Emitter-coupled Or Emitter-follower Logic Patents (Class 326/126)
  • Patent number: 11336501
    Abstract: [Task] There is provided a signal generation apparatus and a signal generation method capable of performing mutual switching between a PAM N signal having n values and a PAM M signal having m values (m<n) without generating a noise or an overvoltage. [Means for Resolution] There are provided a PAM N generation circuit 41 that generates a PAM N signal of n values, a PAM M generation circuit 42 that generates a PAM M signal of m values (m<n) having a maximum voltage level equal to a maximum voltage level of the PAM N signal generated by the PAM N generation circuit 41, and a selector 43 that outputs any one of the PAM N signal generated by the PAM N generation circuit 41 and the PAM M signal generated by the PAM M generation circuit 42.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ANRITSU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Iwai, Tomoaki Kabasawa
  • Patent number: 11256281
    Abstract: Circuits, systems, and methods to automatically switch modes to provide constant reference voltages are discussed herein. For example, a bandgap reference system may include a first bandgap reference circuit configured to provide a first bandgap reference voltage, a low dropout regulator coupled to the first bandgap reference circuit, a temperature circuit coupled to the low dropout regulator, and a second bandgap reference circuit coupled to the low dropout regulator and the temperature circuit. The second bandgap reference circuit may be configured to configure one or more impedance elements based at least in part on a temperature signal and provide a second bandgap reference voltage based on one or more currents that pass through the one or more impedance elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Bang Li Liang
  • Patent number: 11178751
    Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a differential signal via pairs to route differential signal between layers of the printed circuit board. A first differential signal via pair is oriented in a first orientation and a second differential signal via pair is oriented perpendicular to the first orientation. The second differential signal via pair is located such that a midpoint of a first line segment drawn between centers of first and second vias of the second differential signal pair intersects a first ray drawn from a center of a first via of the first differential signal via pair through a center of a second via of the first differential signal via pair. Further, the second differential signal via pair is located such that the midpoint of the first line segment is at a characteristic via-to-via pitch distance for the printed circuit board from the center of the second via of the first differential signal via pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Vijendera Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Arun R. Chada, Mallikarjun Vasa, Bhyrav M. Mutnury
  • Patent number: 11050419
    Abstract: Described are various techniques that can minimize the use of high-voltage devices in a unity-gain buffer that can be used in a high voltage application, while providing a circuit that generates an output that is an accurately buffered version of the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Roderick McLachlan, Fergus Downey
  • Patent number: 10892755
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, driver circuitry generates drive signals to drive driven circuitry to transition between first and second states. The driver circuitry has a first-to-second driver circuit that generates a first drive signal to drive the driven circuitry to transition from the first state to the second state and a second-to-first driver circuit that generates a second drive signal to drive the driven circuitry to transition from the second state to the first state. The driver circuitry includes two complementary triggered current pulse generators (described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,554,206) that combine to efficiently provide switch drive for a FET or other reactive load. The triggered drive has fast edges for low switching losses. In certain embodiments, the low power triggered drive circuitry can respond to a slowly changing feedback signal to switch a FET so as to regulate a power converter output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: CogniPower, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas E. Lawson
  • Patent number: 10490113
    Abstract: The present application discloses a voltage shift circuit and a driving method thereof, a driving device and a display apparatus. The voltage shift circuit includes: a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first voltage terminal, a second voltage terminal, and an output terminal. The first input terminal is configured to input a first signal. The second input terminal is configured to input a second signal. The first voltage terminal is configured to input a first voltage. The second voltage terminal is configured to input a second voltage. The output terminal is configured to output an output signal. The voltage shift circuit is configured to lower the first voltage to an output voltage within a first time using the first signal, and to raise the second voltage to the output voltage within a second time using the second signal. The first time partially overlaps with the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., CHONGQING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xianyong Gao, Shuai Hou, Lijun Xiao, Bo Xu, Siqing Fu, Xu Lu, Qiang Yu, Lisheng Liang, Shuai Chen, Fei Shang
  • Patent number: 10473698
