Abstract: A semiconductor device having a circuit for regulating the external power supply voltage applied to the chip. When numerous chips are used in an electronic circuit having an external power supply voltage, variations in the electrical characteristics, such as the total power supply current, of each chip, become a problem. According to the present invention, variations in the electrical characteristics can be reduced by compensating the chip-to-chip fluctuations of the conductance of transistors (FETs) contained in an inner circuit disposed on the chip. A dummy transistor having a relatively short channel length is employed as a circuit for detecting the electrical characteristics of the transistors formed on the chip. The voltage drop across the dummy transistor is employed as a representative signal since it is sensitive to variations in the characteristics of the FETs contained in the inner circuit.

Abstract: A power source capable of providing a constant DC output when supplied with one of a range of AC inputs. Converter means providing a number of outputs of differing voltages each proportional to the input voltage. A number of parallel circuit lines each connected to one of those outputs. Each parallel circuit line including a rectifier, a maximum voltage regulator and a non-return current device. The outputs from those lines being connected to a common output to give the constant DC voltage supply.

Abstract: A limiter circuit has an input versus output characteristic which is non-linear in a region outside a linear operating range thereof, so that an input voltage thereof converges to a predetermined voltage within the linear operating range even when the input voltage is outside the linear operating range of the limiter circuit.

Abstract: A solar power circuit for an electronic apparatus includes a solar power circuit including a solar battery, and a capacitor for storing an extra voltage between a solar power voltage and a source voltage supply necessary for driving the apparatus.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for an alternator has an integrated actuator stage consisting of a Darlington transistor pair and includes an auxiliary stage which, at the time of starting of the alternator, causes a low voltage drop across the actuator stage by causing only one of the two transistors in the Darlington transistor pair to conduct. This provides, at the exciter winding of the alternator, disposed in series with the actuator stage, the current required for the starting of the alternator at a low rotational speed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a circuit arrangement for controlling the current through an electric load such as an electromagnetic load. A current-controlling element controls the current through the load in response to a control unit. The voltage at the load is compared with a voltage which depends on the control unit which drives the current-controlling element. The current through the electric load is then controlled in dependence upon the result of this comparison. An embodiment is described by means of which the entire circuit arrangement is protected against function failures or even destruction.

Abstract: A circuit for generating a reference voltage which is independent of temperature and supply voltage includes a bandgap stage supplying the reference voltage, a first circuit receiving the supply voltage and generating an output voltage being substantially free of variations in the supply voltage, and a second circuit connected to the first circuit and driven by the output voltage, the second circuit being connected to the bandgap stage for supplying a current to the bandgap stage having a characteristic for compensating and eliminating temperature dependencies in the bandgap stage.

Abstract: In order to prevent an excessively fast rise of the programming voltage for an (E)EPROM, a stage is inserted which on the one hand prevents voltage losses and which on the other hand realizes the required large time constant of the voltage rise in spite of the use of small capacitances.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for a microprocessor unit provided with a reset circuit for the microprocessor unit. Voltage from the regulator circuit is applied to the reset circuit as well as to the microprocessor unit. The production of a reset signal during a rise time of the regulator circuit is prevented by delaying generation of a reset signal until the regulator voltage to be applied to the microprocessor level has reached an operating level. The regulator circuit and the reset circuit are commonly formed in an integrated circuit so as to eliminate the wiring therebetween and to reduce size. Further, the reset signal is produced by the reset circuit when a run signal indicative of the proper execution of program steps is not produced at a regular rate.

Abstract: An IC voltage regulator having a low dropout voltage is disclosed. A pass transistor driver is described in which the regulator quiescent current is reduced to a very small value.

Abstract: A monolithic integrated voltage regulator consists of a multiplicity of regulator circuits connected in parallel to one another. These circuits have different dropouts and the voltage established across each set of output terminals is held at a predetermined constant value by means of a regulator circuit having its feedback circuits connected thereto. The predetermined value of the voltage across one set of output terminals is deliberately selected to be more or less elevated according to whether the dropout of its associated regulator circuit is more or less elevated.

