Patent · US Active

Scheme to reduce stress of input/ output (IO) driver

US9240400B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
1References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 1, 2013
Grant dateJan 19, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 1, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10D89/601
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An input/output (IO) circuit is provided that reduces stress on a driver without using an additional reference voltage. The IO circuit receives an overshoot voltage and an undershoot voltage in a receive mode. The IO circuit includes a driver circuit. The driver circuit includes an NMOS transistor coupled to a PMOS transistor. A pad is coupled to the driver circuit. A PMOS protect circuit is coupled to the driver circuit and the pad. An NMOS protect circuit is coupled to the driver circuit and the pad. The NMOS protect circuit is configured to be activated only for a duration of the overshoot voltage received at the pad during the receive mode and the PMOS protect circuit is configured to be activated only for a duration of the undershoot voltage received at the pad during the receive mode.

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