Patent ID: 11929741
Assignee: SEARCH FOR THE NEXT LTD
Field: Basic communication processes (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 7:
8. A method of operating a circuit;
the circuit comprising a bipolar transistor, a diode having a first terminal connected to a base terminal of the bipolar transistor; and a second terminal of the diode connected to a reference voltage;
a voltage being applied across an emitter terminal of the bipolar transistor and the second terminal of the diode;
the method comprising switchably connecting the base terminal of the bipolar transistor and the first terminal of the diode to a signal source having an impedance lower than an impendence across an emitter terminal and a base terminal of the bipolar transistor such that:
when not connected, so as to cause a current flow through the base terminal of the bipolar transistor and through the diode to, turn the bipolar transistor ON; and
when connected current flow through a control terminal of the bipolar transistor reduces to switch the bipolar transistor OFF.