, for forming a driving signal which turns on selectively either one or all of said second switching elements in accordance with an input signal from said input terminal, wherein the selective turning ON of either one or all of said second switching elements correspondingly results in one or all of said plurality of bipolar transistors being selectively turned on in response to said driving signal being applied to a respective one or all of said second switching elements to which said plurality of bipolar transistors are correspondingly coupled to; and means for providing a base current to be supplied in accordance with applying a potential to said third power terminal such that when a selection is made for one of said plurality of bipolar transistors to be turned ON, base current drive signal is provided for effecting said base current of a magnitude which is greater than that for providing the respective base currents to be supplied to each one of said plurality of bipolar transistors when all of said plurality of transistors are selected to be turned ON.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A capacitive load driving apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which said means is a resistor connected between said third power source terminal and said second switching elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A capacitive load driving apparatus in accordance with claim 2, in which said first switching elements are selected from a group consisting of thyristors, bipolar transistors, and MOS transistors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
340 words
A capacitive load driving apparatus comprising: a first power source terminal; a second power source terminal; a third power source terminal; a first input terminal; a second input terminal; a plurality of output terminals connected to capacitive loads, respectively; a plurality of first switching elements being coupled respectively between said first power source terminal and said plurality of output terminals; a plurality of bipolar transistors being coupled respectively between said second power source terminal and said plurality of output terminals, emitters of said plurality of bipolar transistors being commonly connected and being coupled to said second power source terminal, collectors of said plurality of bipolar transistors being respectively coupled to said output terminals; a plurality of second switching elements, each one thereof being respectively coupled between said third power source terminal and a base of a respective one of said plurality of bipolar transistors, wherein when a respective one of said plurality of second switching elements is turned ON, there is applied therethrough a base current signal to a corresponding one of said plurality of bipolar transistors in accordance with a potential being applied at said third power source terminal; a logic circuit, coupled to said input terminal, for forming a driving signal which turns on selectively one of said second switching elements in accordance with an input signal from said input terminal, wherein a respective one of said bipolar transistors is selectively turned on in response to said driving signal being applied to a respective one of said second switching element to which it is correspondingly coupled to; and a plurality of third switching elements respectively connected in parallel to respective ones of said second switching elements, each of said third switching element has a relatively lower current carrying capacity than that of each of said second switching elements, wherein each respective third switching element is turned on when a corresponding one of said plurality of second switching elements to which it is connected in parallel with is turned off by an input signal from said second input terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
340 words
A capacitive load driving apparatus comprising: a first power source terminal; a second power source terminal; a third power source terminal; a first input terminal; a second input terminal; a plurality of output terminals connected to capacitive loads, respectively; a plurality of first switching elements being coupled respectively between said first power source terminal and said plurality of output terminals; a plurality of bipolar transistors being coupled respectively between said second power source terminal and said plurality of output terminals, emitters of said plurality of bipolar transistors being commonly connected and being coupled to said second power source terminal, collectors of said plurality of bipolar transistors being respectively coupled to said output terminals; a plurality of second switching elements, each one thereof being respectively coupled between said third power source terminal and a base of a respective one of said plurality of bipolar transistors, wherein when a respective one of said plurality of second switching elements is turned ON, there is applied therethrough a base current signal to a corresponding one of said plurality of bipolar transistors in accordance with a potential being applied at said third power source terminal; a logic circuit, coupled to said input terminal, for forming a driving signal which turns on selectively one of said second switching elements in accordance with an input signal from said input terminal, wherein a respective one of said bipolar transistors is selectively turned on in response to said driving signal being applied to a respective one of said second switching element to which it is correspondingly coupled to; and a plurality of third switching elements respectively connected in parallel to respective ones of said second switching elements, each of said third switching element has a relatively lower current carrying capacity than that of each of said second switching elements, wherein each respective third switching element is turned on when a corresponding one of said plurality of second switching elements to which it is connected in parallel with is turned off by an input signal from said second input terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A capacitive load driving apparatus in accordance with claim 4, in which said first switching elements are selected from the group consisting of thyristors, bipolar transistors, and MOS transistors.