IP Library Granted Patent US 7,667,939
Granted Patent B2
US 7,667,939 · App. 11/898,459 · Granted Feb 23, 2010

Bus driver including control circuit for overvoltage protection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,667,939
App. No.
11/898,459
Granted
Feb 23, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bus driver device is provided with a bus driver circuit connected to a bus line and a overvoltage protection section connected between the bus line and a power supply line. The overvoltage protection section has an overvoltage protection function for the bus line. Further, the bus driver device is provided with a switching circuit for on/off-controlling the overvoltage protection function based on a voltage of the bus line and a voltage of the power supply wiring.

Claims (42)

1. A bus driver device, comprising:

a bus driver circuit connected to a bus line;

a power supply wiring;

an overvoltage protection section connected between the bus line and the power supply wiring, which has an overvoltage protection function for the bus line; and

a switching circuit for on/off-controlling the overvoltage protection function based on a voltage of the bus line and a voltage of the power supply wiring,

wherein the switching circuit comprises;

a first transistor connected between the power supply wiring and the overvoltage protection section; and

a control circuit for on/off-controlling the first transistor based on the voltage on the bus line, and

wherein the overvoltage protection section comprises:

a second transistor connected between the bus line and the first transistor, which has a back gate; and

a third transistor connected between the back gate of the second transistor and the power supply wiring.

2. The bus driver device according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit comprises:

a voltage detection section for detecting a voltage on the power supply wiring and the voltage on the bus line; and

an inverter for on/off-controlling the first transistor based on a detection result obtained by the voltage detection section.

3. The bus driver device according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit further on/off-controls the third transistor based on the voltage on the bus line.

4. The bus driver device according to claim 1 , further comprising a ground wiring,

wherein the overvoltage protection section further comprises a fourth transistor connected between the bus line and the ground wiring.

5. A bus driver device, comprising:

a bus driver circuit connected to a bus line;

a power supply wiring;

an overvoltage protection section connected between the bus line and the power supply wiring, which has an overvoltage protection function for the bus line; and

a switching circuit for on/off-controlling the overvoltage protection function based on a voltage of the bus line and a voltage of the power supply wiring,

wherein switching circuit comprises:

a first transistor connected between the power supply wiring and the overvoltage protection section; and

a control circuit for on/off-controlling the first transistor based on the voltage on the bus line,

the bus driver device further comprising a ground wiring,

wherein the control circuit comprises:

a first voltage monitor section for monitoring the voltage on the bus line;

a second voltage monitor section connected between the first voltage monitor section and the ground wiring, for monitoring a voltage on the power supply wiring; and

an inverter for on/off-controlling the first transistor based on monitor results obtained by the first voltage monitor section and the second voltage monitor section.

6. A bus driver device comprising:

a bus driver circuit connected to a bus line;

a power supply wiring;

an overvoltage protection section connected between the bus line and the power supply wiring, which has an overvoltage protection function for the bus line; and

a switching circuit for on/off-controlling the overvoltage protection function based on a voltage of the bus line and a voltage of the power supply wiring,

wherein the switching circuit comprises:

a first transistor connected between the power supply wiring and the overvoltage protection section; and

a control circuit for on/off-controlling the first transistor based on the voltage on the bus line, and

wherein the control circuit comprises:

a voltage detection section for detecting a voltage on the power supply wiring and the voltage on the bus line;

an inverter for on/off-controlling the first transistor based on a detection result obtained by the voltage detection section; and

a resistor connected between the bus line and the inverter.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044928/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 2, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025235/0233 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2007
From: KIUCHI, HIDEKI
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019882/0418 →