IP Library Granted Patent US 9,001,481
Granted Patent B2
US 9,001,481 · App. 13/906,066 · Granted Apr 7, 2015

Protection circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,001,481
App. No.
13/906,066
Granted
Apr 7, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A protection circuit includes a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, a control unit connected to the power supply terminal and the ground terminal, and a supply unit connected to the power supply terminal and the ground terminal, for preventing application of voltage in a reverse direction to a circuit unit having a predetermined function. In this case, the control unit generates a control potential, which controls the control unit and the supply unit in accordance with a potential supplied from the power supply terminal and a potential supplied from the ground terminal. The supply unit is configured to be capable of supplying current to a circuit unit connected to a subsequent stage on the basis of a potential supplied from the power supply terminal, a potential supplied from the ground terminal, and the control potential generated by the control unit.

Claims (23)

1. A protection circuit for preventing application of voltage in a reverse direction to a circuit unit having a predetermined function, comprising:

a power supply terminal;

a ground terminal; and

first to third transistors,

wherein:

the first transistor has one of a source and a drain connected to the power supply terminal and a gate connected to the ground terminal and has the other one of the source and drain connected to a first region including a region where a channel is to be formed in the first transistor;

the second transistor has one of a source and a drain connected to a second region including a region where a channel is to be formed in the second transistor and the other one of the source and drain of the first transistor, a gate connected to the power supply terminal, the other one of the source and drain connected to the ground terminal;

the third transistor has one of a source and a drain connected to the power supply terminal, a gate connected to the ground terminal, the other one of the source and drain connected to the ground terminal through the circuit unit; and

the first region and the second region are integrally formed and are connected to a third region including a region where a channel is formed in the third transistor.

2. The protection circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the first to third regions are integrally formed.

3. The protection circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

first to third resistance units, wherein:

the first transistor has a gate connected to the ground terminal through the first resistance unit, the second transistor has a gate connected to the power supply terminal through the second resistance unit, and the third transistor has a gate connected to the ground terminal through the third resistance unit.

4. A protection circuit for preventing application of voltage in a reverse direction to a circuit unit having a predetermined function, comprising:

a power supply terminal;

a ground terminal;

a control unit connected to the power supply terminal and the ground terminal; and

a supply unit connected to the power supply terminal and the ground terminal,

wherein:

the control unit generates a control potential which controls the supply unit in accordance with a potential supplied from the power supply terminal and a potential supplied from the ground terminal;

the supply unit has a field-effect transistor;

the control potential is applied to a region where a channel is to be formed in a field-effect transistor included in the supply unit; and

the supply unit is configured to supply current to a circuit unit connected to a subsequent stage on the basis of a potential supplied from the power supply terminal, a potential supplied from the ground terminal, and the control potential generated by the control unit.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 4, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048233/0753 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2013
From: SAWATAISHI, TOMOYUKI; IIKURA, AKIHISA; NAKAO, KIMIHIRO; ASAO, AKIRA
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 030517/0102 →