Abstract: A power ON-OFF control circuit comprises a power stabilizing circuit for stabilizing power applied from a power source, a supply circuit for supplying a control signal, a detecting circuit for detecting whether the power from the power source is inputted, a switching circuit for disabling the control signal in response to the output of the detecting circuit and a control circuit for controlling ON-OFF states of the power source in response to the switching circuit, the control circuit being connected to the power stabilizing circuit.

Abstract: A constant voltage circuit has two rails 10 and 12, with one rail 12 at a variable potential V, possibly supplied by a voltaic cell. In one arm between the rails there is voltage reference means Z1, 14, with a circuit output line 16 connected thereto, and the line 16 is required to be maintained at a potential V.sub.o, corresponding to a maximum value for V. In a second arm there is provided a first resistor R1, connected to the rail 12, and in series with a transistor T2. A second, equal, resistor R2 is connected between the output line 16 and the transistor T2. Means Z2, 30, T3, causes a potential, corresponding to the variable, decreasing, potential V, to be applied between the second resistor R2 and the transistor T2. The current to the transistor T2 is constant over a wide range dV for V, by a compensating current portion dI flowing through the second resistor R2, thereby maintaining V.sub. o constant.

Abstract: A current-source arrangement supplying a current which increases directly proportionally to the supply voltage (V.sub.S) and which is suitable for operation with supply voltages above approximately 0.7 V, comprises a first resistor (R.sub.10 =R) in which a current (V.sub.S -V.sub.BE)/R flows, which current is supplied by a first transistor (T.sub.10) via a first current-mirror circuit (T.sub.11, T.sub.12) and a second current-mirror circuit (T.sub.13, T.sub.14). A second resistor (R.sub.2 =R) is arranged in parallel with the base-emitter junction of the input transistor (T.sub.11) of the first current-mirror circuit (T.sub.11, T.sub.12), through which second resistor (R.sub.2) a current V.sub.BE /R flows which is supplied by the first transistor (T.sub.10) via the collector-base interconnection of the input transistor (T.sub.11). The total current flowing through the first transistor (T.sub.10) is then equal to V.sub.S /R.

Abstract: A subscriber power supply which delivers sufficient power to a subscriber terminal load despite variations in load current due to changes in the number of channels in a telephone carrier system. The power supply also has a back-up unit which operates to deliver power to the load in the event that a fault occurs in the primary supply.

Abstract: A buck regulator or impedance converter is disclosed for operating a current limited power supply such as a photovoltaic array at or near its maximum power point. The maximum power point for such a supply is achieved at the compliance voltage which is an almost constant voltage. Means are provided for sensing the voltage at the input of the regulator and for using this sensed voltage to control a logic circuit which, in turn, controls the duty cycle of a switching transistor. The output from the switching transistor is coupled to an LC filter and from there to the load. The logic circuitry, responsive to the sensed voltage, controls the duty cycle of the switching transistor in such a manner as to maintain the input voltage approximately constant and thus to maintain the power supply at or near its peak power operating point.

Abstract: A phase control ballast in which a reactor and a triac are connected in series with an hid discharge lamp across an ac voltage source. A supra-linear converter connected to a rectifier-filter provides a reference voltage which is a supra-linear function of the source voltage. A ramp generator provides a ramp voltage climbing at a constant rate. At the instant when the ramp voltage exceeds the level of the reference voltage, a comparator circuit provides a signal to the gate of the triac which turns it on. A triac state detector responds to the turning on of the triac in either polarity by dropping the ramp voltage to zero and holding it at zero until the triac turns itself off.

