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EP0340720A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Interface circuit

Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1989-05-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-05-02
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Abstract

Abstract An interface circuit includes a power source ter­minal (VDD), an input terminal (IN) and NPN transistor (Q11). The interface circuit further includes a first resistor (R11) connected between the emitter of the NPN transistor (Q11) and the input terminal (IN), a second resistor (R14) connected between the collector of the NPN transistor (Q11) and the power source terminal (VDD) a diode (D1) connected in a forward direction between the collector of the NPN transistor (Q11) and the power source terminal (VDD) and a voltage dividing circuit (R12, R13) for biasing the base of the NPN transistor (Q11) to a preset potential.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michinori Intellectual Property Division Nakamura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 13:48
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/0175; H03K19/018; H03K19/01806

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 111 words
An interface circuit comprising: an input terminal (IN); a power source terminal (VDD) set at a positive potential; and an NPN transistor (Q11) having a base, a collector and an emitter; characterized by further comprising first resistor means (R11) connected between the emitter of said NPN transistor (Q11) and said input terminal (IN), second resistor means (R14) connected between the collector of said NPN transistor (Q11) and said power source terminal (VDD), diode means (D1) connected in forward direction between the collector of said NPN transistor (Q11) and said power source terminal (VDD), and bias means (R12, R13) for biasing the base of said NPN transistor (Q11) to a preset poten­tial.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 111 words
An interface circuit comprising: an input terminal (IN); a power source terminal (VDD) set at a positive potential; and an NPN transistor (Q11) having a base, a collector and an emitter; characterized by further comprising first resistor means (R11) connected between the emitter of said NPN transistor (Q11) and said input terminal (IN), second resistor means (R14) connected between the collector of said NPN transistor (Q11) and said power source terminal (VDD), diode means (D1) connected in forward direction between the collector of said NPN transistor (Q11) and said power source terminal (VDD), and bias means (R12, R13) for biasing the base of said NPN transistor (Q11) to a preset poten­tial.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
An interface circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that the emitter of said NPN transistor (Q11) is grounded via third resistor means (R21).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 51 words
An interface circuit according to claim 2, characterized by further comprising switching means (M11) formed in an IC chip different from an IC chip in which said input terminal (IN), power source terminal (VDD), diode means (D1) and bias means (R12, R13) are formed, for selectively grounding said input terminal (IN).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
An interface circuit according to claim 3, characterized in that said switching means is an open­drain output type MOS transistor (M11).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
An interface circuit according to claim 4, characterized in that said bias means includes a voltage divider (R12, R13) for dividing the potential of said power source terminal (VDD).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 67 words
An interface circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that said voltage divider includes fourth resistor means (R13) grounded at one end and fifth resistor means (R12) connected between the other end of said fourth resistor means (R13) and said power source terminal (VDD), and the base of said NPN tran­sistor (Q11) is connected to a connection node between said fourth and fifth resistor means (R12, R13).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 62 words
An interface circuit according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising switching means (M11) formed in an IC chip different from an IC chip in which said input terminal (IN), power source terminal (VDD), NPN transistor (Q11), first resistor means (R11), second resistor means (R14), diode means (D1) and bias means (R12, R13) are formed, for selectively grounding said input terminal (IN).

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