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:
Nov. 10, 1987
Filed:
Jul. 05, 1985
Aristides A Yiannoulos, Wyomissing Hills, PA (US);
American Telephone and Telegraph Company, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
An arrangement for protecting inductive load switching transistors during overvoltage conditions is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a Zener diode coupled between the collector and base of the switching transistor, where the Zener diode will break down during inductive load-created overvoltage conditions and turn on the transistor. A major portion of the surge current will then flow through the activated transistor. In a particular integrated circuit realization of the arrangement, the Zener diode is formed in the same semiconductor area as the transistor by extending a portion of the base diffusion region downward to contact the buried collector region.