Abstract: A relatively high sensitivity and high speed current detector consists of essentially a common base differential amplifier consistng of two junction transistors, each having separate emitter and collector resistors, and a constant current source connected to the collector resistors. Separate input terminals connected to the emitters allow complementary information current signals or an information current signal and a reference current signal to be applied to the emitter terminals. The output signal and the complement thereof appear at their respective collectors.

Abstract: An improved TTL to MOS voltage level shifter circuit utilizes a totem pole output stage consisting of a pull-up junction transistor and a pull-down saturation junction transistor, an intermediate stage consisting essentially of a saturation junction transistor, an input stage consisting essentially of a diode and a saturation junction transistor, and current spike inhibit circuitry which consists essentially of a saturation junction transistor connected between the input stage and the base of the pull-down transistor. The current spike inhibit transistor, which turns on with the pull-down transistor, has a greater turnoff time than the pull-down transistor and consequently provides a relativley low impedance discharge path connected to the base of the pull-down transistor which allows the pull-down transistor to turn off before the pull-up transistor turns on. This helps insure against output current spikes that occur if the pull-up and pull-down transistors conduct simultaneously.