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:
Mar. 11, 2008
Filed:
Nov. 08, 2005
Richard A. Harris, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Francois Hebert, San Mateo, CA (US);
Richard A. Harris, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Francois Hebert, San Mateo, CA (US);
FulTec Semiconductor, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for enhanced transient blocking employing a transient blocking unit (TBU) that uses at least one depletion mode n-channel device interconnected with at least one depletion mode p-channel device. The interconnection is performed such that a transient alters a bias voltage Vof the p-channel device and a bias voltage Vof the n-channel device such that the p- and n-channel devices mutually switch off to block the transient. The apparatus has an enhancer circuit for applying an enhancement bias to a gate terminal of at least one of the depletion mode n-channel devices of the TBU to reduce a total resistance Rof the apparatus. Alternatively, the apparatus has an enhancement mode NMOS transistor and a TBU connected thereto to help provide an enhancement bias to a gate terminal of the enhancement mode NMOS.