IP Library Granted Patent US 9,472,947
Granted Patent B2
US 9,472,947 · App. 14/536,015 · Granted Oct 18, 2016

Protecting circuit and integrated circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,472,947
App. No.
14/536,015
Granted
Oct 18, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A protecting circuit includes: a discharge switch configured to connect to a first terminal and a second terminal; a trigger circuit comprising load devices configured to be connected in series between the first terminal and the second terminal, each of the load devices being configured to consume power; and a shunt circuit comprising, between the trigger circuit and the first terminal or the second terminal, at least one shunt pathway configured to be capable of bypassing at least one of the load devices. The trigger circuit is configured to turn on the discharge switch when a voltage between the first terminal and the second terminal is higher than a first voltage value, and the shunt circuit is configured to electrically connect the shunt pathway when the voltage is higher than a second voltage value that is greater than the first voltage value.

Claims (19)

1. A protecting circuit, comprising:

a discharge switch configured to connect to a first terminal and a second terminal;

a trigger circuit comprising load devices configured to be connected in series between the first terminal and the second terminal, each of the load devices being configured to consume power; and

a shunt circuit comprising, between the trigger circuit and the first terminal or the second terminal, a first shunt pathway configured to be capable of bypassing at least one of the load devices but not at least a second one of the load devices and a second shunt pathway configured to be capable of bypassing the at least one of the load devices and the at least second one of the load devices,

wherein the trigger circuit is configured to turn on the discharge switch when a voltage between the first terminal and the second terminal is higher than a first voltage value,

wherein the shunt circuit is configured to electrically connect the first shunt pathway when the voltage is higher than a second voltage value that is greater than the first voltage value, and wherein the shunt circuit is configured to electrically connect the second shunt pathway when the voltage is higher than a third voltage value that is greater than the first voltage value.

2. The protecting circuit of claim 1 , wherein the shunt circuit is configured to electrically connect the first shunt pathway when the voltage is higher than the second voltage value and a current between the first terminal and the second terminal is greater than a predetermined current value.

3. The protecting circuit of claim 1 , wherein the shunt circuit is configured to electrically disconnect the first shunt pathway when the voltage is lower than or equal to the second voltage value.

4. The protecting circuit of claim 1 , wherein the shunt circuit further comprises a shunt switch on the first shunt pathway.

5. The protecting circuit of claim 4 , wherein the shunt switch is a transistor.

6. The protecting circuit of claim 1 , wherein the trigger circuit is configured to turn off the discharge switch when the voltage is lower than or equal to the first voltage value.

7. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a protected circuit configured to connect to a first terminal and a second terminal; and

a protecting circuit, the protecting circuit comprising:

a discharge switch configured to connect to the first terminal and the second terminal;

a trigger circuit comprising load devices configured to be connected in series between the first terminal and the second terminal, each of the load devices being configured to consume power; and

a shunt circuit comprising, between the trigger circuit and the first terminal or the second terminal, a first shunt pathway configured to be capable of bypassing at least one of the load devices but not at least a second one of the load devices and a second shunt pathway configured to be capable of bypassing the at least one of the load devices and the at least second one of the load devices,

wherein the trigger circuit is configured to turn on the discharge switch when a voltage between the first terminal and the second terminal is higher than a first voltage value,

wherein the shunt circuit is configured to electrically connect the first shunt pathway when the voltage is higher than a second voltage value that is greater than the first voltage value, and wherein the shunt circuit is configured to electrically connect the second shunt pathway when the voltage is higher than a third voltage value that is greater than the first voltage value.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 059410/0438 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Oct 28, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050896/0366 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: SPANSION LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035902/0821 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: NAMIZAKI, TAKASHI
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 034132/0863 →