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:
Sep. 24, 1996
Filed:
Mar. 22, 1994
Donald R Watson, Goton, MA (US);
Christopher A Heyden, Belmont, MA (US);
EMC Corporation, Hopkinton, MA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for preventing current inrush upon the application of power to a load includes the steps of applying a first increasing DC voltage from a voltage source to the load through a single signal path which includes a transistor having a control electrode coupled to the voltage source and a second electrode coupled to the load. The transistor has a first operating region with an ON resistance characteristic which decreases between first and second applied control voltages. The transistor has a second operating mode in which the transistor has a relatively low on resistance R.sub.ON. The transistor is thus disposed in the single signal path to both limit inrush current and to provide a low loss signal path between the voltage source and the load.