Abstract: A circuit produces a stable constant current during power source voltage fluctuations which includes resistance means and first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth transistor devices. The first and second transistor devices are of a first conductivity type and are connected to form a first current mirror circuit, the first transistor device being connected as a diode. The third and fourth transistor devices are of a second conductivity type and are connected to each other to form a second current mirror circuit, the third transistor device being connected in series with the second transistor device, and the fourth transistor device being connected as a diode. The fifth transistor device is connected at its collector-emitter path in series with the first transistor device and at its base to the connection point between the second and third transistor devices. The resistance means is connected between the first and fifth transistor devices.

Abstract: A regulator with a low drop-out voltage receiving on a first terminal a supply voltage and supplying on its output terminal a regulated voltage. The input and output terminals are connected on the one hand, by a first branch incorporating a pnp transistor, and on the other hand by a second branch incorporating in series a resistor and a second pnp transistor, whose emitter is connected to a storage capacitor charged by the resistor. Thus, when the supply voltage drops below the charging voltage of the capacitor, it is the second pnp transistor which conducts and connects the capacitor to the output terminal.

Abstract: A reference voltage circuit comprising a first resistor connected between a first power supply voltage terminal and a reference voltage terminal, and a second resistor connected between a second power supply voltage terminal and the reference voltage terminal. The reference voltage circuit further has a MOSFET, the drain of which is connected to the reference voltage terminal, the source of which is connected to the first power supply voltage terminal, and the gate of which is connected to the second power supply voltage terminal with proper selection of the second resistor in relationship to .beta. of the MOSFET and the reference voltage, the reference voltage may be kept constant irrespective of fluctuations in the power supply voltage. In other embodiments, the first and second resistors can be replaced with different types of MOSFETs to reduce the pattern area of the reference voltage circuit.

Abstract: Direct current inrush upon connection of a capacitive load to a d.c. voltage is limited through an intermediary circuit. Within such circuit the inrush current is sensed by a series resistance and such sensing is utilized via a feedback loop, to control a series current regulating transistor to be cyclically conducting or non-conducting of a first direct current path. A second direct current path through freewheeling diodes flows current to the load only when such series current regulating transistor is non-conducting of such first path current. After fully charging the capacitive load, howsoever slowly as desired, the first current path conducts with low power dissipation while the second current path is non-conducting. The circuit is further controlled to be correctly operative for control of inrush current during the turn-on, or disruption of, fundamental power to such circuit.

Abstract: An up-down voltage regulator includes an up regulator followed by a series pass PNP transistor. The base of the PNP transistor is coupled to an unregulated voltage source. The up regulator is responsive to the voltage at the collector of the PNP transistor to control the emitter voltage of the PNP transistor for all values of the unregulated voltage source to bias the PNP transistor so as to establish and maintain the collector voltage of the PNP transistor at a desired regulated value.

Abstract: A solid state circuit for providing a DC regulated output voltage at an output thereof wherein the circuit exhibits excellent ripple rejection performance to maintain the regulated output voltage constant with perturbations in the supply voltage applied to the circuit. The circuit includes a precision current source for providing output currents to a load circuit which is connected between the current source and ground reference. A bias reference potential is applied to the load circuit which has an output connected to the output of the circuit and a feedback loop for causing the DC regulated voltage to be proportional to the bias reference potential. A frequency compensation circuit is included that is coupled across outputs of the current source which enhances the ripple rejection performance of the circuit to higher frequency component transients of such perturbations in the supply voltage.

Abstract: A complementary field effect transistor integrable voltage regulator suitable for use in CMOS integrated circuits includes first and second regulator sections coupled together. One regulator section includes a P channel MOSFET and an N channel MOSFET and a resistor, the P channel MOSFET and the resistor being coupled in series between an internal supply conductor and a reference conductor, the N channel MOSFET being connected in parallel therewith and having its gate electrode connected to the junction between the P channel MOSFET and the resistor. The gate electrode of the P channel MOSFET is connected to the output of another regulator, which includes a zener diode and a resistor coupled in series between the reference conductor and another voltage conductor.

