Abstract: The transient noise generated at the output drivers of an integrated circuit chip is reduced by maintaining an increasing ramp shaped current through each output driver during the entire transition interval between binary states of a capacitive load. A capacitor fed by a fixed current source is connected across the input of each output driver stage. The fixed current source and capacitor are so selected as to generate across the input of each output driver stage a linear ramp shaped control voltage that regulates the charging/discharging current through the output driver stage and package inductance in the described manner. A specially designed bias circuit reduces the sensitivity of the resulting transient noise to process variations and operating conditions. A feedback connection from the package inductance to the bias control circuit for the fixed current source adjusts the fixed current inversely with the transient noise.

Abstract: A Schmitt trigger circuit incorporates an MOS transistor connected as an inverter and two switchable currents being provided as the load to the drain of the MOS transistor to determine the switching threshold. For the low-to-high switching threshold, both currents are supplied to the transistor to require a higher gate voltage to cause the transistor to conduct both currents. Once the transistor conducts both currents and the output switches high to low, one of the sources of current is removed to cause the switching threshold to be reduced to a specified low level. The two load currents are provided by two transistors which are connected in a current mirror configuration so that the ratio of the currents provided can be precisely controlled to achieve the desired switching thresholds for the Schmitt trigger circuit.