IP Library Granted Patent US 8,013,631
Granted Patent B2
US 8,013,631 · App. 12/813,031 · Granted Sep 6, 2011

CMOS input buffer circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,013,631
App. No.
12/813,031
Granted
Sep 6, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) input buffer circuit that is capable of lower voltage operation with lower current consumption. The CMOS input buffer circuit includes: a depletion type NMOS transistor including a drain connected to a power supply terminal (VDD), and a gate connected to an output terminal; a PMOS transistor including a source connected to a source of the depletion type NMOS transistor, a drain connected to the output terminal, and a gate connected to an input terminal; and an NMOS transistor including a source connected to a reference terminal (GND), a gate connected to the input terminal, and a drain connected to the output terminal.

Claims (81)

1. A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) input buffer circuit for converting a signal lower than CMOS level that is input to an input terminal into a CMOS level signal and outputting the converted CMOS level signal to an output terminal,

the CMOS input buffer circuit comprising:

a power supply terminal (VDD) and a reference terminal (GND) that are each supplied with a CMOS level voltage;

a first depletion type NMOS transistor including:

a drain connected to the power supply terminal (VDD); and

a gate connected to the output terminal;

a first PMOS transistor including:

a source connected to a source of the first depletion type NMOS transistor;

a drain connected to the output terminal; and

a gate connected to the input terminal; and

an NMOS transistor including:

a source connected to the reference terminal (GND);

a gate connected to the input terminal; and

a drain connected to the output terminal

a reference voltage circuit for outputting a reference voltage from a reference voltage output terminal thereof;

a second PMOS transistor including:

a drain connected to the output terminal; and

a gate connected to the input terminal; and

a second depletion type NMOS transistor including:

a drain connected to the power supply terminal (VDD);

a source connected to a source of the second PMOS transistor; and

a gate connected to the reference voltage output terminal.

2. A CMOS input buffer circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising a level shift circuit that is connected between the input terminal and the output terminal of the CMOS input buffer circuit.

3. A CMOS input buffer circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the reference voltage circuit comprises:

a third depletion type NMOS transistor including:

a drain connected to the power supply terminal (VDD);

a gate connected to the reference terminal (GND); and

a source connected to the reference voltage output terminal; and

at least one saturation-connected MOS transistor that is connected between the reference voltage output terminal and the reference terminal (GND).

4. A CMOS input buffer circuit for converting a signal lower than CMOS level that is input to an input terminal into a CMOS level signal and outputting the converted CMOS level signal to an output terminal,

the CMOS input buffer circuit comprising:

a power supply terminal (VDD) and a reference terminal (GND) that are each supplied with a CMOS level voltage;

an NMOS transistor including:

a source connected to the reference terminal (GND);

a gate connected to the input terminal; and

a drain connected to the output terminal;

a first PMOS transistor including:

a source connected to the power supply terminal (VDD); and

a drain connected to the output terminal;

a second PMOS transistor including:

a source connected to the power supply terminal (VDD);

a drain connected to a gate of the first PMOS transistor; and

a gate connected to the output terminal;

a third PMOS transistor including:

a drain connected to the reference terminal (GND); and

a gate connected to the input terminal; and

a first depletion type NMOS transistor including:

a source connected to a source of the third PMOS transistor;

a drain connected to the drain of the second PMOS transistor; and

a gate connected to a reference voltage.

5. A CMOS input buffer circuit according to claim 4 , further comprising a circuit for outputting the reference voltage,

the circuit comprising:

a second depletion type NMOS transistor including:

a drain connected to the power supply terminal (VDD);

a gate connected to the reference terminal (GND); and

a source connected to a reference voltage output terminal of the circuit; and

at least one saturation-connected MOS transistor that is connected between the reference voltage output terminal and the reference terminal (GND).

6. A CMOS input buffer circuit according to claim 4 , wherein the reference voltage comprises a voltage of the reference terminal (GND).

7. A CMOS input buffer circuit for converting a signal lower than CMOS level that is input to an input terminal into a CMOS level signal and outputting the converted CMOS level signal to an output terminal,

the CMOS input buffer circuit comprising:

a power supply terminal (VDD) and a reference terminal (GND) that are each supplied with a CMOS level voltage;

an NMOS transistor including:

a source connected to the reference terminal (GND);

a gate connected to the input terminal; and

a drain connected to the output terminal;

a first PMOS transistor including:

a source connected to the power supply terminal (VDD); and

a drain connected to the output terminal;

a second PMOS transistor including:

a source connected to the power supply terminal (VDD); and

a gate connected to the drain of the NMOS transistor;

a first constant current circuit including:

one terminal connected to a gate of the first PMOS transistor; and

another terminal connected to a drain of the second PMOS transistor;

a second constant current circuit including:

one terminal connected to the input terminal; and

another terminal connected to the reference terminal (GND); and

a depletion type NMOS transistor including:

a source connected to the one terminal of the second constant current circuit;

a drain connected to the gate of the first PMOS transistor; and

a gate connected to the reference terminal (GND).

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 12, 2018
From: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: ABLIC INC.
Reel/Frame 045567/0927 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037783 FRAME: 0166. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 23, 2016
From: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC
To: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037903/0928 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC
To: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION .
Reel/Frame 037783/0166 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2010
From: UTSUNOMIYA, FUMIYASU
To: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
Reel/Frame 024519/0219 →