    Abstract: A voltage monitor circuit comprises: a monitored voltage input (42); a reference capacitor (32) arranged to be able to store a value of the monitored voltage as a reference capacitor voltage; a timeout capacitor (34) arranged to be able to store a value of the monitored voltage as a timeout capacitor voltage. The timeout capacitor undergoes a higher leakage than the reference capacitor. The voltage monitor circuit also comprises a comparator (2) arranged to: compare the monitored voltage to the reference capacitor voltage; compare the timeout capacitor voltage to the reference capacitor voltage; and produce a logic signal on an output (9) of the comparator based on said comparisons, the logic signal having a first logic value at least if the reference capacitor voltage is lower than or equal to both the monitored voltage and the timeout capacitor voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Nordic Semiconductor ASA
    Inventors: Hans Ola Dahl, Sebastian Ioan Ene
  • Patent number: 10447148
    Abstract: Various improvements are provided to resonant DC/DC and AC/DC converter circuit. The improvements are of particular interest for LLC circuits. Some examples relate to self-oscillating circuit and others relate to converter circuits with frequency control, for example for power factor correction, driven by an oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Reinhold Elferich, David Llewellyn John, William Peter Mechtildis Marie Jans, Johannes Hubertus Gerardus Op Het Veld
  • Patent number: 9832048
    Abstract: A transmitter circuit for generating a modulated signal in a transmitter of an integrated circuit is described. The transmitter circuit comprises a multiplexing stage having a multiplexing circuit configured to receive a differential input signal and to generate a differential output signal at a first output node of a first current path and at a second output node of a second current path, the multiplexing stage having a gain circuit configured to increase the swing of the differential output signal generated at the first output node and the second output node. A method of generating a modulated signal in a transmitter of an integrated circuit is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventor: Vassili Kireev
  • Patent number: 9755589
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes: a first transistor and a second transistor of which collectors/drains are coupled to a first power-source via a first load-impedance-element and the first power-source via a second load-impedance-element, respectively; a gain-adjustment-resistance-element that is connected to an emitter/source of the first transistor and an emitter/source of the second transistor; a first current-source and a second current-source that are connected to the emitters/the sources of the first transistor and the second transistor respectively, and a second power-source; a third transistor and a fourth transistor of which collectors/drains are connected to the first power-source and bases/gates are connected to the first load-impedance-element and the second load-impedance-element, respectively; a first feedback-resistance-element that is connected to a base/gate of the first transistor and an emitter/source of the third transistor; and a second feedback-resistance-element that is connected to a base
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Hideki Oku
  • Patent number: 9674008
    Abstract: A predictive decision feedback equalizer using body bias of one or more field effect transistors (FETs) to provide an offset for a predictive tap. In one embodiment, a predictive tap of the predictive decision feedback equalizer includes a differential amplifier composed of two FETs in a differential amplifier configuration, and the body bias of one or both FETs is controlled to provide an offset in the differential amplifier. In one embodiment a current DAC driving a DAC resistor is used to provide the body bias voltage, and a feedback circuit, including a replica circuit forming the maximum possible DAC output voltage, is used to control the bias of the current sources of the current DAC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mohammad Hekmat, Amir Amirkhany
  • Patent number: 9525408
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for a high speed, low power, isolated multiplexer having architecture and operation that control current flow to minimize coupling and power consumption. Multiplexer architecture may include one or more of BiCMOS components, an input disabling circuit operated to additionally disable an input circuit when it is also disabled by a selection circuit, a multiplexer disabling circuit operated to disable a multiplexer when input circuits are disabled by the selection circuit, a buffer having a buffer input disabling circuit operated to additionally disable a buffer input circuit when it is also disabled by a buffer selection circuit and a buffer disabling circuit operated to disable a buffer when the buffer input circuit is disabled by the buffer selection circuit. Any one or more of these features may be implemented to improve isolation performance. The architecture may be operated by a one-hot coding scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: INTEGRATED DEVICE TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Chengming He
  • Patent number: 9397662
    Abstract: A sequential circuit with transition error detector including a sequential element with an input that is asserted to the output during the second clock phase of a two phase clock signal, a transition error detector coupled to the sequential element input to assert an error signal if a transition occurs at the sequential element input during the second clock phase but not to assert during the first clock phase, wherein a transition error detection circuit comprises a current mode circuit as a detection circuit for transition timing error detection from signals derived from the sequential element clock signal and input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Aalto University Foundation
    Inventors: Matthew Turnquist, Lauri Koskinen, Jani Mäkipää, Erkka Laulainen
  • Patent number: 8937495
    Abstract: Emitter-coupled logic circuits and systems that include such circuits are provided. Some emitter-coupled logic circuits include a plurality of fT-doubler circuits. Each fT-doubler circuit includes a plurality of transistors coupled to one another in an arrangement such that the plurality of transistors are configured to behave as a single enhanced transistor that has an effective unity current gain frequency that is higher than if a single transistor were used in its place. The fT-doubler circuits are configured to increase an operating frequency capability of the emitter-coupled logic circuit. Some emitter-coupled logic circuits include a plurality of cascode amplifier circuits. Each cascode amplifier circuit includes multiple transistors. An emitter of at least one first transistor of the plurality of transistors is coupled to a collector of at least one second transistor of the plurality of transistors Some emitter-coupled logic circuits may include both fT-doubler circuits and cascode amplifier circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell D. Wyse, Mark A. Willi, Michael L. Hageman
  • Patent number: 8841936
    Abstract: A differential output circuit has a current source, a voltage source, first paired transistors which, in a first operating mode, switch that current from the current source should be flown to which of paired output terminals, depending on logic levels of differential input signals, and is always turned off in a second operating mode, second paired transistors which, in the second operating mode, switch which of the paired output terminals should be applied with a voltage correlated with a voltage of the voltage source, depending on the logic levels of the differential input signals, and configured to be always turned off in the first operating mode, third paired transistors which, in the second operating mode, pass the current inputted into one of the paired output terminals toward a predetermined reference potential, and is always turned on in the first operating mode, and paired impedances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yutaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8653856
    Abstract: A buffer is provided. The buffer includes a first switch and a second switch coupled in series at a first output node, a third switch and a fourth switch coupled in series at a second output node, a first current source and a second current source. The first current source is coupled with one side to the first switch and the third switch and with another side to a first supply voltage, the second current source is coupled with one side to the second switch and the fourth switch and with a second side to a second supply voltage. The first current source is configured to adjust an output swing in a first operation mode and in a second operation. The second current source is configured to adjust a common mode voltage level of the output signal in the first operation mode and to provide maximum series resistance in the second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Texas Instruments Incorporated, Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Piepenstock, Andreas Bock, Bhavesh G. Bhakta
  • Patent number: 8054266
    Abstract: A driving apparatus for a display device includes a gray voltage generator that generates a plurality of gray voltage sets, each including a plurality of gray voltages having different levels, and a signal converter that includes a first selector for selecting one gray voltage set among the plurality of gray voltage sets on the basis of a first portion of an image signal and a second selector for selecting one or more gray voltages among the plurality of gray voltages belonging to the selected gray voltage set on the basis of a second portion of the image signal to output and select gray voltages with a smaller size digital-analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doo-Hyung Woo, Il-Gon Kim, Kee-Chan Park
  • Patent number: 7768309
    Abstract: An integrated circuit output driver is provided that exhibits improved performance and signal integrity. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit output driver is fabricated in a process having thin-gate MOS transistors and thick-gate MOS transistors and includes a predriver circuit, a level shifter circuit, and a driver circuit. The predriver circuit is formed predominantly of thin-gate transistors, and the driver circuit is formed predominantly of thick-gate transistors. In other embodiments, a low-pass power supply filter is provided. In still other embodiments, a voltage regulator circuit is provided, wherein an operating potential of at least one of the predriver circuit and the level shifter circuit is less than the specified supply voltage. In one embodiment, the voltage regulator circuit produces: i) a reduced internal supply voltage that is applied to the predriver circuit; and ii) an elevated ground voltage that is applied to the level shifter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas M. Luich
  • Patent number: 7474126
    Abstract: Various logic gates and methods for using such are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide parallel differential logic gates. Such logic gates include two or more differential input pairs. The collectors of the first transistors in each of the differential pairs are all electrically coupled to an upper voltage via a first load resistor. Similarly, the collectors of the second transistors in each of the differential pairs are all electrically coupled to an upper voltage via a second load resistor. Depending upon the relative values selected for the first and second load resistors, the gate operates as an AND gate or an OR gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert F. Payne
  • Patent number: 7408384
    Abstract: A drive circuit of a computer system is for driving a mode indicator. The computer system includes a first port and a second port. The mode indicator includes a first receiving end and a second receiving end. The drive circuit includes a first input end connected to the first port, a second input end connected to the second port, a first output end connected to the first receiving end, a second output end connected to the second receiving end. A power supply is connected to the first input end and the second input end via a first resistor and a second resistor respectively. The mode indicator is dichromatic and has two LEDs emitting non-matching colored light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tong Zhou, Jia-Hui Tu
  • Patent number: 7339402
    Abstract: Circuitry for preventing damage to bipolar transistors in integrated circuit amplifier circuitry during slew-limited operation includes first and second transistors, each having first, second, and third electrodes, a first one of the first and second electrodes of the first transistor being coupled to receive a first signal, and a first one of the first and second electrodes of the second transistor being coupled to receive a second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sergey V. Alenin, Henry Surtihadi
  • Patent number: 7327165
    Abstract: A drive circuit of a computer system is for driving a mode indicator. The computer system includes a first port and a second port. The mode indicator includes a first receiving end and a second receiving end. The drive circuit includes a first input end connected to the first port, a second input end connected to the second port, a first output end connected to the first receiving end, a second output end connected to the second receiving end, a power supply, a first transistor connected between the first input end and the power supply, and a second transistor connected between the second input end and the power supply. Collectors of the first and second transistors are separately connected to the first and second output ends. The mode indicator is dichromatic and has two LEDs emitting non-matching colored light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tong Zhou, Jia-Hui Tu
  • Patent number: 7312639
    Abstract: A high speed data communication system uses a single-ended bus architecture with a reference signal extracted from a differential periodic signal that is transmitted along with single-ended data. By using a periodic signal such a clock signal with approximately 50% duty cycle, a much more stable and accurate reference signal is established for receiving single-ended data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Armond Hairapetian
  • Patent number: 7301371
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a transmitter of a semiconductor device, which can output signals corresponding to input signals having various common mode levels and amplitudes. The transmitter may include a pre-driver unit, main driver unit, and a control circuit. The pre-driver unit modifies a common mode level and the amplitude of first internal output signals to generate internal output signals in response to driver control signals. The main driver unit modifies the common mode level and the amplitude of the second internal output signals. The control circuit detects the common mode level and the amplitude of a connected circuit. The common mode level and the amplitude of the output signals may then automatically be adjusted to be the same as the common mode level and the amplitude of this connected circuit High speed signal conditioning may be accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7288971
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating high speed logic circuits in a CMOS environment using current steering logic cells with actively-peaked NMOS or PMOS loads and the biasing of these logic cells is disclosed. The logic cells can include, for example, buffers, AND gates, OR gates, flip-flops, and latches. The current steering cells with actively-peaked loads can provide benefits such as reduced power consumption, smaller area, and higher speed performance over conventional devices. This performance boost is preferably achieved using NMOS followers with resistively degenerated gates to create frequency peaked transfer function of current-mode logic cells. These logic cells with actively-peaked loads can advantageously be used in circuits in which relatively good power area and performance are desired for state machine logic, parallel to serial conversions, serial to parallel conversions, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: PMC-Sierra, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Plasterer, William Michael Lye, Matthew W. McAdam
  • Patent number: 7250790
    Abstract: An electronic circuit for providing a logic gate function includes a differential signal input, a combining stage, a discriminating stage and a differential signal output. The discriminating stage includes four transistors each having first electrodes and second electrodes and a respective gate electrode. The first electrodes of the four transistors are connected to a common node. The combining stage is arranged to convert differential input signals into gate signals applied to the gate electrodes of some of the four transistors respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Lionel Guiraud
  • Patent number: 7218145
    Abstract: An input circuit (a first transistor pair) that receives complementary input signals is connected to a latch circuit (a second transistor pair) that converts the amplitude of an input signal into second amplitude higher than first amplitude. A current mirror circuit (a third transistor pair) is disposed between the latch circuit and a high-level power supply line. The current mirror circuit makes a source voltage of the second transistors being turned on lower than the source voltage of the second transistors being turned off. The second transistors being turned on are likely to be turned off although the on-current of corresponding first transistors is low. To the contrary, the second transistors being turned off are likely to be turned on. Accordingly, even when a voltage of a high logic level of an input signal is low, the level conversion circuit can surely operate without malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Hideo Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 7202706
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating high speed logic circuits in a CMOS environment using current steering logic cells with actively-peaked NMOS or PMOS loads and the biasing of these logic cells is disclosed. The logic cells can include, for example, buffers, AND gates, OR gates, flip-flops, and latches. The current steering cells with actively-peaked loads can provide benefits such as reduced power consumption, smaller area, and higher speed performance over conventional devices. This performance boost is preferably achieved using NMOS followers with resistively degenerated gates to create frequency peaked transfer function of current-mode logic cells. These logic cells with actively-peaked loads can advantageously be used in circuits in which relatively good power area and performance are desired for state machine logic, parallel to serial conversions, serial to parallel conversions, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: PMC-Sierra, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Plasterer, William Michael Lye, Matthew W. McAdam
  • Patent number: 7202696
    Abstract: A compensation circuit is disclosed. The compensation circuit includes a driver stage having an output, a differential output device including a base coupled to the output of the driver stage, and a feedback block coupled to a first emitter of the differential output device. The differential output device includes a second emitter to provide a differential output, and the feedback block generates a feedback signal to adjust the differential output. The first emitter comprises a replicating transistor, and is proximate to the second emitter of the differential output device. By keeping the replicating emitter near the differential output device, the variances of temperature and process over the semiconductor die do not affect the performance of the compensation circuit. The compensation circuit may also compensate for variations in common-emitter current gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Babak Taheri
  • Patent number: 7187207
    Abstract: The CML (current mode logic) to CMOS converter with a leakage balancing transistor for jitter reduction includes: a differential input stage; an output stage having a first branch coupled to a first output of the differential input stage and a second branch coupled to a second output of the differential input stage; and a leakage balancing transistor coupled to the first branch of the output stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Matthew D. Rowley
  • Patent number: 7187212
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing a fast turn on bias circuit that permits a fast transition from an idle “power down” state to an active “power up” state in current mode logic (CML) transmitter output circuits. The invention comprises a capacitor coupled to a bias transistor and a charge switch circuit for controlling the operation of the capacitor. The capacitor has a value of capacitance that is equal in magnitude and opposite in sign to the Miller coupling capacitance in the bias transistor. The capacitor compensates for the Miller coupling capacitance within the bias transistor in less than ten nanoseconds. This permits a CML transmitter to more quickly restart the transmission of data after an active state has been initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Alan E. Segervall, Laurence D. Lewicki
  • Patent number: 7187208
    Abstract: A low voltage positive emitter coupled logic (LV-PECL) buffer fabricated in the complimentary oxide metal silicon (CMOS) process. The LV-PECL buffer in CMOS is operable for a wide frequency range from DC to frequencies as high as 800 MHZ in 0.5 um process. Synchronized feedforward logic is utilized without the need for a feedback loop. N-MOSFET's, which are faster than P-MOSFET's, are used for the implementation of switched current sources. The switched current sources deliver a pull-up current variable in time and as a result have more than two values. The pull-up current is sharply increased in value during the output waveform transition times in an impulse manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Phaselink Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Pierre Paul Guebels
  • Patent number: 7154301
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a low jitter predriver for differential output drivers. In one embodiment, the predriver comprises a pull-up circuit having at least one pull-up device of a first device type and a pull-down circuit having at least one pull-down device of the first device type In one embodiment, the pull-up circuit and the pull-down circuit to charge an output node and a complement output node in opposite directions to generate a differential predriver signal pair. Accordingly, using the pull-up and pull-down circuits, the predriver circuit generates differential output signals. In one embodiment, the pull-up device and the pull-down device comprise N-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Alexander Levin
  • Patent number: 7148724
