Output driver with static and transient parts

Claim 1

In a large scale integrated circuit formed by a predetermined process, said circuit including at least one output driver comprising: static means coupled to a driver input of said output driver for generating an output of said output driver as a function of said driver input; level detection means coupled to said static means for monitoring said static means and generating first and second signals indicating that said output is beginning to change from a first logic level to a second logic level and from said second logic level to said first logic level; transient means coupled to said static means and said level detection means operating substantially only during transitions i) from said first logic level to said second logic level for assisting the output of said static means to reach the second logic level and ii) from said second logic level to said first logic level for assisting the output of said static means to reach the first logic level and thereby reduce a rate of change of current flowing through said output driver; wherein said static means comprises: a P transistor driver coupled to an N transistor driver; a first predriver having an input coupled to said driver input and having an output coupled to said P transistor driver and a second predriver having an input coupled to said driver input and having an output coupled to said N transistor driver.