Voltage sharing circuit
First Claim
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1. A voltage sharing circuit, comprising:
- a first active electronic device having at least first, second and third electrodes and having a predetermined voltage rating;
a second active electronic device having at least first, second and third electrodes and having a predetermined voltage rating, said first electrode of said second active electronic device being coupled to said second electrode of said first active electronic device;
means for receiving an input signal only at said third electrode of said first active electronic device;
means for providing an output signal at said second electrode of said second active electronic device, the voltage of said output signal being greater than said voltage rating of said first active electronic device;
a supply voltage source coupled to said second electrode of said second active electronic device;
a first source of fixed reference voltage;
a first impedance device coupling said second and third electrodes of said second active electronic device; and
a first diode intermediate said first source of fixed reference voltage and said third electrode of said second active electronic device to limit the maximum voltage with respect to ground potential on said third electrode of said second active electrode device.
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Abstract
A voltage sharing circuit which allows use of low voltage semiconductor devices to obtain higher output voltages is made up of a series stack of the low voltage devices with diode limiters provided to bias the low voltage devices such that the maximum voltage across any one of the low voltage devices is limited to a predetermined value.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A voltage sharing circuit, comprising:
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a first active electronic device having at least first, second and third electrodes and having a predetermined voltage rating; a second active electronic device having at least first, second and third electrodes and having a predetermined voltage rating, said first electrode of said second active electronic device being coupled to said second electrode of said first active electronic device; means for receiving an input signal only at said third electrode of said first active electronic device; means for providing an output signal at said second electrode of said second active electronic device, the voltage of said output signal being greater than said voltage rating of said first active electronic device; a supply voltage source coupled to said second electrode of said second active electronic device; a first source of fixed reference voltage; a first impedance device coupling said second and third electrodes of said second active electronic device; and a first diode intermediate said first source of fixed reference voltage and said third electrode of said second active electronic device to limit the maximum voltage with respect to ground potential on said third electrode of said second active electrode device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A voltage sharing circuit, comprising;
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a plurality of active electronic devices having at least three electrodes and coupled in a series stack; means for providing an input signal to a first of said active electronic devices at one end of said series stack; means for providing an output signal from the last of said active electronic devices at the other end of said series stack; and means for providing diode limiters to all but said first of said active electronic devices to limit the maximum voltage which can be applied to one corresponding electrode of each but said first, and the maximum voltage that can be developed across all but said second, of said active electronic devices. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A voltage sharing circuit, comprising:
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a first active electronic device having at least first, second and third electrodes; a second active electronic device having at least first, second and third electrodes, with said first electrode being coupled to said second electrode of said first active electronic device, whereby an input signal applied at only said third electrode of said first active electronic device causes production of an output signal at said second electrode of said second active electronic device; a supply voltage source coupled to said second electrode of said second active electronic device; a source of fixed reference voltage; impedance means for coupling, with a predetermined impedance, said second and third electrodes of said second active electronic device; and limiting means, operatively connected between said source of reference voltage and said third electrodes of said second active electronic device, for limiting the maximum voltage, with respect to ground potential, on said third electrode of said second active electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification