Output circuit

1. An output circuit configured to receive a data input signal, and output an output signal that varies in accordance with the data input signal, the output circuit comprising:

an output terminal outputting the output signal;

a p-type output transistor having a source connected to a first power source providing a first potential and a drain connected to the output terminal;

a pre-driver connected to the first power source and a power source end supplied with a potential lower than the first potential, and configured to receive a signal varying in accordance with the data input signal and to provide a gate signal to a gate of the p-type output transistor, the gate signal transiting between the first potential and the potential supplied to the power source end in accordance with the signal received; and

a drive assist circuit connected to a second power source providing a second potential lower than the first potential, and configured to supply the second potential from an output node to the power source end,

the drive assist circuit

being configured to receive, as an assist signal, the data input signal or a signal varying in accordance with the data input signal, and being configured to perform an assist operation of temporarily bringing down a potential at the output node from the second potential when the assist signal makes a first transition corresponding to the transition of the gate signal from a high level to a low level, and

including a pulse generation circuit configured to receive the assist signal, and configured to output a pulse that controls the assist operation when the assist signal makes the first transition,

the pulse generation circuit including

a logic gate having at least two inputs and configured to output the pulse,

a delay circuit provided to one of two paths configured to transmit the assist signal to the two inputs of the logic gate, respectively, and

an inverter provided to one of the two paths,

the delay circuit being configured such that a delay is greater when an input to the delay circuit makes a transition corresponding to the first transition of the assist signal, as compared to a delay when the input to the delay circuit makes a transition corresponding to an inverse of the first transition of the assist signal.

2. The output circuit of claim 1 , wherein

the drive assist circuit includes:

a resistor string including resistors connected in series, and having a first end connected to the second power source, one of connection nodes between the resistors being the output node; and

a switching element provided between a second end of the resistor string and a grounded power source, and configured to receive an output from the pulse generation circuit, the switching element being (i) in a conductive state when the pulse generation circuit outputs the pulse and (ii) in a non-conductive state when the pulse generation circuit does not output the pulse.

3. The output circuit of claim 2 , wherein

the drive assist circuit includes:

a second pulse generation circuit configured to receive the assist signal, and being configured to output a second pulse shorter in pulse width than the pulse output from the pulse generation circuit when the assist signal makes the first transition; and

a second switching element provided between the output node and the grounded power source, and configured to receive an output from the second pulse generation circuit, the second switching element being (i) in a conductive state when the second pulse generation circuit outputs the second pulse and (ii) in a non-conductive state when the second pulse generation circuit does not output the second pulse.

4. The output circuit of claim 1 , further comprising

a monitor circuit monitoring a variation of the output signal, and outputting a monitor signal varying in accordance with the output signal, wherein

the drive assist circuit is configured to receive the monitor signal, and is configured to suspend the assist operation when a variation occurs in the monitor signal which indicates a transition of the output signal from a low level to a high level after the assist signal makes the first transition to cause the drive assist circuit to start the assist operation.

5. The output circuit of claim 1 , wherein

the drive assist circuit is configured such that the potential at the output node in the assist operation drops along with a drop of the first potential.

6. The output circuit of claim 5 , wherein

the pulse generation circuit is configured to output a pulse that is brought up to a high level when the assist signal makes the first transition, and

the drive assist circuit includes:

a diode string including one p-type diode-connected transistor or a plurality of p-type diode-connected transistors connected in series, and having a first end connected to the first power source and a second end acting as the output node;

a p-type transistor provided between the second power source and the output node, and having a gate supplied with an output from the pulse generation circuit; and

an n-type transistor provided between the output node and a grounded power source, and having a gate supplied with the output from the pulse generation circuit.

7. The output circuit of claim 1 , wherein

the drain of the p-type output transistor is connected in a cascade to the output terminal via another transistor.

8. The output circuit of claim 1 , wherein

the drain of the p-type output transistor is directly connected to the output terminal.

9. The output circuit of claim 8 , wherein

the p-type output transistor is a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS).