Line driving circuit
A line driver and a method for driving a line are disclosed. The line driver includes a first current device configured to initiate a change in the state of the line and a second current device configured to substantially complete the change. The first current device provides a first current and the second current device provides a second current that is smaller than the first current.
1. A line driver for driving a line having a state including:
a first current device configured to initiate a change in the state of the line, wherein the first current device includes a plurality of current devices connected in parallel, wherein each of the plurality of current devices comprising a semiconductor device for generating a first current; and
a second current device configured to substantially complete the change, wherein the second current device provides a second current that is smaller than the first current; and
wherein each of the plurality of current devices further comprising a diode configured to limit the first current as the state of the line is changing.
2. A line driver for driving a line having a state as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second current devices are current sources.
3. A line driver for driving a line having a state as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second current devices are current sinks.
4. A line driver for driving a line having a state as recited in claim 1 wherein the semiconductor device includes a transistor sized to provide the first current.
5. A line driver for driving a line having a state as recited in claim 1 wherein the semiconductor device includes a first transistor sized to provide the first current and wherein the second current device includes a second transistor sized smaller than the first transistor to provide the second current that is smaller than the first current.
6. A line driver for driving a line having a state as recited in claim 1 wherein the diode includes a diode-configured transistor.
7. A line driver for driving a line having a state as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of current devices has a peak response that is time shifted with respect to one of the other of the plurality of current devices.
8. A line driver for driving a line having a state as recited in claim 1 wherein a resistor is connected between the input to a first of the plurality of current devices and the input to a second of the plurality of current devices so that the first of the plurality of current devices has a peak response that is time shifted with respect to the second of the plurality of current devices.
9. A method of driving a line having a state including:
initiating a change in the state of the line using a first current device, wherein the first current device includes a plurality of current devices connected in parallel, wherein each of the plurality of current devices comprising a semiconductor device for generating a first current; and
substantially completing the change using a second current device, wherein the second current device provides a second current that is smaller than the first current;
wherein each of the plurality of current devices further comprising a diode configured to limit the first current as the state of the line is changing.