Method and apparatus for a high speed low power comparator using positive feedback
US5563533A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 28, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K5/249
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A comparator (10) provides a high speed comparison between at least two input signals and includes at least two stages (12) and (14). Each stage (12 and 14) includes a pair of transistors (24), a complementary pair of transistors (28) and an enabling transistor (26). The stages are coupled to provide positive feedback back to the first stage (12). A controller (15) operably couples to the enabling transistors. When the first input signal (16) is at a higher voltage level than the second input signal (18), the first comparison output (20) goes low. Conversely, when the second input signal (18) is at a higher voltage level than the first input signal (16), the second comparison output (22) goes low. When the first comparison output (20) goes low, the second enabling transistor (34) is disabled by the controller (15). When the second comparison output goes low, the first enabling transistor (26) is disabled by the controller (15).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.