1. A power switching circuit, comprising:
a first p-type transistor and a second p-type transistor connected in series between a first power source and a second power source;
a gate control circuit having a first power supply terminal connected to the first power source, a second power supply terminal connected to the second power source, a control signal terminal to which a control signal is input, a first output terminal connected to the gate of the first P-type transistor, and a second output terminal connected to the gate of the second P-type transistor, and
a well-potential control circuit having a first power supply terminal connected to the first power source, a second power supply terminal connected to the second power source, and an output terminal connected to the well of the first P-type transistor and the well of the second P-type transistor;
wherein the gate control circuit outputs a voltage equal to that of the first power source to the first output terminal and outputs a voltage equal to that of the second power source to the second output terminal when the control signal is in a low level, and outputs an earth potential to the first output terminal and the second output terminal when the control signal is in a high level, and
wherein the well-potential control circuit outputs the voltage equal to that of the first power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the first power source is higher than that of the second power source, and outputs the voltage equal to that of the second power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the second power source is higher than that of the first power source.
2. The power switching circuit according to claim 1, wherein the gate control circuit includes a first resistive element and a first N-type transistor connected in series between the first power supply terminal and the earth potential and a second resistive element and a second N-type transistor connected in series between the second power supply terminal and the earth potential, and
wherein the gate of the first N-type transistor and the gate of the second N-type transistor are connected to the control signal terminal, a connection node between the first resistive element and the first N-type transistor serves as the first output terminal, and a connection node between the second resistive element and the second N-type transistor serves as the second output terminal.
3. The power switching circuit according to claim 1, wherein the gate control circuit includes a fifth P-type transistor and a first N-type transistor connected in series between the first power supply terminal and the earth potential and a sixth P-type transistor and a second N-type transistor connected in series between the second power supply terminal and the earth potential, and
wherein the gate of the first N-type transistor and the gate of the second N-type transistor are connected to the control signal terminal, the gate of the fifth P-type transistor and the gate of the sixth P-type transistor are connected to the earth potential, a connection node between the fifth P-type transistor and the first N-type transistor serves as the first output terminal, and a connection node between the fifth P-type transistor and the second N-type transistor serves as the second output terminal.
4. The power switching circuit according to claim 1, wherein the gate control circuit includes a seventh P-type transistor and a first N-type transistor connected in series between the first power supply terminal and the earth potential and an eighth P-type transistor and a second N-type transistor connected in series between the second power supply terminal and the earth potential, and
wherein the gate of the first N-type transistor, the gate of the second N-type transistor, the gate of the seventh P-type transistor, and the gate of the eighth P-type transistor are connected to the control signal terminal, a connection node between the seventh P-type transistor and the first N-type transistor serves as the first output terminal, and a connection node between the eighth P-type transistor and the second N-type transistor serves as the second output terminal.
5. The power switching circuit according to claim 1, wherein the well-potential control circuit includes a third P-type transistor connected between the first power supply terminal and the output terminal and a fourth P-type transistor connected between the second power supply terminal and the output terminal, and
wherein the gate of the third P-type transistor is connected to the second power supply terminal and the gate of the fourth P-type transistor is connected to the first power supply terminal.
6. The power switching circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a first capacitive element connected between the first power source and the gate of the first P-type transistor, andor a second capacitive element connected between the second power source and the gate of the second P-type transistor.
7. A power switching circuit comprising:
a first P-type transistor and a second P-type transistor connected in series between a first power source and a second power source;
a gate control circuit including a first resistive element connected between the first power source and the gate of the first P-type transistor, a second resistive element connected between the second power source and the gate of the second P-type transistor, a sixth N-type transistor connected between the gate of the second P-type transistor and an earth potential, a third resistive element, a fourth resistive element, and a seventh N-type transistor connected in series between the first power source and the earth potential, a first operational amplifier of which a normal input terminal is connected to a connection node between the third resistive element and the fourth resistive element, a wire for connecting an inverted input of the first operational amplifier to the second power source, a fifth N-type transistor connected between the gate of the first P-type transistor and the output of the first operational amplifier, a control signal terminal connected to the gate of the fifth N-type transistor, the gate of the sixth n-type transistor, and the gate of the seventh N-type transistor, a first output terminal connected to the gate of the first P-type transistor, and a second output terminal connected to the gate of the second P-type transistor; and
a well-potential control circuit including a first power supply terminal connected to the first power source, a second power supply terminal connected to the second power source, and an output terminal connected to the well of the first P-type transistor and the well of the second P-type transistor,
wherein the well-potential control circuit outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the first power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the first power source is higher than the voltage of the second power source, and outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the second power source when the voltage of the second power source is higher than the voltage of the first power source.
