Memory pre-driver circuit

Claim 2

A low power dissipation monolithic integrated power circuit for driving a load comprising: first connection means for coupling to two voltage sources; control means coupled to said first connection means for producing a control signal in response to selected input signals; second connection means for coupling to at least said load; third connection means for coupling to a selected one of said voltage sources through a resistive load, said resistive load being external to said monolithic circuit; and switching means controlled by said control means, said switching means changing an electrical coupling of said second connection means from ground to said selected one of said voltage sources in response to said control signal.

Claim 3

The monolithic integrated circuit of claim 1, whereby said second connection means is internally connected to a higher voltage source of said two voltage sources by means of a unidirectional connection, said unidirectional connection preventing the voltage applied to said second connection means from substantially exceeding the voltage of said higher voltage source.

Claim 4

A low power dissipation, monolithic integrated circuit, for driving a load comprising: a gate circuit having an input stage and an output stage, said input stage coupled to a first voltage source, said output stage coupled to a second voltage source of substantially higher voltage, said gate circuit delivering two electrical signals, wherein said higher voltage signal being a voltage level substantially equal to a level of said higher voltage source; a first transistor switch controlled through a base thereof by said higher voltage signal and having a collector connected to an input terminal for connection through an external resistor to said second voltage source, and an emitter connected to an output terminal for connection to an external load; and a second transistor switch controlled through a base thereof by a lower voltage electrical signal, having a collector connected to said output terminal and an emitter connected to ground, said electrical signals selectively controlling on and off conditions of said transistor switches.

Claim 5

A low power dissipation, monolithic integrated circuit, for driving a load comprising: a gate circuit having an input stage and an output stage, said input stage coupled to a first voltage source, said output stage coupled to a second voltage source of substantially higher voltage, said gate circuit delivering two electrical signals, wherein said higher voltage signal being a voltage level substantially equal to a level of said higher voltage source; a first transistor switch controlled through a base thereof by said higher voltage signal and having a collector connected to an input terminal for connection through an external resistor to said second voltage source, and an emitter connected to an output terminal for connection to an external load; and a second transistor switch controlled through a base thereof by a lower voltage electrical signal, having a collector connected to said output terminal and an emitter connected to ground, said electrical signals selectively controlling on and off conditions of said transistor switches.

Claim 6

The monolithical integrated circuit of claim 3, comprising, in addition, a diode connected between said output terminal and the terminal supplied by said second voltage source, the direction of conduction being from output terminal to supply terminal.

Claim 7

The monolithic integrated circuit of claim 3 further comprising: a second gate circuit having at least two control input terminals, said second gate circuit supplied by said first voltage source, said second gate circuit delivering a first and a second electrical signal in response to control signals applied to said input terminals; a third transistor switch controlled through a base thereof by said first electrical signal and having a collector connected through a resistor to said first voltage source, and emitter connected to a second output terminal; and a fourth transistor switch controlled through a base thereof by said second electrical signal and having a collector connected to said second output terminal and an emitter connected to ground, said first and said second electrical signals selectively controlling off and on conditions of said third and fourth transistor.

Claim 8

A monolithic integrated low power dissipating circuit comprising: a. means for connecting to a plurality of voltage sources, at least one of said sources having connected thereto a discrete resistive load external to said monolithic circuit; b. switching means for connecting an external load to a selected one of said voltage sources through said resisTive load in response to a first control signal, said switching means connecting said external load to ground in response to a second control signal; and c. control means coupled to said plurality of voltage sources and to said switching means and responsive to input signals for producing said first control signal and said second control signal.

Claim 9

A monolithic integrated low power dissipating circuit comprising: a. means for connecting to a plurality of voltage sources, at least one of said sources having connected thereto a discrete resistive load external to said monolithic circuit; b. switching means for connecting an external load to a selected one of said voltage sources through said resisTive load in response to a first control signal, said switching means connecting said external load to ground in response to a second control signal; and c. control means coupled to said plurality of voltage sources and to said switching means and responsive to input signals for producing said first control signal and said second control signal.

Claim 10

A monolithic low power dissipating circuit as recited in claim 6 including source switch means and sink switch means wherein said first control signal causes said source switch means to connect said external load to said external voltage source through said external resistive load wherein said second control signal causes said external load to be connected to ground, and wherein said control means controls said switching means to connect said sink switch means to one of said voltage sources in response to a first set of input signals and wherein said control means controls said switching means to connect said sink switch means to ground in response to a second set of input signals.

Claim 11

A monolithic integrated circuit as recited in claim 6 wherein said plurality of voltage sources supply voltage at different levels with the highest level voltage source connected to said discrete resistive load.

Claim 12

A monolithic integrated circuit as recited in claim 8 including unidirectional means coupled between said highest voltage source and said switching means for limiting the voltage to said switching means to the voltage of said higher source.

Claim 13

A monolithic integrated low power dissipating circuit comprising: a. means for connecting to two different voltage levels, said means including discrete resistive load means separate from said monolithic circuit, said discrete resistive load means coupled to the highest voltage level; b. source transistor switching means for selectively connecting an external load to the higher voltage level through said discrete resistive load means in response to a first signal, said source transistor switching means connecting said external load to ground in response to a second signal; c. first transistor means coupled to the lower voltage level and to said source transistor switching means, said first transistor means responsive to first input signals for providing said second signal to said source transistor switching means; d. second transistor means coupled to said source transistor switching means and to the higher voltage level through said discrete resistive load means, said second transistor means responsive to said first input signals for providing said first signal to said source transistor switching means; and e. sink transistor switching means, responsive to second input signals, for coupling said external load to a selected one of said ground and the lower voltage level.

Claim 14

A monolithic integrated low power dissipating circuit comprising: a. means for connecting to two different voltage levels, said means including discrete resistive load means separate from said monolithic circuit, said discrete resistive load means coupled to the highest voltage level; b. source transistor switching means for selectively connecting an external load to the higher voltage level through said discrete resistive load means in response to a first signal, said source transistor switching means connecting said external load to ground in response to a second signal; c. first transistor means coupled to the lower voltage level and to said source transistor switching means, said first transistor means responsive to first input signals for providing said second signal to said source transistor switching means; d. second transistor means coupled to said source transistor switching means and to the higher voltage level through said discrete resistive load means, said second transistor means responsive to said first input signals for providing said first signal to said source transistor switching means; and e. sink transistor switching means, responsive to second input signals, for coupling said external load to a selected one of said ground and the lower voltage level.