IP Library Granted Patent US 7,148,724
Granted Patent B2
US 7,148,724 · App. 11/411,806 · Granted Dec 12, 2006

Signal output circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,148,724
App. No.
11/411,806
Granted
Dec 12, 2006
Kind
B2
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 T 5 (fifth transistor), a transistor T 6 (sixth transistor), a resistance element R 3 , and a current mirror circuit 30 . The resistance element R 3 connects the emitters of the transistor T 5 and of the transistor T 6 . To the collectors of the transistor T 5 and the transistor T 6 , the current mirror circuit 30 is connected.

Claims (16)

1. A signal output circuit comprising:

a first transistor of a first conduction type with a base connected to an input signal terminal;

a first constant current source including a second transistor of said first conduction type with a collector connected to an emitter of said first transistor, thus constituting a first emitter follower circuit with said first transistor;

a third transistor of said first conduction type with a base connected to said input signal terminal;

a second constant current source including a fourth transistor of said first conduction type with a collector connected to an emitter of said third transistor, thus constituting a second emitter follower circuit with said third transistor; and

a comparator that receives an output signal from said first and said second emitter follower circuit;

wherein said comparator includes a fifth transistor of a second conduction type with a collector connected to a base of said fourth transistor, and driven by an output signal from said first emitter follower circuit,

a sixth transistor of said second conduction type constituting a differential pair with said fifth transistor, and driven by an output signal of said second emitter follower circuit,

a resistance element connecting respective emitters of said fifth and said sixth transistor, and

a current mirror circuit connected to respective collectors of said fifth and said sixth transistor.

2. The signal output circuit according to claim 1 ,

wherein said current mirror circuit includes a seventh transistor of said first conduction type, with a collector connected to said collector of said sixth transistor, and to a base of said seventh transistor, and

an eighth transistor of said first conduction type, with a collector connected to said collector of said fifth transistor, and with a base connected to said base of said seventh transistor.

3. The signal output circuit according to claim 1 ,

wherein said comparator includes a ninth transistor with a base connected to said emitter of said first transistor, and with an emitter connected to a base of said fifth transistor, and

a tenth transistor with a base connected to said emitter of said third transistor, and with an emitter connected to a base of said sixth transistor.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025311/0833 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2006
From: OGURI, HISAO
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017834/0443 →