8. The power switching circuit according to claim 1, wherein a connection node between the first P-type transistor and the second P-type transistor is provided with an inspecting power supply terminal.
9. A power switching circuit comprising:
a ninth P-type transistor and a tenth P-type transistor connected in series between a first power source and a second power source;
an eleventh P-type transistor connected between a connection node between the ninth P-type transistor and the tenth P-type transistor and a third power source;
a 3-power gate control circuit including a first power supply terminal connected to the first power source, a second power supply terminal connected to the second power source, a third power supply terminal connected to the third power source, a control signal terminal to which a control signal is input, a first output terminal connected to the gate of the ninth P-type transistor, a second output terminal connected to the gate of the tenth P-type transistor, and a third output terminal connected to the gate of the eleventh P-type transistor;
a 3-power well-potential control circuit including a first power supply terminal connected to the first power source, a second power supply terminal connected to the second power source, a third power supply terminal connected to the third power source, and an output terminal connected to the well of the ninth P-type transistor, the well of the tenth P-type transistor, and the well of the eleventh P-type transistor; and
an inspecting power supply terminal connected to a connection node among the ninth P-type transistor, a tenth P-type transistor, and the eleventh P-type transistor,
wherein when the control signal is in a low level, the 3-power gate control circuit outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the first power source to the first output terminal, outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the second power source to the second output terminal, and outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the third power source to the third output terminal, and when the control signal is in a high level, the 3-power gate control circuit outputs the earth potential to the first output terminal, the second output terminal, and the third output terminal, and
wherein the 3-power well-potential control circuit outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the first power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the first power source is higher than the voltage of the second power source and the voltage of the third power source, and outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the second power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the second power source is higher than the voltage of the first power source and the voltage of the third power source, and outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the third power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the third power source is higher than the voltage of the first power source and the voltage of the second power source.
10. The power switching circuit according to claim 9, wherein the 3-power gate control circuit includes a fifth resistive element and an eighth N-type transistor connected in series between the first power supply terminal and the earth potential, a sixth resistive element and a ninth N-type transistor connected in series between the second power supply terminal and the earth potential, and a seventh resistive element and a tenth N-type transistor connected in series between the third power supply terminal and the earth potential,
wherein the gate of the eighth N-type transistor, the gate of the ninth N-type transistor, and the gate of the tenth N-type transistor are connected to the control signal terminal, and
wherein a connection node between the fifth resistive element and the eighth N-type transistor serves as the first output terminal, a connection node between the sixth resistive element and the ninth N-type transistor serves as the second output terminal, and a connection node between the seventh resistive element and the tenth N-type transistor serves as the third output terminal.
11. The power switching circuit according to claim 9, wherein the 3-power well-potential control circuit includes first and second well-potential control circuits,
wherein each of the first and second well-potential control circuits has a third P-type transistor connected between the first power supply terminal and the output terminal and a fourth P-type transistor connected between the second power supply terminal and the output terminal, the gate of the third P-type transistor is connected to the second power supply terminal, and the gate of the fourth N-type transistor is connected to the first power supply terminal, and
wherein a first power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit is connected to a first power supply terminal of the first well-potential control circuit, a second power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit is connected to a second power supply terminal, a third power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit is connected to a second power supply terminal of the second well-potential control circuit, an output terminal of the first well-potential control circuit is connected to a first power supply terminal of the second well-potential control circuit, and an output terminal of the second well-potential control circuit serves as an output terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit.
12. A power switching circuit comprising:
an eleventh N-type transistor connected between a first power source and a second power source;
an eighth resistive element connected between the gate of the eleventh N-type transistor and the earth potential; and
an inspecting signal input terminal connected to a connection node between the gate of the eleventh N-type transistor and the eighth resistive element.
