Patent ID: 7268606

Claim:
An electronic signal processing apparatus with a signal switch, the switch comprising: a switch input, a switch output and an internal node; a first and a second depletion transistor, having main current channels coupled between the internal node and the switch input and output, respectively; a signal processing arrangement between the internal node and a common reference conductor of the switch input and switch output, the signal processing arrangement comprising: a diode; and a switch control circuit having a first control output and a second control output, wherein the first control output is coupled to the common reference conductor and wherein the second control output is coupled to the main current channels of the first and the second depletion transistor via the internal node, further via the diode in a forward direction, so as to control conduction of the main current channels, wherein the first and second depletion transistor further having control electrodes coupled to the common reference conductor, wherein the switch has a T-type attenuator structure having a leg and at least one branch, the diode being disposed in the leg of the T-type attenuator structure and at least one transistor being disposed in the branch of the T-type attenuator structure, the T-type structure enabling the switch to remain in an “on” state even in the absence of an “off” state control voltage at the internal node, and wherein the internal node applies a control voltage, in response to a signal on the second control output of the switch control circuit that is configured for forward-baising the diode, that switches the switch via the at least one transistor to an “off” state.