Patent · US Expired

Tri state buffer circuit for dual power system

US5266849A · kind A · utility

49Cited by
9References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 19, 1992
Grant dateNov 30, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 19, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K19/09429
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A CMOS tri-state buffer circuit transfers digital signals between a first digital circuit system operating at 3.3 Volts and a second system operating at 5 Volts. The buffer circuit receives an active high enable signal and a data signal as inputs to a tri-state select network. When the enable signal is high, data is propagated through a driver stage and onto a data bus in the second system. Driver clamp circuitry and an n-well voltage controller operate conjunction with the driver stage to prevent the 5 volt supply of the second system from interfering with the circuitry of the of the 3.3 Volt system. A clamped line driver transmits signals from the 5 Volt system to the 3.3 Volt system.

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