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:
Jan. 21, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 08, 2001
Applicant:
Inventor:
Saul Darzy, Edgware, GB;
Assignee:
STMicroelectronics Limited, Bristol, GB;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H03K 1/90175 ; H03K 1/9094 ; H03K 5/08 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H03K 1/90175 ; H03K 1/9094 ; H03K 5/08 ;
Abstract
A circuit for providing a control signal for a load includes a first switch having a first and a second state, a second switch having a first and a second state coupled to said first switch, a load connected to said first and second switches, protection circuitry for protecting said load from excessive voltage and circuitry for switching said first switch. The circuit is arranged so that when the first switch is in the first state current flows from the load to the first switch and the switching circuitry is arranged to switch the first switch to the second state when the voltage across the load reaches a predetermined value.