Abstract: An integrated voltage regulator circuit for providing a DC regulated output voltage which rejects perturbations in the supply voltage, comprising a current source, and a load circuit coupled with outputs of the current source which is referenced to ground potential, and a frequency compensation circuit coupled across the current source which increases the frequency response of the voltage regulator circuit. The current source includes first and second interconnected complementary type current mirrors wherein said first current mirror comprises a plurality of PNP current sourcing transistors having commonly connected bases. The bases of the PNP transistors are coupled to an external terminal. An external capacitor is connected between the external terminal and the supply voltage to overcome parasitic base-substrate capacitance inherent to the PNP transistors and improve the circuits ripple rejection performance.

Abstract: A regulator circuit which provides voltage regulation for a normal power supply and a battery used in a battery back-up system. A first portion of the circuit detects when the battery is about to go into a deep discharge condition (when operated in the battery back-up mode) and a second portion of the circuit is used to regulate the output voltage to a load. When the first portion of the circuit detects the deep discharge condition, it disconnects the load and the second portion of the circuit from the battery. The first portion of the circuit draws a very small current.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for converting a physical quantity into variations in electric current. The apparatus comprises a power source, a control circuit for controlling an output amplitude of the power source, a detecting circuit supplied with the output of the power source, the electrical characteristics of the detecting circuit being varied in accordance with a physical quantity to be measured and ambient conditions, a converting circuit for amplifying the difference between a first electrical output of the detecting circuit and a reference value, and for converting the amplified difference into an output of the apparatus, and a negative feedback circuit for feeding back a portion of the output to the control circuit. A second electrical output of the detecting circuit is also input to the control circuit whereby the output of the control circuit controls the output amplitude of the power source.

Abstract: An electronic control system for a high power load is provided with a plurality of parallel current paths divided into two groups (11-12), with control devices (Q.sub.1 -Q.sub.n) in the current paths of one group each having a current limiting resistor (13), and control devices (Q.sub.21, Q.sub.22) in the current paths of the other group each having no current limiting resistor, so that when the control devices of the second group are turned fully on, a short circuit is achieved by the arrangement of parallel current paths. Separate but coordinated control signals (1, 2) are provided by suitable means (P.sub.1 -P.sub.3) to first turn on the control devices of the first group and increase their conduction toward saturation as a function of control input, and when fully on, or shortly before, to turn on the control devices of the second group and increase their conduction toward saturation as a function of the control input as that input continues to increase.

Abstract: A temperature-compensated reference voltage circuit includes a transistor having a positive temperature coefficient of current. A circuit for establishing a predetermined current in the positive-temperature-coefficient-of-current transistor is connected to that transistor. A predetermined resistance serially connects the positive-temperature-coefficient-of-current transistor with a transistor having negative temperature coefficient of base-to-emitter voltage. The temperature-compensated reference voltage is established between the transistors. The temperature-compensated reference voltage circuit is particularly useful in a supply voltage sense amplifier circuit for thermal printhead drive transistors or other load elements. The sense amplifier circuit includes a circuit for comparing the reference voltage and a supply voltage. An output is adapted to be connected to a load for receiving the supply voltage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an overvoltage protection device designed to protect electronic components against high energy transients. The protection device comprises a varistor, across which there is connected a voltage-dividing unit comprising a resistor and a voltage-limiting element, for example a varistor or a Zener diode. The voltage appearing across the voltage-limiting element controls the output signal of the protection device by being connected to the base of a transistor. The input signal to the transistor consists of the input signal of the circuit or the input signal voltage-divided across an input resistor.

Abstract: In circuits such as voltage regulators and the like where parasitic currents may be generated as a result of high frequency ripple on the supply line, means are provided to cancel the effects of the parasitic current. A capacitor having a capacitance substantially equal to the parasitic capacitance is adapted to receive the supply voltage excursions and generate a current substantially equal to the parasitic current. A current mirror circuit or the like is employed to either divert this second current from the base of the output transistors or to reduce the drive current to the base of the output transistors by an amount equal to the second current.

