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. 06, 2012
Filed:
Oct. 23, 2009
Jonathan Mark Audy, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Jonathan Mark Audy, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Analog Devices, Inc., Morwood, MA (US);
Abstract
A scalable highest available voltage selector circuit determines the highest of n input voltages and connects the highest voltage to an output. The circuit has at least n circuit branches, each of which comprises n−1 'comparator' FETs connected between an input voltage and an output node, and a diode-connected FET connected between the output node and a current source. The junction of the diode-connected transistor and current source provides a control signal used by the other branches. Each of a branch's comparator FETs have their gates connected to a respective one of the other branches' control signals, such that they are driven on regeneratively when the applied input voltage is the highest of the n input voltages. Each branch also includes n−1 'shorting' FETs connected across the diode-connected transistor, arranged to be driven off when the applied input voltage is the highest, but which are otherwise driven on.