Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
An optically coupled solid state relay comprising (a) an optical coupler having a light-emitting element coupled between controlling terminals for producing an optical radiation in the presence of a driving current, first photovoltaic means for producing a first photocurrent at a first voltage level in the presence of said optical radiation and second photovoltaic means for producing a second photocurrent at a second voltage level in the presence of said optical radiation, (b) a first output circuit having an enhancement mode field effect transistor coupled to said first photovoltaic means and provided in association with normally-open output terminals, (c) a first discharging circuit activated in the absence of said optical radiation and discharging said first voltage level, (d) a second output circuit having a depletion mode field effect transistor coupled to said second photovoltaic means and provided in association with normally-closed output terminals, and (e) a second discharging circuit activated in the absence of said optical radiation and discharging said second voltage level, in which the amount of said second photocurrent is larger than that of said first photocurrent and said enhancement mode field effect transistor is larger in the absolute value of a threshold level than said depletion mode field effect transistor so that said depletion mode field effect transistor turns off before said enhancement mode field effect transistor turns on, wherein said first discharging circuit starts in a discharging operation thereof earlier than said second discharging circuit so that said enhancement mode field effect transistor turns off before said depletion mode field effect transistor turns on.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
An optically coupled solid state relay comprising (a) an optical coupler having a light-emitting element coupled between controlling terminals for producing an optical radiation in the presence of a driving current, first photovoltaic means for producing a first photocurrent at a first voltage level in the presence of said optical radiation and second photovoltaic means for producing a second photocurrent at a second voltage level in the presence of said optical radiation, (b) a first output circuit having an enhancement mode field effect transistor coupled to said first photovoltaic means and provided in association with normally-open output terminals, (c) a first discharging circuit activated in the absence of said optical radiation and discharging said first voltage level, (d) a second output circuit having a depletion mode field effect transistor coupled to said second photovoltaic means and provided in association with normally-closed output terminals, and (e) a second discharging circuit activated in the absence of said optical radiation and discharging said second voltage level, in which the amount of said second photocurrent is larger than that of said first photocurrent and said enhancement mode field effect transistor is larger in the absolute value of a threshold level than said depletion mode field effect transistor so that said depletion mode field effect transistor turns off before said enhancement mode field effect transistor turns on, wherein said first discharging circuit starts in a discharging operation thereof earlier than said second discharging circuit so that said enhancement mode field effect transistor turns off before said depletion mode field effect transistor turns on.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optically coupled solid state relay as set forth in claim 1, in which said first photovoltaic means and said second photovoltaic means comprise a series combination of first photodiodes and a series combination of second photodiodes, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optically coupled solid state relay as set forth in claim 2, in which each of said first photodiodes has a photo-electric converting area smaller than that of each of said second photodiodes, and in which the number of said first photodiodes is larger than that of said second photodiodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
An optically coupled solid state relay as set forth in claim 2, in which said first discharging circuit comprises a first thyristor capable of short circuiting high and low voltage electrodes of said first photovoltaic means, a first diode coupled at the anode thereof to said high voltage electrode and at the cathode thereof to the anode of said first thyristor, and a second diode coupled at the anode thereof to the cathode of said first thyristor and at the cathode thereof to said low voltage electrode, and in which a gate electrode of said enhancement mode field effect transistor is coupled to the cathode of said first diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
146 words
An optically coupled solid state relay as set forth in claim 4, in which said second discharging circuit comprises a second thyristor capable of short circuiting high and low voltage electrodes of said second photovoltaic means, a third diode coupled at the anode thereof to said high voltage electrode of said second photovoltaic means and at the cathode thereof to the anode of said second thyristor, a fourth diode coupled at the anode thereof to the cathode of said second thyristor and at the cathode thereof to said low voltage electrode of said second photovoltaic means, and a fifth diode coupled at the anode thereof to the cathode of said second thyristor and at the cathode thereof to the anode of said second thyristor, and in which a gate electrode of said depletion mode field effect transistor is coupled to the anode of said fourth diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
An optically coupled solid state relay as set forth in claim 4, in which said second discharging circuit comprises a second thyristor capable of short circuiting high and low voltage electrodes of said second photovoltaic means, a third diode coupled at the anode thereof to said high voltage electrode of said second photovoltaic means and at the cathode thereof to the anode of said second thyristor, a fourth diode coupled at the anode thereof to the cathode of said second thyristor and at the cathode thereof to said low voltage electrode of said second photovoltaic means, and a capacitor coupled between the high and low voltage electrodes of said second photovoltaic means, and in which a gate electrode of said depletion mode field effect transistor is coupled to the anode of said fourth diode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
161 words
An optically coupled solid state relay as set forth in claim 4, in which said second discharging circuit comprises a second thyristor capable of short circuiting high and low voltage electrodes of said second photovoltaic means, a third diode coupled at the anode thereof to said high voltage electrode of said second photovoltaic means and at the cathode thereof to the anode of said second thyristor, a fourth diode coupled at the anode thereof to the cathode of said second thyristor and at the cathode thereof to said low voltage electrode of said second photovoltaic means, a fifth diode coupled at the anode thereof to the cathode of said second thyristor and at the cathode thereof to the anode of said second thyristor, and a capacitor coupled between the high and low voltage electrodes of said second photovoltaic means, and in which a gate electrode of said depletion mode field effect transistor is coupled to the anode of said fourth diode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
An optically coupled solid state relay as set forth in claim 2, in which said first discharging circuit comprises a first thyristor capable of short circuiting high and low voltage electrodes of said first photovoltaic means, a first phototransistor coupled between said high voltage electrode and the anode of said first thyristor, and a second phototransistor coupled between the cathode of said first thyristor and said low voltage electrode, and in which a gate electrode of said enhancement mode field effect transistor is coupled to the anode of said first thyristor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
An optically coupled solid state relay as set forth in claim 8, in which said second discharging circuit comprises a second thyristor capable of short circuiting high and low voltage electrodes of said second photovoltaic means, a sixth diode coupled at the cathode thereof to said low voltage electrode of said second photovoltaic means and at the anode thereof to the anode of said second thyristor, and a seventh diode coupled at the cathode thereof to the cathode of said second thyristor and at the anode thereof to said high voltage electrode of said second photovoltaic means, and in which a gate electrode of said depletion mode field effect transistor is coupled to the anode of said sixth diode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
An optically coupled solid state relay as set forth in claim 1, in which said first output circuit further comprises another enhancement mode field effect transistor coupled in series to said enhancement mode field effect transistor and in which said second output circuit further comprises another depletion mode field effect transistor coupled in series to said depletion mode field effect transistor.