IP Library Granted Patent US 6,940,316
Granted Patent B2
US 6,940,316 · App. 10/807,184 · Granted Sep 6, 2005

Comparator circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,940,316
App. No.
10/807,184
Granted
Sep 6, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

In order to provide a comparator circuit without generating a malfunction, the comparator circuit according to the present invention may comprise a comparator circuit including a differential amplification circuit having a differential pair transistor (M 1 , M 2 ) for inputting a signal as an object of comparison, and a current mirror load circuit (M 3 , M 4 , M 5 , M 6 ); a latch circuit having inversion amplifiers that are configured so that an input of one amplifier becomes an input of other amplifier so as to amplify a differential output signal outputted from the current mirror load circuit in accordance with a magnitude relation of the signal as an object of comparison; an equalization transistor (M 9 ) for equalizing a signal of the differential amplification circuit; a delay circuit (M 13 , M 14 ,M 15 , M 16 ) for generating a signal to delay a control signal to be inputted in a control electrode of the equalization transistor; and a control transistor (M 10 ) for inputting an output signal of the delay circuit in the control electrode as a control signal to make the latch circuit into an active status and a non-active status.

Claims (27)

1. A comparator circuit comprising:

a differential amplification circuit including a differential pair transistor for inputting a signal as an object of comparison, and a current mirror load circuit;

a latch circuit including inversion amplifiers that are configured so that an input of one amplifier becomes an input of other amplifier so as to amplify a differential output signal outputted from said current mirror load circuit in accordance with a magnitude relation of said signal as the object of comparison;

an equalization transistor for equalizing a signal of said differential amplification circuit;

a delay circuit for generating a signal to delay a control signal to be inputted in a control electrode of said equalization transistor; and

a control transistor for inputting an output signal of said delay circuit in the control electrode as a control signal to make said latch circuit into an active status and a non-active status.

2. The comparator circuit according to claim 1 ,

wherein said delay circuit comprises an inverter circuit.

3. The comparator circuit according to claim 1 ,

wherein said delay circuit comprises a resister element.

4. The comparator circuit according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in said differential amplification circuit, said differential pair includes first conductive transistors (M 1 , M 2 ) connecting a common-connected source electrode to a constant current source; said current mirror load circuit includes second conductive transistors (M 3 , M 4 ), which are connected to drain electrodes of said transistors (M 1 , M 2 ), respectively, and to which drains and gates are connected, and second conductive transistors (M 5 , M 6 ), of which gates are connected to the gates of said second conductive transistors (M 3 , M 4 ) with each other; and

a comparison result signal is outputted from each drain electrode of said second conductive transistors (M 5 , M 6 ).

5. A comparator circuit comprising:

a differential amplification circuit including a differential pair transistor for inputting a signal as an object of comparison, and a current mirror load circuit;

a latch circuit including inversion amplifiers that are configured so that an input of one amplifier becomes an input of other amplifier so as to amplify a differential output signal outputted from said current mirror load circuit in accordance with a magnitude relation of said signal as an object of comparison;

an equalization transistor for equalizing a signal of said differential amplification circuit;

a delay circuit for generating a delay control signal to delay a control signal so as to control said equalization transistor;

a logical circuit for outputting a logical multiplication signal of said delay control signal and said control signal as a control signal of said equalization transistor; and

a control transistor for inputting a logical addition signal of said delay control signal and said control signal in the control electrode as a control signal to make said latch circuit into an active status and a non-active status.

6. The comparator circuit according to claim 5 ,

wherein said delay circuit comprises an inverter circuit.

7. The comparator circuit according to claim 5 ,

wherein said delay circuit comprises a resister element.

8. The comparator circuit according to claim 5 ,

wherein, in said differential amplification circuit, said differential pair includes first conductive transistors (M 1 , M 2 ) connecting a common-connected source electrode to a constant current source; said current mirror load circuit includes second conductive transistors (M 3 , M 4 ), which are connected to drain electrodes of said transistors (M 1 , M 2 ), respectively, and to which drains and gates are connected, and second conductive transistors (M 5 , M 6 ), of which gates are connected to the gates of said second conductive transistors (M 3 , M 4 ) with each other; and

a comparison result signal is outputted from each drain electrode of said second conductive transistors (M 5 , M 6 ).

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 21, 2014
From: OKI SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD
To: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 032495/0483 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 24, 2008
From: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
To: OKI SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022052/0797 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2004
From: WAKAMATSU, TAKESHI; HORIKAWA, SHIGEMITSU
To: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015132/0652 →