Switch circuit

• US 7,023,258 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hamase, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAILE, FEBEN
• Application Number:
  US09/983,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20020051444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 327/308, 333/81.R, 333/101, 370/359, 307/141.8, 307/140, 307/130, 307/129, 307/139
• US Class Current: 327/308
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/693 Switching arrangements with several input- or output-terminals, e.g. multiplexers, distributors logic circuits H03K19/00; code converters H03M5/00, H03M7/00

Abstract

A plurality of first transistors are connected in series between the first terminal and the second terminal. A plurality of second transistors are connected in series between the first terminal and the third terminal. One end of a resistor is connected to the first terminal, and the other end of the resistor is grounded. Either the first transistor or the second transistor is controlled to be ON. A resistance value of the resistor is set at such a value that a difference between a gate voltage of the first or second transistor being ON and a pinch-off voltage of the first or second transistor being ON is set greater than the amplitude of the potential of the first terminal which varies upon reception of a signal flowing to the first terminal. In this structure, the first and second transistors are appropriately operated regardless of signal frequency.

Claims

1. A switch circuit comprising:

a first transistor which is connected between a first terminal and a second terminal;

a second transistor which is connected between said first terminal and a third terminal; and

a resistor one end of which is connected to said first terminal and other end of which is grounded, and

wherein either said first transistor or said second transistor is controlled to be ON, and

said resistor has a resistance value which is set at such a value that a difference between a gate voltage of said first transistor or second transistor being ON and a pinch-off voltage of the first transistor or second transistor being ON is set greater than an amplitude of a potential of said first terminal which varies by a signal flowing to said first terminal.

2. The switch circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

said first transistor includes a plurality of transistors which is connected with each other in series between said first terminal and said second terminal; and

said second transistor includes a plurality of transistors which is connected with each other in series between said first terminal and said third terminal.

3. The switch circuit according to claim 2, wherein

each of said first transistor and said second transistor is a junction-type Field Effect Transistor which is formed of gallium arsenic.

4. The switch circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

said resistor is a variable resistor; and

said switch circuit further includes

a measurement circuit which measures the amplitude of the potential of said first terminal, and

a control circuit which sets a resistance value of said resistor in accordance with the amplitude measured by said measurement circuit.