13. A power switching circuit comprising:
an eleventh N-type transistor connected between a first power source and a second power source;
an eighth resistive element connected between the gate of the eleventh N-type transistor and the earth potential; and
a twelfth P-type transistor connected between a connection node between the gate of the eleventh N-type transistor and the eighth resistive element, wherein an inverted control signal is input to the gate thereof.
14. A power switching circuit comprising:
an eleventh N-type transistor connected between a first power source and a second power source;
an eighth resistive element connected between the gate of the eleventh N-type transistor and the earth potential;
a twelfth N-type transistor connected between the first power source and a third power source;
a ninth resistive element connected between the gate of the eleventh N-type transistor and the earth potential;
a thirteenth N-type transistor connected between the first power source and a fourth power source;
a tenth resistive element connected between the gate of the thirteenth N-type transistor and the earth potential; and
an inspecting signal input terminal connected in common to a connection node between the gate of the eleventh N-type transistor and the eighth resistive element, a connection node between the gate of the twelfth N-type transistor and the ninth resistive element, and a connection node between the gate of the thirteenth N-type transistor and the tenth resistive element.
15. A power switching circuit comprising:
an eleventh N-type transistor which is connected between a first power source and a second power source and of which the well potential can be controlled by a triple well process;
an eighth resistive element connected between the gate of the eleventh N-type transistor and the earth potential;
an inspecting well-potential control terminal connected to the well of the eleventh N-type transistor; and
an inspecting signal input terminal connected to the gate of the eleventh N-type transistor.
16. A power switching circuit comprising:
an eleventh N-type transistor which is connected between a first power source and a second power source and of which the well potential can be controlled by a triple well process;
an eighth resistive element connected between the gate of the eleventh N-type transistor and the earth potential;
an inspecting well-potential control terminal connected to the well of the eleventh N-type transistor; and
a twelfth P-type transistor connected to a connection node between the gate of the eleventh N-type transistor and the eighth resistive element, wherein an inverted control signal is input to the gate thereof.
17. A power switching circuit comprising:
a first P-type transistor and a second P-type transistor connected in series between a first power source and a second power source;
a fourteenth N-type transistor connected between the first power source and the second power source;
a PN gate control circuit including a first power supply terminal connected to the first power source, a second power supply terminal connected to the second power source, a control signal terminal to which a control signal is input, an inverted control signal terminal to which an inverted control signal is input, a first output terminal connected to the gate of the first P-type transistor, a second output terminal connected to the gate of the second P-type transistor, and a third output terminal connected to the gate of the fourteenth N-type transistor; and
a well-potential control circuit including a first power supply terminal connected to the first power source, a second power supply terminal connected to the second power source, and an output terminal connected to the well of the first P-type transistor and the well of the second P-type transistor,
wherein when the control signal is in a low level and the inverted control signal is in a high level, the PN gate control circuit outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the first power source to the first output terminal, outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the second power source to the second output terminal, and outputs the earth potential to the third output terminal, and when the control signal is in a high level and the inverted control signal is in a low level, the PN gate control circuit outputs the earth potential to the first output terminal and the second output terminal and outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the first power source to the third output terminal, and
wherein the well-potential control circuit outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the first power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the first power source is higher than the voltage of the second power source, and outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the second power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the second power source is higher than the voltage of the first power source.
18. The power switching circuit according to claim 17, wherein the PN gate control circuit further includes an eleventh resistive element and a fifteenth N-type transistor connected in series between the first power supply terminal and the earth potential, a twelfth resistive element and a sixteenth N-type transistor connected in series between the second power supply terminal and the earth potential, and a thirteenth P-type transistor and a thirteenth resistive element connected in series between the first power source and the earth potential, and
wherein the gate of the fifteenth N-type transistor and the gate of the sixteenth N-type transistor are connected to the control signal terminal, the gate of the thirteenth P-type transistor is connected to the inverted control signal terminal, a connection node between the eleventh resistive element and the fifteenth N-type transistor is connected to the first output terminal, a connection node between the twelfth resistive element and the sixteenth N-type transistor is connected to the second output terminal, and a connection node between the thirteenth P-type transistor and the thirteenth resistive element is connected to the third output terminal.
