IP Library Granted Patent US 7,616,423
Granted Patent B2
US 7,616,423 · App. 11/976,173 · Granted Nov 10, 2009

Electronic equipment, driving method thereof and method of driving electronic circuit

Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,616,423
App. No.
11/976,173
Granted
Nov 10, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

In order to compensate fluctuation of the characteristics of a field effect transistor and detect capacitive change of a capacitive element for measurement with high precision, the electronic circuit of the present invention includes; a transistor outputting current in response to voltage change, which is supplied from a variable voltage source to a current control terminal by capacitive coupling via the capacitive element for measurement; and the constant current source to output reference current; and the current detection circuit to detect output current outputted from the transistor. After making the reference current pass through the transistor and compensating fluctuation of threshold voltage, a switching element is turned “OFF” so as to make the current path between the gate and the drain of the transistor to be non conductive. The voltage applied to the gate electrode from the variable voltage source via the capacitive element for measurement is changed thereby and output current level is detected by the current detection circuit so as to obtain the changed amount of the capacity of the capacitive element for measuring.

Claims (33)

1. An electronic circuit, comprising;

a first transistor that has a first gate connected to at least one electrode;

a current detection circuit that measures a current that passes through the first transistor; and

a compensation unit that compensates fluctuation of at least one characteristic of the first transistor, the compensation unit including a second transistor connected between the first gate and a first drain of the first transistor.

2. An electronic circuit, comprising;

a first transistor that has a first gate connected to at least one electrode;

a current detection circuit that measures a current that passes through the first transistor; and

a voltage signal supply unit that outputs a voltage signal, a voltage level at the first gate being adjusted by a capacitance coupling via a capacitive element that receives the voltage signal, a compensation unit including a second transistor connected between the first gate and a first drain of the first transistor.

3. The electronic circuit claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a voltage signal supply unit that outputs a voltage signal, a voltage level at the first gate being adjusted by a capacitance coupling via a capacitive element that receives the voltage signal.

4. The electronic circuit according to claim 2 ,

the at least one electrode being included in the capacitive element.

5. The electronic circuit claimed in claim 2 ,

the compensation unit compensating fluctuation of at least one characteristic of the first transistor.

6. A sensor comprising:

the electronic circuit according to claim 1 .

7. A sensor comprising:

the electronic circuit according to claim 2 .

8. A sensor comprising:

a plurality of sensor cells, each of the plurality of sensor cells including a first transistor that has a first gate connected to at least one electrode and a compensation unit that compensates fluctuation of at least one characteristic of the first transistor; and

a current detection circuit that measures a current that passes through the first transistor.

9. The sensor according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a voltage signal supply unit that outputs a voltage signal, a voltage level at the first gate being adjusted by a capacitance coupling via a capacitive element that receives the voltage signal.

10. The sensor according to claim 9 ,

the at least one electrode being included in the capacitive element.

11. A sensor comprising:

a plurality of sensor cells, each of the plurality of sensor cells including a first transistor that has a first gate connected to at least one electrode;

a current detection circuit that measures a current that passes through the first transistor; and

a voltage signal supply unit that outputs a voltage signal, a voltage level at the first gate being adjusted by a capacitance coupling via a capacitive element that receives the voltage signal.

12. The sensor according to claim 11 ,

the at least one electrode being included in the capacitive element.

13. The sensor according to claim 8 ,

the compensation unit including a second transistor connected between the first gate and a first drain of the first transistor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2013
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: INTELLECTUAL KEYSTONE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 030321/0296 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2002-121288 · Apr 23, 2002 · national
JP 2003-107936 · Apr 11, 2003 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 1041718900 · Apr 17, 2003
Related Publication 20080055809A1 · Mar 6, 2008