Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting a voltage in an output driver circuit and smoothing the response of the voltage to switching operations in the output driver circuit. A capacitive element is coupled to the gate of a drive transistor in an output driver leg circuit of an output driver and to a switched signal voltage. By coupling the capacitive element to a signal voltage other than ground, a smaller capacitive element is required than that required for coupling the capacitive element to ground. An embodiment of the invention further includes a plurality of capacitive elements configured such that the voltage support is applied to the gate of the drive transistor in phases rather than all at once to smooth voltage response to drive transistor switching.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting a voltage in an output driver circuit and smoothing the response of the voltage to switching operations in the output driver circuit. A capacitive element, such as a capacitor or transistor, is coupled to the gate of a drive transistor in an output driver leg circuit of an output driver and to a switched signal voltage. By coupling the capacitive element to a signal voltage other than ground, a smaller capacitive element is required than that required for coupling the capacitive element to ground. An embodiment of the invention further includes a plurality of capacitive elements configured such that the voltage support is applied to the gate of the drive transistor in phases rather than all at once to smooth voltage response to drive transistor switching. Transistors having relatively longer effective channel lengths may be used as the capacitive elements to allow for additional phasing-in of the voltage support due to signal delay through the longer channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting a voltage in an output driver circuit and smoothing the response of the voltage to switching operations in the output driver circuit. A capacitive element, such as a capacitor or transistor, is coupled to the gate of a drive transistor in an output driver leg circuit of an output driver and to a switched signal voltage. By coupling the capacitive element to a signal voltage other than ground, a smaller capacitive element is required than that required for coupling the capacitive element to ground. An embodiment of the invention further includes a plurality of capacitive elements configured such that the voltage support is applied to the gate of the drive transistor in phases rather than all at once to smooth voltage response to drive transistor switching. Transistors having relatively longer effective channel lengths may be used as the capacitive elements to allow for additional phasing-in of the voltage support due to signal delay through the longer channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting a voltage in an output driver circuit and smoothing the response of the voltage to switching operations in the output driver circuit. A capacitive element, such as a capacitor or transistor, is coupled to the gate of a drive transistor in an output driver leg circuit of an output driver and to a switched signal voltage. By coupling the capacitive element to a signal voltage other than ground, a smaller capacitive element is required than that required for coupling the capacitive element to ground. An embodiment of the invention further includes a plurality of capacitive elements configured such that the voltage support is applied to the gate of the drive transistor in phases rather than all at once to smooth voltage response to drive transistor switching. Transistors having relatively longer effective channel lengths may be used as the capacitive elements to allow for additional phasing-in of the voltage support due to signal delay through the longer channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting a voltage in an output driver circuit and smoothing the response of the voltage to switching operations in the output driver circuit. A capacitive element, such as a capacitor or transistor, is coupled to the gate of a drive transistor in a output driver leg circuit of an output driver and to a switched signal voltage. By coupling the capacitive element to a signal voltage other than ground, a smaller capacitive element is required than for coupling the capacitive element to ground. An embodiment of the invention further includes a plurality of capacitive elements configured such that the voltage support is applied to the gate of the drive transistor in phases rather than all at once to smooth voltage response to drive transistor switching. Transistors having relatively longer effective channel lengths may be used as the capacitive elements to allow for additional phasing-in of the voltage support due to signal delay through the longer channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting a voltage in an output driver circuit and smoothing the response of the voltage to switching operations in the output driver circuit. A capacitive element, such as a capacitor or transistor, is coupled to the gate of a drive transistor in a output driver leg circuit of an output driver and to a switched signal voltage. By coupling the capacitive element to a signal voltage other than ground, a smaller capacitive element is required than for coupling the capacitive element to ground. An embodiment of the invention further includes a plurality of capacitive elements configured such that the voltage support is applied to the gate of the drive transistor in phases rather than all at once. By applying the voltage support in phases, a smoother response to the operation of switching the drive transistor off and on may be realized.