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:
Aug. 25, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 22, 2007
Goro Ueda, Nishio, JP;
Goro Ueda, Nishio, JP;
DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
A drive circuit is provided for driving a voltage-driven semiconductor element by producing a drive signal depending upon an input signal. The drive circuit comprises an output stage and a current-suppressing circuit. The output stage includes two semiconductor elements connected in series. The voltage-driven semiconductor element is connected to a common connection point of the two semiconductor elements. The current-suppressing circuit controls one of the two semiconductor elements to provide an output current flowing through either one of the two semiconductor elements if a voltage applied to the voltage-driven semiconductor element reaches a limit level, which is in excess of a level for conducting the voltage-driven semiconductor element by a predetermined voltage.