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. 27, 1988
Filed:
Aug. 10, 1987
Varnum S Holland, Amherst, NH (US);
Unitrode Corporation, Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
A low voltage lockout circuit preferably of integrated circuit form to provide a lockout signal when an internally generated reference voltage is insufficient. According to the present invention, a reference voltage is produced by passing a constant current through a reference voltage element, such as a zener diode. Insufficient reference voltage caused by a low power supply input voltage is detected by sensing the saturation of the constant current source. The present invention indicates the precise point of saturation of the constant current source and produces a lockout signal for use by other portions of the integrated circuit, or external devices. The lockout signal also indicates the minimum usable power supply input voltage. The constant current source and the saturation detection element are combined and implemented within a single semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a transistor having a second collector, wherein the minority carriers are re-emitted from the first collector upon saturation of the first collector, and received by the second collector; the resulting current produces the lockout signal.