    Abstract: The signal output circuit 1 includes a first and a second emitter follower circuit, and a comparator 20. The comparator 20 receives output signals from the first and the second emitter follower circuit, and outputs a result of comparison in magnitude between those signals. The comparator 20 includes a transistor T5 (fifth transistor), a transistor T6 (sixth transistor), a resistance element R3, and a current mirror circuit 30. The resistance element R3 connects the emitters of the transistor T5 and of the transistor T6. To the collectors of the transistor T5 and the transistor T6, the current mirror circuit 30 is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hisao Oguri
  • Patent number: 7145366
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes at least one differential pair of transistors, a control transistor switch, a first current source and a second current source. The second current source is connected to a common emitter node of the pair of transistors in order to accelerate the discharge of parasitic capacitances during a switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Sébastien Rieubon, Serge Ramet, Philippe Level
  • Patent number: 7132848
    Abstract: A power management circuit. A logic cell switched between normal and standby modes according to a power control signal includes a plurality of first NMOS transistors coupled between at least one complementary pair of data signal inputs and a complementary pair of data signal outputs, a first PMOS transistor and a second PMOS transistor. A first switch is coupled between a power voltage, the power control signal and the logic cell. A latch circuit coupled between the power voltage and the data signal outputs preserves the voltage levels respectively of the complementary pair of data signal outputs when the logic cell operates in the standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Fang-Shi Lai
  • Patent number: 7106093
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a plurality of cascaded IC's (14, 15, 16), wherein the matching impedance between a signal transmission path (12) connected to an external signal transmission path and an input-side or output-side IC (14, 16) is set at 50 ohms which is equal to the characteristics impedance of the external signal transmission path. The matching impedance between a internal signal transmission path (13) and an input-side or output-side IC or intermediate IC is set at 200 ohms which is higher than the 50 ohms. The semiconductor device reduces the current dissipation and can operate at a higher speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7098697
    Abstract: A circuit topology for high speed low voltage logic circuits is disclosed that reduces the number of levels of stacked active circuit elements from 3 to 2. Circuits providing a variety of logic functions are presented, including a latch, an exclusive OR gate, a combination XOR and latch, a multiplexer and a demultiplexer. Circuits built according to the principles of the invention have been operated at speeds of 40 GHz. The circuit topology can operate at supply voltages as low as 2V (for silicon or silicon-germanium based devices) and provide power saving of 25%–50% or more, depending on the logic function. In some embodiments, circuits comprising single ended or differential inputs can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kucharski, Kevin Kornegay
  • Patent number: 7038495
    Abstract: Provided is a circuit to convert input CMOS level signals having a predetermined duty cycle to CML level signals having a higher duty cycle. The circuit includes two differential transistor pairs connected together. The two differential pairs are constructed and arranged to use gates of the associated transistors as inputs to receive and combine a number of phase shifted CMOS input signals. The combined CMOS input signal are converted to CML level signals which are provided as circuit outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ka Lun Choi
  • Patent number: 7030660
    Abstract: A line driver which is especially suitable for wirebound data transmission at high bit rates, comprising several parallel-connected driver stages (3) respectively comprising a first pair of transistors consisting of two transistors (4, 5) which are controlled in a differential manner according to digital data to be transmitted, and a second pair of transistors (4, 5). The transistors belonging to the second pair of transistors (6, 7) are series-connected to a corresponding transistor (4, 5) of the first pair of transistors. The individual driver stages (3) are connected by the transistors (6, 7) of the second pair of transistors in a parallel manner to both the terminals of the line driver. Each driver stage (3) is associated with a control circuit (2) with transfer gates (14, 15), producing the differential control signals (VGA, VGB) for the two transistors (4, 5) of the corresponding first pair of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Armin Hanneberg, Peter Laaser
  • Patent number: 6937054
    Abstract: Methods and structures are disclosed herein for programmably adjusting a peaking function of a differential signal receiver. The disclosed method includes inputting a pair of differential signals to a pair of input transistors coupled to conduct currents differentially between a pair of load impedances and a pair of tail transistors. The impedance of an adjustable shunt impedance element between the tail transistors of the receiver is varied by programming signal input, such that higher current is conducted over a peaking range of frequencies. In a disclosed structural embodiment, an integrated circuit is provided having a programmable peaking receiver. The programmable peaking receiver includes a pair of input transistors coupled to conduct differentially according to a pair of differential inputs applied to the pair of input transistors. Each of the input transistors produces an output in accordance with the differential input applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Louis L. Hsu, Karl D. Selander, Michael A. Sorna, William F. Washburn, Huihao H. Xu, Steven J. Zier
