SWITCHING CIRCUIT APPARATUS HAVING A SERIES CONDUCTION PATH FOR SERVICING A LOAD AND SWITCHING METHOD
First Claim
1. A circuit for servicing a load connectable with a power supply, the circuit comprising:
- a plurality of three-terminal switches which define a series conduction path connectable between the power supply and the load, the series conduction path comprising a source terminal and a drain terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches, and each source terminal of the plurality of three-terminal switches is connected to a drain terminal of an adjacent three-terminal switch, respectively;
one control supply in power connection between a gate terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches and a source terminal of one of the plurality of three-terminal switches, the control supply producing a control voltage; and
a plurality of isolator circuits corresponding to the plurality of three-terminal switches, and each disposed in power connection between the one control supply and a source terminal and a gate terminal of each of the three-terminal switches of the plurality of three-terminal switches, and comprising a transformer which transforms the control voltage received from the one control supply at the respective three-terminal switch into a specified voltage to close the respective three-terminal switch, and each of the plurality of three-terminal switches is responsive to the control voltage at its respective gate terminal, thereby closing a connection between the respective source terminal and respective drain terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches based on the specified voltage.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit for servicing a load connectable with a power supply is disclosed. The circuit includes a plurality of three-terminal switches and one control supply. The three-terminal switches define a series conduction path connectable between the power supply and the load. Each of the plurality of three terminal switches includes a source terminal, a drain terminal, and a gate terminal. The control supply is productive of a control voltage and in power connection between the gate terminal and source terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches. Each of the plurality of three-terminal switches is responsive to the control voltage at its respective gate terminal to close a connection between the respective source terminal and respective drain terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A circuit for servicing a load connectable with a power supply, the circuit comprising:
-
a plurality of three-terminal switches which define a series conduction path connectable between the power supply and the load, the series conduction path comprising a source terminal and a drain terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches, and each source terminal of the plurality of three-terminal switches is connected to a drain terminal of an adjacent three-terminal switch, respectively; one control supply in power connection between a gate terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches and a source terminal of one of the plurality of three-terminal switches, the control supply producing a control voltage; and a plurality of isolator circuits corresponding to the plurality of three-terminal switches, and each disposed in power connection between the one control supply and a source terminal and a gate terminal of each of the three-terminal switches of the plurality of three-terminal switches, and comprising a transformer which transforms the control voltage received from the one control supply at the respective three-terminal switch into a specified voltage to close the respective three-terminal switch, and each of the plurality of three-terminal switches is responsive to the control voltage at its respective gate terminal, thereby closing a connection between the respective source terminal and respective drain terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches based on the specified voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20)
-
-
5. (canceled)
-
12. A method for switching a load connectable with a power supply, the method comprising:
-
defining a series conduction path comprising a source terminal and a drain terminal of each of a plurality of three-terminal switches, each source terminal of the plurality of three-terminal switches is connected to a drain terminal of an adjacent three-terminal switch, respectively, the series conduction path being connectable between the power supply and the load; making available a control voltage at a gate terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches from one control supply in power connection between each gate terminal of the plurality of three-terminal switches and a source terminal of one of the plurality of three-terminal switches wherein the making available a control voltage is via a plurality of isolator circuits corresponding to the plurality of three-terminal switches, each isolator circuit disposed in power connection between the one control supply and the source terminal and the gate terminal of each of the three-terminal switches of the plurality of three-terminal switches, and transforming, via a transformer, the control voltage received from the one control supply at the respective three-terminal switch into a specified voltage to close the respective three-terminal switch; and in response to the control voltage being received at each of the plurality of three-terminal switches at its respective gate terminal, closing a connection between the respective source terminal and the respective drain terminal of each of the plurality of three-terminal switches based on the specified voltage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification