IP Library Granted Patent US 8,405,424
Granted Patent B2
US 8,405,424 · App. 13/156,067 · Granted Mar 26, 2013

Output buffer with adjustable feedback

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,405,424
App. No.
13/156,067
Granted
Mar 26, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system according to one embodiment includes input stage circuitry configured to receive input data; output stage circuitry configured to generate buffered output data based on said received input data, said output stage circuitry comprising a first switch and a second switch, wherein said first switch comprises a first gate configured to control said first switch through an inverted gate signal and said second switch comprises a second gate configured to control said second switch through a non-inverted gate signal; first feedback inverter circuitry configured to enable pull-up of said second gate based on an input to said first gate, said first feedback inverter circuitry is further configured to provide an adjustable transition threshold for generation of said pull-up enable; and second feedback inverter circuitry configured to enable pull-down of said first gate based on an input to said second gate, said second feedback inverter circuitry is further configured to provide an adjustable transition threshold for generation of said pull-down enable.

Claims (22)

1. An output buffer system, comprising:

input stage circuitry configured to receive input data;

output stage circuitry configured to generate buffered output data based on said received input data, said output stage circuitry comprising a first switch and a second switch, wherein said first switch comprises a first gate configured to control said first switch through an inverted gate signal and said second switch comprises a second gate configured to control said second switch through a non-inverted gate signal;

first feedback inverter circuitry configured to enable pull-up of said second gate based on an input to said first gate, said first feedback inverter circuitry is further configured to provide an adjustable voltage threshold switching point for generation of said pull-up enable; and

second feedback inverter circuitry configured to enable pull-down of said first gate based on an input to said second gate, said second feedback inverter circuitry is further configured to provide an adjustable voltage threshold switching point for generation of said pull-down enable.

2. The output buffer system of claim 1 , wherein, during a High to Low transition of said output data, said pull-up enable of said second gate imparts a turn-on delay to said second switch such that said second switch turns on after said first switch turns off.

3. The output buffer system of claim 2 , wherein, during a Low to High transition of said output data, said pull-down enable of said first gate imparts a turn-on delay to said first switch such that said first switch turns on after said second switch turns off.

4. The output buffer system of claim 3 , wherein said turn-on delays reduce crowbar current through said first and second switches.

5. The output buffer system of claim 3 , wherein said turn-on delay to said first switch is controlled by said adjustable voltage threshold switching point for generation of said pull-down enable, and said turn-on delay to said second switch is controlled by said adjustable voltage threshold switching point for generation of said pull-up enable.

6. The output buffer system of claim 1 , further comprising output enable circuitry configured to receive an output enable signal and to maintain said buffered output data in a high impedance state based on a value of an output enable signal.

7. The output buffer system of claim 1 , wherein said first switch is a PMOS device and said second switch is an NMOS device.

8. A method, comprising

receiving input data from input stage circuitry;

generating buffered output data through output stage circuitry configured to generate said buffered output data based on said receive input data, said output stage circuitry comprising a first switch and a second switch, wherein said first switch comprises a first gate configured to control said first switch through an inverted gate signal and said second switch comprises a second gate configured to control said second switch through a non-inverted gate signal;

configuring first feedback inverter circuitry to enable pull-up of said second gate based on an input to said first gate, said first feedback inverter circuitry is further configured to provide an adjustable voltage threshold switching point for generation of said pull-up enable; and

configuring second feedback inverter circuitry to enable pull-down of said first gate based on an input to said second gate, said second feedback inverter circuitry is further configured to provide an adjustable voltage threshold switching point for generation of said pull-down enable.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein during a High to Low transition of said output data, said pull-up enable of said second gate imparts a turn-on delay to said second switch such that said second switch turns on after said first switch turns off.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein during a Low to High transition of said output data, said pull-down enable of said first gate imparts a turn-on delay to said first switch such that said first switch turns on after said second switch turns off.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said turn-on delays reduce crowbar current through said first and second switches.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said turn-on delay to said first switch is controlled by said adjustable voltage threshold switching point for generation of said pull-down enable, and said turn-on delay to said second switch is controlled by said adjustable voltage threshold switching point for generation of said pull-up enable.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising configuring output enable circuitry to receive an output enable signal and to maintain said buffered output data in a high impedance state based on a value of an output enable signal.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein said first switch is a PMOS device and said second switch is an NMOS device.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 058871, FRAME 0799 Recorded Jun 23, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC; FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065653/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 040075, FRAME 0644 Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC; FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064070/0536 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2021
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058871/0799 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2021
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057969/0206 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2021
From: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 057694/0374 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 19, 2016
From: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040075/0644 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2012
From: BENNETT, CHRISTOPHER A.
To: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028232/0140 →