19. A power switching circuit comprising:
a first P-type transistor and a second P-type transistor connected in series between a first power source and a second power source;
a fourteenth N-type transistor connected between the first power source and the second power source;
a fourteenth resistive element connected between the first power source and the gate of the first P-type transistor;
a fifteenth resistive element connected between the second power source and the gate of the second P-type transistor;
an eighteenth N-type transistor connected between the gate of the second P-type transistor and an earth potential;
a seventeenth resistive element, an eighteenth resistive element, and a seventeenth N-type transistor connected in series between the first power source and the earth potential;
a first operational amplifier of which a normal input terminal is connected to a connection node between the seventeenth resistive element and the eighteenth resistive element;
a line for connecting an inverted input terminal of the first operational amplifier and the second power source;
a twentieth N-type transistor connected between the gate of the first P-type transistor and an output terminal of the first operational amplifier;
a sixteenth resistive element connected between the gate of the fourteenth N-type transistor and the earth potential;
a nineteenth N-type transistor connected between the gate of the fourteenth N-type transistor and the output terminal of the first operational amplifier;
a control signal terminal connected to the gate of the seventeenth N-type transistor, the gate of the eighteenth N-type transistor, the gate of the nineteenth N-type transistor, and the gate of the twentieth N-type transistor; and
a well-potential control circuit having a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal, and an output terminal,
wherein the well-potential control circuit outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the first power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the first power source is higher than the voltage of the second power source, and outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the second power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the second power source is higher than the voltage of the first power source.
20. The power switching circuit according to claim 9, wherein the 3-power well-potential control circuit includes first, second, and third 3-power voltage determining circuits,
wherein each of the first, second, and third 3-power voltage determining circuits includes fourteenth and fifteenth P-type transistors connected in series between the power supply terminal and the output terminal and a twentieth N-type transistor connected between the power supply terminal and the output terminal,
wherein the gate of the twentieth N-type transistor is connected to the power input terminal,
wherein the first power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit is connected to a power supply terminal of the first 3-power voltage determining circuit, the second power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit is connected to a power supply terminal of the second 3-power voltage determining circuit, and the third power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit is connected to a power supply terminal of the third 3-power voltage determining circuit,
wherein a first voltage input terminal and a second voltage input terminal, which are the gates of the fourteenth and fifteenth P-type transistors of the first 3-power voltage determining circuit, are connected to the second power supply terminal of the 3-power well potential control circuit and the third power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively, or to the third power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit and the second power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively,
wherein a first voltage input terminal and a second voltage input terminal, which are the gates of the fourteenth and fifteenth P-type transistors of the second 3-power voltage determining circuit, are connected to the first power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit and the third power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively, or to the third power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit and the first power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively,
wherein a first voltage input terminal and a second voltage input terminal, which are the gates of the fourteenth and fifteenth P-type transistors of the third 3-power voltage determining circuit, are connected to the first power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit and the second power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively, or to the second power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit and the first power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively, and
wherein the output terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit is connected to output terminals of the first, second, and third 3-power voltage determining circuits.
21. The power switching circuit according to claim 9, wherein the 3-power well-potential control circuit includes first, second, and third 3-power voltage determining circuits,
wherein each of the first, second, and third 3-power voltage determining circuits includes fourteenth and fifteenth P-type transistors connected in series between the power supply terminal and the output terminal,
wherein the first power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit is connected to a power supply terminal of the first 3-power voltage determining circuit, the second power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit is connected to a power supply terminal of the second 3-power voltage determining circuit, and the third power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit is connected to a power supply terminal of the third 3-power voltage determining circuit,
wherein a first voltage input terminal and a second voltage input terminal, which are the gates of the fourteenth and fifteenth P-type transistors of the first 3-power voltage determining circuit, are connected to the second power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit and the third power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively, or to the third power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit and the second power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively,
wherein a first voltage input terminal and a second voltage input terminal, which are the gates of the fourteenth and fifteenth P-type transistors of the second 3-power voltage determining circuit, are connected to the first power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit and the third power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively, or to the third power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit and the first power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively,
wherein a first voltage input terminal and a second voltage input terminal, which are the gates of the fourteenth and fifteenth P-type transistors of the third 3-power voltage determining circuit, are connected to the first power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit and the second power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively, or to the second power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit and the first power supply terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit, respectively, and
wherein the output terminal of the 3-power well-potential control circuit is connected to output terminals of the first, second, and third 3-power voltage determining circuits.
