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US5387830A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Semiconductor device with excess current prevention circuit

Assignee: NEC Corp
•
Filing: 1992-10-08
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Granted: 1995-02-07
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Expires: 2012-10-08
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Abstract

Abstract A semiconductor device with an excess current prevention circuit includes a bootstrap circuit, a first NMOS transistor, a second NMOS transistor and a constant voltage element. The first NMOS transistor has a drain electrode to receive a power supply potential, a gate electrode to receive an output of the bootstrap circuit, and a source electrode connected to an output terminal to which an output load is connected. The second NMOS transistor has a gate electrode whose potential is held at the power supply potential and a source electrode connected to-the output terminal. The constant-voltage element such as a diode or a Zener diode is connected between the gate electrode of the first NMOS transistor and the drain electrode of the second NMOS transistor. A change in the output voltage of the first NMOS transistor as an output transistor is fed-back to the gate electrode of the first N-channel MOS transistor by the second N-channel MOS transistor, whereby the operation of preventing the excess current is carried out at a high speed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshihiro Kukimoto

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 19:30
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/06; H03K17/063; H03K17/08; H03K17/082; H03K17/0822

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 97 words
A semiconductor circuit device with an excess current prevention circuit comprising: a bootstrap circuit; a first NMOS transistor having a drain electrode connected to a power supply terminal, a gate electrode connected to an output of said bootstrap circuit, and a source electrode connected to an output terminal; a second NMOS transistor having a drain electrode, a gate electrode connected to said power supply terminal and a source electrode connected to said output terminal; and a constant-voltage element connected between the gate electrode of said first NMOS transistor and the drain electrode of said second NMOS transistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 97 words
A semiconductor circuit device with an excess current prevention circuit comprising: a bootstrap circuit; a first NMOS transistor having a drain electrode connected to a power supply terminal, a gate electrode connected to an output of said bootstrap circuit, and a source electrode connected to an output terminal; a second NMOS transistor having a drain electrode, a gate electrode connected to said power supply terminal and a source electrode connected to said output terminal; and a constant-voltage element connected between the gate electrode of said first NMOS transistor and the drain electrode of said second NMOS transistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
A semiconductor circuit device according to claim 1, in which said constant-voltage element is a diode whose anode is connected to the gate electrode of said first NMOS transistor and whose cathode is connected to the drain electrode of said second NMOS transistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
A semiconductor circuit device according to claim 1, in which said constant-voltage element is a Zener diode whose cathode is connected to the gate electrode of said first NMOS transistor and whose anode is connected to the drain electrode of said second NMOS transistor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-02-06 1998-08-08 1999-02-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-02-06 2002-08-08 2003-02-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-02-06 2006-08-08 2007-02-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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