  • Patent number: 6911847
    Abstract: A two-input logic gate circuit suitable for extremely high-speed operation, which operates on two differential signal pairs expressing respective logic inputs, includes a control signal generating circuit which converts the input differential signal pairs to two sets of differential control signal pairs respectively having first and second level ranges, to be supplied to a current switching section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Asano, Mitsuru Saito
  • Patent number: 6888378
    Abstract: This invention prevents a cross talk caused by intersection of interconnections, and offers a semiconductor integrated circuit with improved circuit characteristics. By disposing a pair of emitter follower circuits symmetrically with respect to a center line of a differential amplifier, an area where the interconnections cross with each other is eliminated and interconnections within a circuit block and a ground wiring can be made with a single metal layer. Herewith cross talk due to the intersection of the interconnections can be resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Shiina
  • Patent number: 6885220
    Abstract: A current source circuit is characterized in that it contains a control device that controls a component of the current source circuit that determines a variable of the current supplied by the current source circuit. The component is controlled in accordance with the conditions that prevail in the unit that is supplied by the current source circuit with current. The circuit is thus capable of continuously supplying a constant current without any limitations to its applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Engl
  • Patent number: 6882178
    Abstract: An input circuit comprises an input terminal for receiving an input signal, an output terminal for outputting an output signal, a node connected to the input terminal, a terminating resistor connected between the node and a ground, a potential shift element connected between the node and the output terminal, a potential source for supplying a predetermined potential, and a current source connected between the potential source and the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Nishino, Masahisa Nemoto
  • Patent number: 6870389
    Abstract: A differential driver circuit that suppresses current overshoot and allows current switching to proceed at near the maximum speed includes: a differential pair Q5 and Q6 having a tail current source I56; a first buffer Q3 providing a first input to the differential pair; a second buffer Q4 providing a second input to the differential pair; a first current absorbing device Q7 coupled to the tail current source I56 and having a control node SP capacitively coupled to the first buffer Q3; and a second current absorbing device Q8 coupled to the tail current source I56 and having a control node SM capacitively coupled to the second buffer Q4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: John W. Fattaruso
  • Patent number: 6847233
    Abstract: An emitter coupled logic circuit with a data reload function is disclosed. The emitter coupled logic (ECL) circuit includes first and second in series transistors consisting of bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) and field effect transistors (FETs), respectively. The bipolar junction transistor receives a reload signal, and the field effect transistor receives a reload data. Therefore, using the serial control of the bipolar junction transistors together with the field effect transistors, the digital reload data may be reloaded into the ECL circuit. Since the invention utilizes the field effect transistors to directly receive and set the reload data, it is not necessary to pre-convert the digital reload data into a front-stage ECL voltage level. In addition, because the reload data can be sent to the field effect transistors before the reload signal enables, the field effect transistors may be set to ON or OFF in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventor: Ling-Wei Ke
  • Patent number: 6842037
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for sharing a transmission line among different interface technologies. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, two different high-speed differential interface technologies (CML and LVDS) share a communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Gradl
  • Patent number: 6825707
    Abstract: An apparatus for a current mode logic variable delay element. A preferred embodiment comprises an input signal that is provided to a multiplexer (for example, multiplexer 210) in both buffered (via a buffer (for example, buffer 205)) and unbuffered form. A control signal of the multiplexer may be used to select from either the buffered or unbuffered input signals. By using a control signal at an intermediate value (somewhere in between values that selects the buffered or unbuffered input signals), the multiplexer may then combine the buffered and unbuffered input signals in proportion with the value of the control signal and imparts a delay upon the input signal that may be in between the delay imparted by the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Heinrich Viehmann, Stefan Lammers
  • Patent number: 6798249
    Abstract: A current mode logic (CML) flip flop includes a first CML latch and a second CML latch. A plurality of pull-up switches are responsive to a reset signal. Outputs of the first and second CML latches are pulled up to a supply voltage through the pull-up switches. The first CML latch includes a first pull-up isolation switch driven by the reset signal for resetting the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Tak Ying Wong, David Ho, Wee Teck Lee, Khim Leng Low