22. A power switching circuit comprising:
an eighteenth P-type transistor connected between an inspecting power supply terminal and a first power source, a nineteenth P-type transistor connected between the inspecting power supply terminal and a second power source, a twentieth P-type transistor connected between the inspecting power supply terminal and a third power source, a twenty first P-type transistor connected between the inspecting power supply terminal and a fourth power source, and a twenty second P-type transistor connected between the inspecting power supply terminal and a fifth power source;
a 5-power gate control circuit including a first power supply terminal connected to the first power source, a second power supply terminal connected to the second power source, a third power supply terminal connected to the third power source, a fourth power supply terminal connected to the fourth power source, a fifth power supply terminal connected to the fifth power source, a control signal terminal to which a control signal is input, a first output terminal connected to the gate of the eighteenth P-type transistor, a second output terminal connected to the gate of the nineteenth P-type transistor, a third output terminal connected to the gate of the twentieth P-type transistor, a fourth output terminal connected to the gate of the twenty first P-type transistor, and a fifth output terminal connected to the gate of the twenty second P-type transistor; and
a 5-power well-potential control circuit including a first power supply terminal connected to the first power source, a second power supply terminal connected to the second power source, a third power supply terminal connected to the third power source, a fourth power supply terminal connected to the fourth power source, a fifth power supply terminal connected to the fifth power source, and an output terminal simultaneously connected to the well of the eighteenth P-type transistor, the well of the nineteenth P-type transistor, the well of the twentieth P-type transistor, the well of the twenty first P-type transistor, and the well of the twenty second P-type transistor,
wherein when the control signal is in a low level, the 5-power gate control signal outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the first power source to the first output terminal, outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the second power source to the second output terminal, outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the third power source to the third output terminal, outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the fourth power source to the fourth output terminal, and outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the fifth power source to the fifth output terminal, and when the control signal is in a high level, the 5-power gate control circuit outputs the earth potential to the first output terminal, the second output terminal, the third output terminal, the fourth output terminal, and the fifth output terminal, and
wherein the 5-power well-potential control circuit outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the first power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the first power source is higher than the voltage of the second power source, the voltage of the third power source, the voltage of the fourth power source, and the voltage of the fifth power source, outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the second power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the second power source is higher than the voltage of the first power source, the voltage of the third power source, the voltage of the fourth power source, and the voltage of the fifth power source, outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the third power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the third power source is higher than the voltage of the first power source, the voltage of the second power source, the voltage of the fourth power source, and the voltage of the fifth power source, outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the fourth power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the fourth power source is higher than the voltage of the first power source, the voltage of the second power source, the voltage of the third power source, and the voltage of the fifth power source, and outputs a voltage equal to the voltage of the fifth power source to the output terminal when the voltage of the fifth power source is higher than the voltage of the first power source, the voltage of the second power source, the voltage of the third power source, and the voltage of the fourth power source.
