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. 05, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 18, 1995
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l., Agrate-Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A control circuit for a power transistor, connected between two supply terminals in series with a load. The control circuit comprises a control logic circuit which produces a signal at two levels with respect to a reference terminal, a level shifter connected between the control circuit and the power transistor, which produces a signal at two levels relative to the node between the power transistor and the load. The level shifter comprises a flip-flop the output of which controls the power transistor, and an electronic switch, for example a MOSFET transistor, connected between the 'set' input of the flip-flop and the node and controlled by the 'reset' input of the flip-flop in such a way as to be closed when the 'reset' input is greater, by a predetermined value, than that of the node. The electronic switch prevents the parasitic current flowing through the set and reset inputs from erroneously switching the power transistor.