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:
Apr. 04, 1995
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1993
Applicant:
Inventors:
Assignee:
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H03K / ; H03K / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
327108 ; 327 73 ; 327379 ; 327390 ;
Abstract
An improved circuit for controlling the maximum current in a MOS power transistor, in which resistor is in series with the drain-source path of the MOS power transistor. The supply terminal of a transconductance operational amplifier is connected to the output of a voltage-raising or charge pump circuit which can output a voltage higher than that of the voltage supply to which the drain of the MOS transistor is connected. The inputs of the amplifier are connected to the resistor and its output is connected to the gate of the MOS transistor so that, in operation, the maximum current flowing through the power transistor is limited to a value proportional to a reference voltage.