Abstract: A negative impedance circuit comprising a level shifter and a current mirror, includes calibration circuitry for adjusting the negative impedance to provide the precise amount of current required to compensate for current drain caused by a known impedance at varying voltage levels. A divider/multiplier circuit is connected to the line which has the known impedance and provides a signal which is directly proportional to the voltage level on the line to the level shifter which, in turn, provides a corresponding control current to the current mirror. The current mirror provides a proportional current to the line current supplied by the current mirror and may be measured at a calibration resistor and the divider multiplier circuit may be adjusted to the appropriate ratio until the exact amount of current required to offset the drain to the precision resistor is provided by the current mirror.

Abstract: An active power supply ripple filter with low noise and low power dissipation characteristics, which tracks the voltage of the power source with low voltage drop and high current capability. The circuit consists of a control transistor connected between one terminal of a power source and one terminal of a load, a reference circuit which tracks the supply voltage, a low pass filter which filters the reference voltage and an amplifier for driving the control transistor in response to the filtered reference voltage and a feedback voltage from the load. The circuit minimizes the voltage drop across the control transistor as well as minimizing the capacitance values required for the filter capacitors.

Abstract: A bias circuit comprises a first stabilizing power supply circuit for absorbing variations in the supply voltage and a control circuit for imparting a desired temperature dependence on the level of an output voltage from the first stabilizing power supply circuit. The control circuit is driven by a regulated voltage from a second stabilizing power supply circuit. As a result, the level of the output voltage from the first stabilizing power supply circuit changes based upon the controlled conditions in the control circuit and in dependence upon changes in temperature. However, the level of the output voltage does not change with changes in the supply voltage. Since no positive feedback loop is included in the bias circuit, stable operation can be expected. Consequently, the bias circuit of the invention is suitable to be employed as a bias circuit for driving a semiconductor integrated circuit.

Abstract: A transistorized power supply for providing a constant voltage to a load. A series regulator interposed between a d.c. input voltage source and the load to regulate the d.c. output voltage. A d.c. to d.c. converter serially connected between the d.c. input voltage source and the series regulator. The d.c. to d.c. converter is selectively actuated to supplement the d.c. input voltage when the d.c. input voltage falls below a predetermined value in order to maintain a constant voltage across the load.

Abstract: A self-tracking high voltage breakdown protection circuit is provided. A non-destructive reference voltage is established by a gated diode having the same breakdown and walkout characteristics as the integrated circuit devices to be protected. A source-follower configuration couples the reference voltage to the integrated circuit. Devices of the protection circuit are internally connected to make each self-protected.

Abstract: A temperature-sensitive voltage divider for monolithic i.c.'s using singly and doubly diffused resistors avoids the problems with tracking their resistance characteristics owing to diffusion process variations. This is done by using the pinch resistor in conjunction with the base-emitter circuit of a bipolar transistor arranged in common-collector amplifier configuration. The impedance transformation properties of the transistor ease the problems of scaling otherwise encountered in many potential divider arrangements of supply and doubly diffused resistors. The utility of the voltage divider is illustrated in the shunt regulation of the operating voltage of an AM radio receiver.

Abstract: A constant current source circuit includes a single differential amplifier having both voltage and temperature stabilization circuits. The voltage and temperature stabilization circuits operate on a feedback principle, each receiving an input from the differential amplifier, and each in turn providing a signal back to the differential amplifier to provide the desired stabilization. The resulting circuit is particularly adapted for use in battery-powered equipment, where substantial variations in both temperature and operating voltage are likely to occur.

Abstract: A constant current switch for controlling a generally constant switchable load current with fluctuating voltage comprises a first transistor connected in to the current branch of the load circuit and having a voltage divider in parallel to its control path for measuring its control voltage and a second transistor connected to the control input of the switch and to the voltage divider.