Patent · US Expired

Current-driven logic circuits

US4471238A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
3References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 1, 1982
Grant dateSep 11, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 1, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K19/0952
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An enhancement-mode field effect transistor (ENFET) logic circuit providing greater fan-out capability. The logic circuit employs a conventional common-source inverter section, but additionally incorporates a current-driving section which drives the common-source inverter section. A current-driven inverter logic circuit is realized by employing a second ENFET transistor to drive the gate of the common-source inverter section. A current-driven NOR gate is realized by employing two ENFET transistors in parallel which drive the common-source inverter section. Also a current-driven NAND gate is realized by utilizing a single transistor having two gate inputs to drive the common-source inverter section. The use of sweep-out circuitry allows for control of the operational speed of the device. The logic circuit designs have high fan-out capability compared to the common-source inverter circuit alone.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.