The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 06, 1986
Filed:
Dec. 01, 1983
Randall C Gray, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Eric D Joseph, Yorba Linda, CA (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
A circuit for detecting a very large output current threshold with respect to a flow reference current. The threshold detector circuit includes a multiple transistor circuit wherein a pair of emitter areas are ratioed with respect to each other, and which have common bases, and an error amplifier the inputs of which are connected to the respective emitters of the multiple transistor circuit. An output current is sourced from the emitter of the multiple transistor circuit having the larger area which output current is a function of the load coupled therewith to thereby produce a voltage at this emitter the magnitude thereof being a function of the output current. The current sourced from the other emitter of the multiple transistor circuit to the additional input of the error amplifier is proportional to the bias current sourced therefrom by the error amplifier whereby the error amplifier effectfully monitors the emitter voltages of the multiple transistor circuit to provide an error signal the sense of which switches as the output load current varies above and below a threshold value that is a function of the magnitude of the reference current.