PROTECTION CIRCUIT AND METHOD

• Main Authors: SIMIN, Alexander, STEGERS, Marc Gerardus Maria, HOOGZAAD, Gian
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 12.10.2022
• Subjects: AMPLIFIERS; BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY; ELECTRICITY; MEASURING; MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES; PHYSICS; TESTING

A protection circuit and method for protecting driven circuitry against voltage peaks in a radio frequency signal, "VRF", past a predetermined voltage level "Vdetect". The protection circuit includes an input for receiving the radio frequency signal. The protection circuit also includes at least one amplification stage coupled to the input. The amplification stage is operable to produce an amplified signal based on Vdetect - VRF. The protection circuit further includes a hold circuit operable to determine, from the amplified signal produced by the amplification stage, whether a peak voltage Vpeak of the radio frequency signal exceeds Vdetect. The hold circuit is operable to output a first detection value if Vpeak exceeds Vdetect. The hold circuit is operable to output a second detection value if Vpeak does not exceed Vdetect. The protection circuit also includes a latch circuit operable to latch the detection value outputted by the hold circuit.