Low-power high-speed differential driver with precision current steering
US8049534B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 15, 2010 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 9, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L25/0272
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In bipolar CMOS or BiCMOS process technologies, drivers (such as mixed mode or hybrid mode drivers) using both bipolar and CMOS transistors (i.e., field effect transistors or FETs) may have undesirable properties, such as reduced speed, ringing, latch-up, or lower electrostatic discharge (ESD) performance. Here, a mixed or hybrid mode driver is provided that employs a current steering circuit (instead of voltages driven differential pair(s) as is done with conventional drivers) to generate pull-down currents that precisely match the voltages in the pull-up portions of driver. It increases the speed and produces smaller output common-mode voltage fluctuation over conventional drivers. Thus, the driver provided here can be produced in BiCMOS process technologies without the undesirable effects of conventional drivers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.