23. The power switching circuit according to claim 22, wherein the 5-power well-potential control circuit includes first, second, third, fourth, and fifth 5-power voltage determining circuits,
wherein each of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth 5-power voltage determining circuits includes a power supply terminal, first, second, third, and fourth power input terminals, and an output terminal,
wherein the power supply terminal of the first 5-power voltage determining circuit is connected to the first power supply terminal of the 5-power well-potential control circuit, and the first, second, third, and fourth voltage input terminals of the first 5-power voltage determining circuit are connected to any one of the second power supply terminal, the third power supply terminal, the fourth power supply terminal, and the fifth power supply terminal of the 5-power well-potential control circuit,
wherein the power supply terminal of the second 5-power voltage determining circuit is connected to the second power supply terminal of the 5-power well-potential control circuit, and the first, second, third, and fourth voltage input terminals of the second 5-power voltage determining circuit are connected to any one of the first power supply terminal, the third power supply terminal, the fourth power supply terminal, and the fifth power supply terminal of the 5-power well-potential control circuit,
wherein the power supply terminal of the third 5-power voltage determining circuit is connected to the third power supply terminal of the 5-power well-potential control circuit, and the first, second, third, and fourth voltage input terminals of the third 5-power voltage determining circuit are connected to any one of the first power supply terminal, the second power supply terminal, the fourth power supply terminal, and the fifth power supply terminal of the 5-power well-potential control circuit,
wherein the power supply terminal of the fourth 5-power voltage determining circuit is connected to the fourth power supply terminal of the 5-power well-potential control circuit, and the first, second, third, and fourth voltage input terminals of the fourth 5-power voltage determining circuit are connected to any one of the first power supply terminal, the second power supply terminal, the third power supply terminal, and the fifth power supply terminal of the 5-power well-potential control circuit,
wherein the power supply terminal of the fifth 5-power voltage determining circuit is connected to the fifth power supply terminal of the 5-power well-potential control circuit, and the first, second, third, and fourth voltage input terminals of the fifth 5-power voltage determining circuit are connected to any one of the first power supply terminal, the second power supply terminal, the third power supply terminal, and the fourth power supply terminal of the 5-power well-potential control circuit, and
wherein all the output terminals of the 5-power voltage determining circuits are connected to one node and serves as an output terminal of the 5-power well-potential control circuit.
24. The power switching circuit according to claim 22, wherein the 5-power gate control circuit includes first, second, third, fourth, and fifth gate signal circuits,
wherein each of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth gate signal circuits includes a power supply terminal, a control signal terminal, and an output terminal,
wherein all the control signal terminals of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth gate signal circuits are connected to the control signal terminal of the 5-power gate control signal,
wherein the power supply terminals of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth gate signal circuits are connected to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth power supply terminals of the 5-power gate control circuit, respectively, and
wherein the output terminals of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth gate signal circuits are connected to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth output terminals of the 5-power gate control circuit, respectively.
25. The power switching circuit according to claim 23, wherein the 5-power voltage determining circuit includes twenty third, twenty fourth, twenty fifth, and twenty sixth P-type transistors connected in series between the power supply terminal and the output terminal and a twenty first N-type transistor connected between the power supply terminal and the output terminal,
wherein the gate of the twenty first N-type transistor is connected to the power supply terminal, and
wherein the gates of the twenty third, twenty fourth, twenty fifth, and twenty sixth P-type transistors serve as the first, second, third, and fourth voltage input terminals, respectively.
26. The power switching circuit according to claim 23, wherein the 5-power voltage determining circuit includes twenty seventh, twenty eighth, twenty ninth, and thirtieth P-type transistors connected in series between the power supply terminal and the output terminal, and
wherein the gates of the twenty seventh, twenty eighth, twenty ninth, and thirtieth P-type transistors serve as the first, second, third, and fourth voltage input terminals, respectively.
27. The power switching circuit according to claim 22, wherein an inspecting control input terminal is connected to the control signal terminal, and
wherein a twentieth resistive element connected in series between a connection node between the control signal terminal and the inspecting control input terminal and the earth potential is further provided.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A tool comprising a handle and a plurality of tool members;
the handle including a plurality of recessed pockets;
the tool members each including a different tool bit portion;
the tool members being selectively movable between a stored position whereat the tool bit is stored within one of the plurality of recesses and an extended position whereat the tool bit portion is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the handle whereby the selected tool bit portion may used to perform a tooling task.
2. A tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tool includes eight tool members and the handle includes eight recessed pockets.
3. A tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tool bit portions include a straight blade screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, a hexagonal wrench, andor a star-shaped wrench.
4. A tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the handle has a spherical shape whereby its longitudinal axis extends between a first pole and a second pole.
5. A tool as set forth in claim 4, wherein the tool bits extend radially outward from one of the first and second poles when in the extended position.
6. A tool as set forth in claim 5, wherein a first set of the pockets are longitudinally positioned so that the tool bit portions of the corresponding tool members extend radially outward from the first pole when the selected tool member is in its extended position and wherein a second set of the pockets are longitudinally positioned so that the tool bit portions of the corresponding tool members extend radially outward from the second pole when the selected tool member is in its extended position.
