Circuit simulating a diode

A circuit with two terminals A and k, which conducts current in one direction from terminal A to terminal K and blocks current in the opposite direction from terminal K to terminal A, comprising:

• a voltage comparator, having a positive input, a negative input, and an output;
• and
• a three terminal means for switching current with a source for electrons, a drain for electrons, and a control terminal controlled by a voltage from the output of said voltage comparator;
• said three terminal switching means having an internal resistance associated therewith, and an intrinsic diode associated therewith between said source and said drain;
• and
• wherein an effective anode of said intrinsic diode is connected to terminal A of said circuit, and an effective cathode of said intrinsic diode is connected to terminal K of said circuit;
• wherein said source is connected to the positive input of said voltage comparator and said drain is connected to the negative input of said voltage comparator;
• and
• wherein said voltage comparator comprises two resistors and two transistors each having an emitter, a collector and a base, wherein the emitter of the first transistor is the positive input of the voltage comparator, the emitter of the second transistor is the negative input of the voltage comparator, the two resistors are connected in series between the collectors of the first and second transistors, the collector of the first transistor is the output of the voltage comparator, and the bases of the two transistors are connected and shorted to the collector of the second transistor.

A circuit with two terminals A and K, which conducts current in one direction from terminal A to terminal K and blocks current in the opposite direction from terminal K to terminal A, comprising:

• a voltage comparator, having a positive input, a negative input, and an output;
• and
• a three terminal means for switching current with a source for electrons, a drain for electrons, and a control terminal controlled by a voltage from the output of said voltage comparator;
• said three terminal switching means having an internal resistance associated therewith, and an intrinsic diode associated therewith between said source and said drain;
• and
• wherein an effective anode of said intrinsic diode is connected to terminal A of said circuit, and an effective cathode of said intrinsic diode is connected to terminal K of said circuit;
• wherein said source is connected to the positive input of said voltage comparator and said drain is connected to the negative input of said voltage comparator;
• and
• further comprising detection means for detecting if the switching means is malfunctioning.

A circuit comprising:

• a voltage comparator having a positive input, a negative input, and an output;
• a switching means for switching current having a drain for electrons, a source for electrons, and a control terminal, wherein said drain is connected to said negative input, said source is connected to said positive input and said control terminal is connected to said output of said voltage comparator;
• and
• further comprising detection means for determining if said switching means is malfunctioning.

A circuit comprising:

• a voltage comparator having a positive input, a negative input, and an output;
• a bipolar transistor having a collector, an emitter, and a base, wherein said collector is connected to said positive input of said voltage comparator, said emitter is connected to said negative input of said voltage comparator, and the base of said bipolar transistor is connected to the output of said voltage comparator;
• and
• further comprising detection means for determining if said bipolar transistor is malfunctioning.

A method of conducting current in one direction from a terminal A to a terminal K and blocking current in a second direction from said terminal K to said terminal A, comprising:

• i. comparing a voltage signal at a positive input of a comparator to a voltage signal at a negative input of said comparator to obtain an output voltage;
• ii. connecting a three terminal switch between terminal A and terminal K, wherein said three terminal switch has an internal resistance associated therewith, an intrinsic diode associated therewith, and a source for electrons, a drain for electrons and a control terminal;
• iii. connecting the output voltage to said control terminal of said three terminal switch;
• iv. connecting an effective anode of said intrinsic diode to terminal A;
• v. connecting an effective cathode of said intrinsic diode to terminal K;
• vi. inputting voltage signals to said comparator by connecting said source of said three terminal switch to said positive input of said comparator, and connecting said drain of said three terminal switch to said negative input of said comparator;
• and
• vii. further comprising detecting whether said three terminal switch is malfunctioning.