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. 31, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 21, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:
Anna Sigurdardottir, Wokingham, GB;
Saul Darzy, Edgware, GB;
Assignee:
STMicroelectronics Limited, Buckinghamshire, GB;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H03F 3/45 ; H03F 1/14 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H03F 3/45 ; H03F 1/14 ;
Abstract
A differential amplifier circuit comprises: an amplifying section including first and second current branches and an output stage which comprises a current sinking element and a control element. The circuit also includes a current limiting section which comprises a current detecting element connected to detect the current through the current sinking element and arranged to drive the current limiting element when the detected current exceeds a predetermined threshold to inject current at the collector of the transistor in the first current branch.