7. A tool as set forth in claim 6, wherein the pockets in the first set are laterally aligned 90 apart from each other and wherein the pockets in the second set are laterally aligned 90 apart from each other.
8. A tool as set forth in claim 7, wherein the pockets in the first set and the pockets in the second set are laterally offset approximately 45 relative to each other.
9. A tool as set forth in claim 8, wherein the pockets each includes a concave recess and a groove and wherein a distal end of the tool bit portion is positioned within the concave recess when the corresponding tool member is positioned in its stored position.
10. A tool as set forth in claim 9, wherein each of the grooves extends from a wall of the concave recess and forms an interior wall parallel with the handle’s longitudinal axis and a perpendicular wall extending radially inward therefrom at a location longitudinally removed from the relevant pole.
11. A tool as set forth in claim 10, wherein the grooves of the first set of pockets collectively form a cross-shaped core, wherein the grooves of the second set of pockets collectively form a cross-shaped core, and wherein the cross-shaped cores are laterally offset 45 relative to each other
12. A tool as set forth in claim 11, wherein the handle includes openings which define passageways between each pair of adjacent longitudinally aligned pockets.
13. A tool as set forth in claim 12, further comprising pivot pins which extend through the openings to pivotally attach the tool members to the handle.
14. A tool as set forth in claim 5, wherein some of the tool bits extend radially outward from the first pole when the selected tool member is in its extended position and the rest of the tool bits extend radially outward from the second pole when the selected tool member is in its extended position.
15. A tool as set forth in claim 14, further comprising springs which resiliently bias the tool members in the stored position and the extended position.
16. A tool as set forth in claim 15, wherein the springs and the tool members have a complimentary notch-groove arrangement therebetween when the tool members are in the stored position and the extended position.
17. A tool as set forth in claim 16, wherein the springs each have a cross shape and are sized for insertion into a cross-shaped cavity adjacent each of the poles.
18. A tool as set forth in claim 6, wherein the tool members each additionally comprise a proximate mounting portion pivotally attached to the handle and an intermediate portion between the proximate mounting portion and the tool bit portion, the intermediate portion and the tool bit portion extending radially outward from the handle and being aligned with the handle’s axis when the selected tool member is in its extended position.
19. A tool as set forth in claim 18, wherein the proximate mounting portion includes the pivot axis for converting the tool member between the stored position and the extended position.
20. A tool as set forth in claim 19, wherein the selected tool member is rotated approximately 180 around the pivot axis when the tool member is being converted between the stored position and the extended position.
21. A tool as set forth in claim 20, further comprising a pivot pin for each of the tool members forming the pivot axis and wherein each of the pivot pins extends through an opening in the proximate mounting portion of the respective tool member.
22. A tool as set forth in claim 21, wherein the proximate portion is shaped to coordinate with a spring which biases the tool members in the stored position and in the extended position.
23. A tool as set forth in claim 22, wherein the proximate portion is also shaped to coordinate, when in its extended position, with the proximate mounting portion of a diametrically adjacent tool member.
24. A tool as set forth in claim 23, wherein the proximate mounting portion of each of the tool members includes:
a semi-circular wall section positioned tangentially relative to an adjacent longitudinal edge of a respective quadrant of a cross-shaped cavity in the handle when the tool member is in its stored position, and is rotated but remains within the quadrant when the tool member is in its extended position;
a first detent wall section capturing a notch of a spring when the tool member is in the stored position to prevent inadvertent pivoting of the tool member from the pocket;
a second detent wall section capturing the notch of the spring when the tool member is in the extended position to lock the selected tool member in its extended position; and
a concave curved wall section which mates with a semi-circular section of the diametrically adjacent tool member when the selected tool member is in the extended position to brace the tool member in position for use of the tool bit portion to perform the tooling task.
25. A tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the handle is attachable to a keyring.
25. A tool as set forth in claim 25, wherein the handle includes an opening through which an attachment member can pass.
26. In combination, the tool of claim 1 and a keyring attached to the tool.
27. The combination of claim 26, further comprising a hook extending through an opening in the handle to attach the tool to the keyring.