Patent · US Expired

SSTL pull-down pre-driver design using regulated power supply

US6734716B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
6References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 19, 2002
Grant dateMay 11, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K19/0175
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A SSTL memory interface pre-driver stage that uses a voltage regulator to generate a ‘virtual’ supply is provided. The ‘virtual’ supply, being lower than a power supply voltage of the pre-driver stage, allows low voltage transistors to be used, thereby improving interface performance and decreasing system power consumption. The pre-driver stage uses a biasing circuit to bias the voltage regulator, formed by a transistor arranged in a source follower configuration, to generate the ‘virtual’ supply off which a voltage translator stage of the pre-driver stage operates to generate an output of the pre-driver stage.

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