# US 12,191,761 B2 · Integrated circuit and power supply circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,191,761 B2 - Document ID: US12191761B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/458,704 - Filed: 2021-08-27 - Published: 2022-05-26 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-26 - Assignees: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hiroshi Maruyama; Takato Sugawara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191761B2 ## CPC - H02M 1/4225: {using a non-isolated boost converter} - H02M 1/0022: {the disturbance parameters being input voltage fluctuations} - H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H02M 3/33507: {with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters (H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence)} - H02M 3/3353: {having at least two simultaneously operating switches on the input side, e.g. "double forward" or "double (switched) flyback" converter} - H02M 7/217: using semiconductor devices only - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract A signal output circuit including a first transistor coupled to a power supply line to receive a power supply voltage, a diode provided between the power supply line and a gate electrode of the first transistor, and a current generation circuit provided on a ground side with respect to the diode, the current generation circuit being configured to generate a current for the diode, upon turning on of the first transistor, and to increase the current, upon the power supply voltage dropping below a predetermined level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A signal output circuit comprising: a first transistor coupled to a power supply line to receive a power supply voltage; a diode provided between the power supply line and a gate electrode of the first transistor; and a current generation circuit provided on a side of a ground with respect to the diode, the current generation circuit being configured to generate a current for the diode, upon turning on of the first transistor, and increase the current, upon the power supply voltage dropping below a first level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The signal output circuit according to claim 1, wherein the current generation circuit includes a second transistor configured to be turned on, upon turning on of the first transistor, and a variable resistor provided between the second transistor and the ground, the variable resistor being configured to decrease a resistance value thereof, upon the power supply voltage dropping below the first level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The signal output circuit according to claim 2, wherein the variable resistor increases the resistance value, upon the power supply voltage reaching a second level that is higher than the first level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The signal output circuit according to claim 3, further comprising a first control circuit configured to control the variable resistor such that the resistance value decreases upon the power supply voltage dropping below the first level, and increases upon the power supply voltage exceeding the second level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The signal output circuit according to claim 2, wherein a third transistor is provided on the side of the ground with respect to the first transistor, the third transistor being configured to be turned on and off complementarily to the first transistor, and the first transistor outputs a signal corresponding to the power supply voltage, upon turning on of the first transistor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The signal output circuit according to claim 5, further comprising a second control circuit configured to turn on and off the second and third transistors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The signal output circuit according to claim 6, wherein the first and third transistors output the signal obtained by shifting a level of a control signal for turning on and off the second transistor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The signal output circuit according to claim 6, further comprising an output terminal to which the first transistor and the third transistor are coupled, wherein the first and third transistors output the signal to the output terminal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The signal output circuit according to claim 8, wherein the second control circuit controls the variable resistor such that the resistance value decreases and then increases while the first transistor is on. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The signal output circuit according to claim 2, wherein the first transistor is a P-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistor, and the second transistor is an N-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The signal output circuit according to claim 1, wherein the diode is a Zener diode having a cathode coupled to the power supply line and an anode coupled to the gate electrode of the first transistor. ### Claim 12 A power supply circuit configured to generate a direct-current voltage from an alternating-current voltage, the power supply circuit comprising: an inductor to receive a rectified voltage corresponding to the alternating-current voltage; a power transistor configured to control an inductor current flowing through the inductor; and an integrated circuit configured to drive the power transistor, the integrated circuit including a first transistor coupled to a power supply line to receive a power supply voltage, a diode provided between the power supply line and a gate electrode of the first transistor, and a current generation circuit provided on a side of a ground with respect to the diode, the current generation circuit being configured to generate a current for the diode, upon turning on of the first transistor, and increase the current, upon the power supply voltage dropping below a first level. ### Claim 13 A signal output circuit comprising: a first transistor coupled to a power supply line to receive a power supply voltage; a diode provided between the power supply line and a gate electrode of the first transistor; and a current generation circuit provided on a side of a ground with respect to the diode, the current generation circuit being configured to generate a current for the diode upon turning on of the first transistor, wherein the current generation circuit, through which the current flows upon turning on of the first transistor, has a resistance value that decreases upon the power supply voltage dropping below a first level. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The signal output circuit according to claim 13, wherein the current generation circuit includes a second transistor configured to be turned on, upon turning on of the first transistor, and a variable resistor provided between the second transistor and the ground, the variable resistor being configured to decrease the resistance value, upon the power supply voltage dropping below the first level. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The signal output circuit according to claim 14, wherein the variable resistor increases the resistance value, upon the power supply voltage reaching a second level that is higher than the first level. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The signal output circuit according to claim 15, further comprising a first control circuit configured to control the variable resistor such that the resistance value decreases upon the power supply voltage dropping below the first level, and increases upon the power supply voltage exceeding the second level. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The signal output circuit according to claim 14, wherein a third transistor is provided on the side of the ground with respect to the first transistor, the third transistor being configured to be turned on and off complementarily to the first transistor, and the first transistor outputs a signal corresponding to the power supply voltage, upon turning on of the first transistor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The signal output circuit according to claim 17, further comprising a second control circuit configured to turn on and off the second and third transistors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The signal output circuit according to claim 18, wherein the first and third transistors output the signal obtained by shifting a level of a control signal for turning on and off the second transistor.