Patent ID: 6020779
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
An electrical switching device, comprising:a device switch having a control terminal, the device switch including a transistor coupled between a first voltage source and a load terminal;a control circuit coupled between the first voltage source and a second voltage source, the control circuit having a control signal input receiving a control signal and a switching signal output connected to the control terminal of the device switch, the control circuit further comprising:a first branch having a first switch connected in series with a second switch having a control terminal, the first branch having a first node connected between the first switch and the second switch;a second branch having a third switch connected in series with a fourth switch having a control terminal, the second branch having a second node connected between the third switch and the fourth switch, the switching signal output being connected to the first node, the first node being connected to the control terminal of the fourth switch and the second node being connected to the control terminal of the second switch, the control signal input being connected to the first switch and to an input of an inverter, and an output of the inverter being connected to a control terminal of the third switch;a first diode connected between the first voltage source and the second switch;a second diode connected between the first voltage source and the fourth switch;wherein the first and fourth switches are both either in a conducting state or a non-conducting state and the second and third switches are in a state opposite to the state of the first switch, the device switch being controlled between the conducting state and the non-conducting state by the control signal; anda safety transistor having a control terminal and being connected between the control terminal of the device switch and the load terminal, the control terminal of the safety transistor being connected to the first voltage source to prevent an inverse flow of current in the device switch.