IP Library Granted Patent US 7,573,304
Granted Patent B2
US 7,573,304 · App. 12/039,942 · Granted Aug 11, 2009

Input/output circuit and input/output device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,573,304
App. No.
12/039,942
Granted
Aug 11, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An input/output circuit has an output terminal, a first transistor, a second transistor, a pulse generator, and a bias circuit. The first transistor drives the output terminal based on a predetermined signal. The second transistor controls a potential of the gate of the first transistor. The pulse generator outputs a pulse with a predetermined time width when a level of the predetermined signal changes. The bias circuit generates a bias voltage for controlling the second transistor when the pulse is outputted, and impressing the bias voltage to the gate of the second transistor.

Claims (17)

1. An input/output circuit comprising:

an output terminal;

a first transistor driving the output terminal based on a predetermined signal, the first transistor having a gate electrode, and first and second electrodes;

a second transistor controlling a potential of the gate electrode of the first transistor, the second transistor having a gate electrode, and first and second electrodes;

a bias circuit generating a bias voltage for controlling the second transistor based on a level of the predetermined signal, and impressing the bias voltage to the gate electrode of the second transistor; and

a third transistor switching a voltage which is impressed to the gate electrode of the second transistor based on a potential of the output terminal, the third transistor having a gate electrode, and first and second electrodes,

wherein the first electrode of the second transistor is electrically connected to the gate electrode of the first transistor, and the second electrode of the second transistor is electrically connected to the output terminal and the second electrode of the first transistor through a resistor, and to the gate electrode of the third transistor, and

wherein the gate electrode of the second transistor is connected to the bias circuit and the second electrode of the third transistor.

2. The input/output circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second transistors are p-type transistors, and a level of the bias voltage is lower than an operational potential of the input/output circuit.

3. The input/output circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second transistors are p-type transistors, and

the bias circuit comprises two n-type transistors which are connected between an operational potential of the input/output circuit and the gate electrode of the second transistor, and a potential of the bias voltage is lower than the operational potential by threshold voltages of the two n-type transistors.

4. The input/output circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the third transistor impresses an internal potential to the gate electrode of the second transistor when the potential of the output terminal is lower than the internal potential.

5. The input/output circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a fourth transistor of n-type driving the output terminal based on the predetermined signal; and

a fifth transistor of n-type set up between the fourth transistor and the output terminal.

6. The input/output circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a floating well charging circuit for charging a floating well of the second transistor based on the potential of the output terminal, the second transistor being formed on the floating well of a semiconductor substrate.

Assignments (2)
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 Jan 8, 2009
From: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
To: OKI SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022092/0903 →