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:
Dec. 08, 1987
Filed:
Jun. 20, 1986
Philip C Basile, Turnersville, NJ (US);
RCA Corporation, Princeton, NJ (US);
Abstract
An RF switch employing a PIN diode as the switching element includes a first bias circuit providing forward dc current through the diode to enable RF transmission therethrough, and a second bias circuit providing reverse dc voltage across the diode to disable RF transmission through the switch. Status circuitry monitors the switch for failure modes of the diode, and control circuitry selectively enables the bias circuits. A short circuit failure of the PIN diode is indicated by the flow of reverse current in the second bias circuit in excess of the diode leakage current. Under this condition, the reverse current is latched by a thyristor in the second bias circuit and the status circuitry generates an alarm signal to the control circuitry inhibiting further selection of the first bias circuit. Optical couplers provide electrical isolation of the first and second bias circuit from the control and status circuitry.