Patent · US Expired

BiCMOS circuit with negative V.sub.BE protection

US5300829A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
5References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 9, 1992
Grant dateApr 5, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 9, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K19/09448
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A BiCMOS circuit, with protection against a negative base-emitter voltage, is described. The bipolar device is typically coupled between, for example, V.sub.DD and an output. An input is coupled to the base of the bipolar device, turning it on or off. CMOS circuitry is included which isolates the base of the bipolar device from the input when the input goes low and discharges the base through the output. Additional circuitry is disclosed which causes the output to float whenever an enable line is low and causes the output to be at either the same or inverted logic state as the input whenever the enable line is high, to form a non-inverting or inverting tri-state buffer, respectively.

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