US 8,422,187 B2 · Apparatus and method for electronic circuit protection

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for providing transient electrical event protection are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a detection and timing circuit, a current amplification circuit, and a clamping circuit. The detection and timing circuit is configured to detect a presence or absence of a transient electrical event at a first node, and to generate a first current for a first duration upon detection of the transient electrical event. The current amplification circuit is configured to receive the first current from the detection and timing circuit and to amplify the first current to generate a second current. The clamping circuit is electrically connected between the first node and a second node and receives the second current for activation. The clamping circuit is configured to activate a low impedance path between the first and second nodes in response to the second current, and to otherwise deactivate the low impedance path.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An apparatus for providing transient electrical event protection, the apparatus comprising:

a detection and timing circuit configured to detect a presence or absence of a transient electrical event at a first node, wherein the detection and timing circuit is further configured to generate a first current for a first duration upon detection of the transient electrical event;
a current amplification circuit configured to receive the first current from the detection and timing circuit and to amplify the first current to generate a second current, the current amplification circuit comprising;
a first bipolar transistor having an emitter, a base, and a collector, wherein the first bipolar transistor is configured to receive at least a portion of the first current or configured to generate at least a portion of the second current;
and
a second bipolar transistor having an emitter, a base, and a collector, wherein the emitter of the second bipolar transistor is electrically connected to the collector of the first bipolar transistor, and wherein the collector of the second bipolar transistor is electrically connected to the base of the second bipolar transistor and to a second node;
and
a clamping circuit electrically connected between the first node and the second node and configured to receive the second current for activation, wherein the clamping circuit is configured to activate a low impedance path between the first and second nodes in response to the second current, and to otherwise deactivate the low impedance path.

4 more elements

An apparatus for providing transient electrical event protection, the apparatus comprising:

a detection and timing circuit configured to detect a presence or absence of a transient electrical event at a first node, wherein the detection and timing circuit is further configured to generate a first current for a first duration upon detection of the transient electrical event;
a current amplification circuit configured to receive the first current from the detection and timing circuit and to amplify the first current to generate a second current, wherein the current amplification circuit comprises two or more PNP bipolar transistors, and wherein the current amplification circuit comprises a first PNP bipolar transistor and a second PNP bipolar transistor, and wherein the first and second PNP bipolar transistors each include an emitter, a base, and a collector, and wherein the base of the first PNP bipolar transistor is configured to receive at least a portion of the first current and the emitter of the second PNP transistor is configured to generate at least a portion of the second current, and wherein the emitter of the first PNP transistor is electrically connected to the base of the second PNP transistor;
a clamping circuit electrically connected between the first node and a second node and configured to receive the second current for activation, wherein the clamping circuit is configured to activate a low impedance path between the first and second nodes in response to the second current, and to otherwise deactivate the low impedance path;
a first resistor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first resistor is electrically connected to the emitter of the first PNP transistor and to the base of the second PNP transistor, and wherein the second end is electrically connected to the emitter of the second PNP transistor;
and
a second resistor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second resistor is electrically connected to the emitter of the second PNP transistor and to the second end of the first resistor, and wherein the second end of the second resistor is electrically connected to the first node.

3 more elements

An apparatus for providing transient electrical event protection, the apparatus comprising:

a detection and timing circuit configured to detect a presence or absence of a transient electrical event at a first node, wherein the detection and timing circuit is further configured to generate a first current for a first duration upon detection of the transient electrical event;
a current amplification circuit configured to receive the first current from the detection and timing circuit and to amplify the first current to generate a second current, wherein the current amplification circuit comprises two or more PNP bipolar transistors, and wherein the current amplification circuit comprises a first PNP bipolar transistor and a second PNP bipolar transistor, and wherein the first and second PNP bipolar transistors each include an emitter, a base, and a collector, and wherein the base of the first PNP bipolar transistor is configured to receive at least a portion of the first current and the emitter of the second PNP transistor is configured to generate at least a portion of the second current, and wherein the emitter of the first PNP transistor is electrically connected to the base of the second PNP transistor;
a clamping circuit electrically connected between the first node and a second node and configured to receive the second current for activation, wherein the clamping circuit is configured to activate a low impedance path between the first and second nodes in response to the second current, and to otherwise deactivate the low impedance path;
a first resistor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first resistor is electrically connected to the emitter of the first PNP transistor and to the base of the second PNP transistor, and wherein the second end is electrically connected to the emitter of the second PNP transistor;
a second resistor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second resistor is electrically connected to the emitter of the second PNP transistor and to the second end of the first resistor, and wherein the second end of the second resistor is electrically connected to the first node;
and
a biasing resistor, a first biasing transistor and a second biasing transistor, wherein the first and second biasing transistors are each PNP bipolar transistors having an emitter, a base, and a collector, and wherein the biasing resistor includes a first end electrically connected to the base of the first PNP bipolar transistor and a second end electrically connected to the collector and base of the first biasing transistor, and wherein the emitter of the first biasing transistor is electrically connected to the collector and base of the second biasing transistor, and wherein the emitter of the second biasing transistor is electrically connected to the first node.

4 more elements

An apparatus for providing transient electrical event protection, the apparatus comprising:

a detection and timing circuit configured to detect a presence or absence of a transient electrical event at a first node, wherein the detection and timing circuit is further configured to generate a first current for a first duration upon detection of the transient electrical event;
a current amplification circuit configured to receive the first current from the detection and timing circuit and to amplify the first current to generate a second current, wherein the current amplification circuit comprises two or more PNP bipolar transistors, and wherein the current amplification circuit comprises a first PNP bipolar transistor and a second PNP bipolar transistor, and wherein the first and second PNP bipolar transistors each include an emitter, a base, and a collector, and wherein the base of the first PNP bipolar transistor is configured to receive at least a portion of the first current and the emitter of the second PNP transistor is configured to generate at least a portion of the second current, and wherein the emitter of the first PNP transistor is electrically connected to the base of the second PNP transistor;
a clamping circuit electrically connected between the first node and a second node and configured to receive the second current for activation, wherein the clamping circuit is configured to activate a low impedance path between the first and second nodes in response to the second current, and to otherwise deactivate the low impedance path;
and
a third PNP bipolar transistor having an emitter, a base, and a collector, wherein the emitter of the third PNP bipolar transistor is electrically connected to the collector of the second PNP bipolar transistor, and wherein the collector of the third PNP bipolar transistor is electrically connected to the base of the third PNP bipolar transistor and to the second node.

2 more elements

A method for providing transient electrical event protection, the method comprising:

detecting the presence of a transient electrical event at a first node;
generating a first current for a first duration in response to the transient electrical event;
amplifying the first current to generate a second current, wherein amplifying comprises:
using a first bipolar transistor to receive at least a portion of the first current or to generate at least a portion of the second current;
and
using a second bipolar transistor in a diode configuration to reduce a reverse bias voltage of a collector-base junction of the first bipolar transistor when the first bipolar transistor is biased in a forward-active mode;
and
activating a low impedance path between the first node and a second node for a current in response to the second current using a third bipolar transistor, and otherwise deactivating the low impedance path between the first and second nodes, wherein detecting, amplifying, and providing are performed by separate circuits within an integrated circuit, and wherein providing a low impedance path between the first and second nodes is performed before a junction breakdown of the third bipolar transistor.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for electronic circuit protection

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for electronic circuit protection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26