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. 31, 2006
Filed:
Jul. 27, 2004
Franz Dietz, Heilbronn, DE;
Lars Hehn, Heilbronn, DE;
Manfred Klaussner, Heilbronn, DE;
Anton Koch, Elztal-Auerbach, DE;
Franz Dietz, Heilbronn, DE;
Lars Hehn, Heilbronn, DE;
Manfred Klaussner, Heilbronn, DE;
Anton Koch, Elztal-Auerbach, DE;
ATMEL Germany GmbH, Heilbronn, DE;
Abstract
At least one or more terminals of an integrated circuit, such as a low- or high-side driver stage, are protected against transient or over-voltages by two pairs of diodes. A first pair of diodes includes a regular diode (D1 or D1') and a Zener-diode (ZD1 or ZD1′). A second pair of diodes also includes a regular diode (D2 or D3) and a Zener-diode (ZD2 or ZD3). These diode pairs are looped into the respective circuit and cooperate with an n-channel MOSFET or a p-channel MOSFET to provide the required over-voltage protection, particularly for transmitter/receiver circuits and databus systems especially in motor vehicles.