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. 15, 2008
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2005
Robert Bell, Chandler, AZ (US);
Brad Benson, Chandler, AZ (US);
Patrice R. Lethellier, Chandler, AZ (US);
Robert Bell, Chandler, AZ (US);
Brad Benson, Chandler, AZ (US);
Patrice R. Lethellier, Chandler, AZ (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
An opto-coupler interface is provided. The opto-coupler interface includes a current mirror and a resistor. The opto-coupler interface is arranged such that a relatively fixed voltage is provided across the photodetector. At one end of the photodetector, the voltage is relatively fixed because the photodetector is coupled to the input of a current mirror. Because the voltage across the opto-coupler is relative fixed, the opto-coupler interface is a current interface rather than a voltage interface. Current from the photodetector is mirrored by the current mirror to provide an output mirror current. The output mirror current is provided to a resistor such that the resistor provides a voltage that is based on the output mirror current.