Current mode logic circuits with automatic sink current adjustment
US8847628B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2012 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 9, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L25/0272
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Integrated circuit devices may utilize automatic methods for adjusting the tail currents of current mode logic (CML) cells, which compensate for variations in process corners and thereby enable reliable operation of high performance circuits, such as frequency synthesizers. An integrated circuit may include a current mode logic (CML) circuit responsive to at least one input signal and a variable current source electrically coupled to the CML circuit. This variable current source can be configured to sink (or source) a first current from (or to) the CML circuit in response to a control signal. A control circuit may also be provided, which is configured to generate the control signal in response to a process corner indication signal. This process corner indication signal, which may be generated by a process corner detection circuit, preferably has a magnitude that estimates a relative speed of a process corner associated with the integrated circuit device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.