Patent · US Expired

Circuit for converting an ECL signal into a CMOS signal

US5075580A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
3References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 6, 1990
Grant dateDec 24, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 6, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K19/013
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit for converting ECL logic level signals to CMOS logic level signals comprises a differential amplifier defining first and second current paths that are connected to a negative reference potential level. When the ECL input signal is logical zero, the first current path is non-conductive and the second path is conductive, and vice versa when the input signal is logical one. A first transistor has its base connected to the first current path, its emitter connected to a positive reference potential level, and its collector connected to the second current path. A second transistor has its base connected to the second current path, its emitter connected to the output terminal, and its collector connected to a ground reference potential level. A pull-up resistor is connected between the collector and emitter of the first transistor. The second current path includes the collector-emitter path of a third transistor, which has its base connected to the ground reference potential level and its collector connected to the base of the second resistor.

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