Abstract: A circuit with low impedance for maintaining a single polarity at an output is disclosed. Switching is provided by light controlled switching devices which in one embodiment are field effect transistors (14, 15, 16, 17) which are optically triggered by one or more photo-responsive devices (26', 27', 28', 29') coupled to their gate electrodes. The ON-OFF state of each switch is determined by the presence or absence of light from an adjacent line-powered LED (26, 27, 28, 29). A diode (32, 33, 34, 35) may be included in parallel with each switching device to provide surge protection.

Abstract: A voltage multiplier circuit, in MOS technology, is arranged whereby MOS capacitors are alternately connected together in parallel (charging phase) and series (multiplying phase). Each capacitor is provided with a separate input MOS transistor as well as a separate feedback loop from the output side of each capacitor to the gate electrode of its input MOS transistor. During the multiplying phase, each input transistor is turned "on" in response to the voltage supplied by each feedback loop, thereby connecting the capacitors in series.