Switches with complementary transistors

The author describes a circuit wherein if one of the two complementary transistors in the feedback action takes place because the collector of circuit starts drawing current, a regenerative each transistor is directly connected to the base of the other one, With the aid of a reference source, one of the transistors can be held to cutoff so that no regenerative action takes place until this blocking source is overcome. Depending upon which two of the three leads are under consideration, this circuit develops either an open- or a short-circuit stable characteristic and therefore is similar to a four-layer element or a tunnel diode, respectively. It is noted that when the temperature is changed, the magnitude of the negative resistance changes in direct proportion to that of the common emitter current amplification factor. A typical set of measured curves is shown.