Inverter stage having diode load and ring oscillator using same

US5521558A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Wilhelm Wilhelm · Munich, DE
• Dirk Friedrich · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 3, 1994
• Grant date: May 28, 1996
• Expiry date: Nov 3, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03K19/086
• WIPO field: Basic communication processes
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An inverter stage includes a supply voltage terminal and a reference potential terminal. An npn transistor has a base terminal for receiving an input signal, a collector terminal for supplying an output signal, and an emitter terminal. A controllable current source is connected between the emitter terminal of the transistor and the reference potential terminal. A series circuit of at least two diodes is connected between the supply voltage terminal and the collector terminal of the transistor. A symmetrical inverter stage assembly includes two of the inverter stages being connected in parallel with the emitters of the transistors of each of the inverter stages being connected to one another. A ring oscillator includes n (n.gtoreq.1) of the inverter stages connected in series. The inverter stages include first and last inverter stages, each of the inverter stages has an output and an input, and the output of the last inverter stage is connected to the input of the first inverter stage.