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:
Oct. 26, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 27, 1998
Thomas J Ribarich, Laguna Beach, CA (US);
Talbott M Houk, Culver City, CA (US);
International Rectifier Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
A protection circuit for preventing non zero-voltage switching of a lamp resonant output circuit driven by upper and lower half-bridge switches. The protection circuit includes a sense resistor disposed between the lower half bridge switch and ground for developing a voltage corresponding to the current flowing through the lower switch. A comparator compares the voltage developed across the sense resistor against a fixed reference voltage and generates an output indicative of a non zero-voltage switching condition when the voltage across the sense resistor exceeds the fixed reference voltage. A latch is connected to the output of the comparator and generates a latch output signal which disables the generation of drive signals to the upper and lower switches in the event of a non zero-voltage switch condition.