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:
Jun. 23, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 26, 2006
Takanori Makino, Ogaki, JP;
Kazuyoshi Nagase, Kitanagoya, JP;
Takanori Makino, Ogaki, JP;
Kazuyoshi Nagase, Kitanagoya, JP;
DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
An output circuit includes a constant current circuit that generates and supplies a constant current to an output terminal of the output circuit. Based on the constant current, the output circuit converts an input signal to an output signal having a voltage within a voltage range specified by upper and lower clamp voltages. The output signal is feedback to the constant current circuit. The constant current circuit changes the amount of the constant current in accordance with the output signal in such a manner that the constant current increases with an increase in the output signal and becomes zero when the output signal decreases to or below a threshold voltage. Thus, the upper clamp voltage is made as close to a power supply voltage as possible and the lower clamp voltage is made as close to a ground voltage as possible.