Abstract Two identical drivers are utilized for driving an MOS device. Each driver utilizes a differentially configured transistor circuit to allow only one of two output level amplifiers to conduct. A first one of these output level amplifiers utilizes a transistor latching circuit. The second output level amplifier is a Darlington configured transistor pair, which utilizes unidirectional capacitive feedback from the output of the driver to the base of the input transistor of the second output level amplifier for controlling the fall time of the output of the driver. Diode junctions and resistive elements, which may be formed within the same integrated monolithic chip as the transistors, are utilized to limit undesirable spiking induced in the output of one of the drivers when the other driver is in a transition state.
Inventors
👤 David S Cochran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-28 08:21
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/01; H03K5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A driver comprising: a first output level amplifier having an input and an output; a second output level amplifier having an input and an output connected to the input of the first ouput level amplifier; a first unidirectional conducting device having an anode connected to the output of the first output level amplifier and having a cathode connected to the output of the second output level amplifier; a threshold detector; a second unidirectional conducting device having an anode connected to the input of the second output level amplifier and having a cathode connected to the threshold detector; and a feedback capacitance coupled in series with the threshold detector and between the threshold detector and the output of the first output level amplifier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A driver comprising: a first output level amplifier having an input and an output; a second output level amplifier having an input and an output connected to the input of the first ouput level amplifier; a first unidirectional conducting device having an anode connected to the output of the first output level amplifier and having a cathode connected to the output of the second output level amplifier; a threshold detector; a second unidirectional conducting device having an anode connected to the input of the second output level amplifier and having a cathode connected to the threshold detector; and a feedback capacitance coupled in series with the threshold detector and between the threshold detector and the output of the first output level amplifier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A driver as in claim 1 including means coupled to the first output level amplifier for providing positive feedback.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A driver as in claim 1 wherein the feedback capacitance is variable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
A driver as in claim 1 wherein the first output level amplifier includes a transistor latch circuit having a first PNP transistor and a second NPN transistor each with an emitter, a base, and a collector; means for connecting the base of the first transistor to the collector of the second transistor, and the collector of the first transistor to the base of the second transistor; means coupled to the input of the first output level amplifier for driving the base of the second transistor; and means for connecting the emitter of the second transistor to the output of the first output level amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
A driver as in claim 1 wherein the second output level amplifier includes a Darlington configured transistor pair having a first NPN transistor and a second NPN transistor each with a base, an emitter, and a collector; and means for connecting the base of the first transistor to the input of the second output level amplifier, the emitter of the first transistor to the base of the second transistor, the collector of the first transistor to the output of the first output level amplifier, and the collector of the second transistor to the cathode of the first unidirectional conducting device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
A driver as in claim 4 wherein the first output level amplifier includes a third unidirectional conducting device having an anode and having a cathode connected to the base of the first transistor aNd to the collector of the second transistor; means for connecting the output of the first output level amplifier to one of a plurality of input ports of a load to drive said one input port; and means for connecting the anode to another of the plurality of input ports of said load.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A driver as in claim 4 comprising a fourth unidirectional conducting device having an anode connected to the emitter of the first transistor and a cathode connected to the collector of the second transistor.