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US5140174A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Symmetric edge true/complement buffer/inverter and method therefor

Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Ltd
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Filing: 1991-01-25
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Granted: 1992-08-18
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Expires: 2011-01-25
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention is directed to a buffer/inverter which generates symmetric and complementary output signals from a single input signal. The device employs four inverters having similar switching speeds. The true output signal is generated by passing the input signal through two inverters. The complement output signal is generated by passing the true output signal through a third inverter, passing the input signal through a fourth inverter and coupling the outputs of the third and fourth inverters.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter Meier
  • 👤 Ken DelGrande

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 14:01
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/15; H03K5/151

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 170 words
A buffer/inverter that receives an input signal and generates first and second output signals which are symmetric and complementary, which buffer/inverter comprises: (a) a first inverter having an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal being connected to receive the input signal; (b) a second inverter having an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal of said second inverter being connected to said output terminal of said first inverter, and said output terminal of said second inverter being connected to produce the first output signal; (c) a third inverter having an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal of said third inverter being connected to said output terminal of said second inverter; (d) a fourth inverter having an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal of said fourth inverter being connected to receive the input signal; and (e) said output terminal of said third inverter and said output terminal of said fourth inverter being coupled together to generate the second output signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 170 words
A buffer/inverter that receives an input signal and generates first and second output signals which are symmetric and complementary, which buffer/inverter comprises: (a) a first inverter having an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal being connected to receive the input signal; (b) a second inverter having an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal of said second inverter being connected to said output terminal of said first inverter, and said output terminal of said second inverter being connected to produce the first output signal; (c) a third inverter having an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal of said third inverter being connected to said output terminal of said second inverter; (d) a fourth inverter having an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal of said fourth inverter being connected to receive the input signal; and (e) said output terminal of said third inverter and said output terminal of said fourth inverter being coupled together to generate the second output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The buffer/inverter of claim 1, wherein said first, second, third and fourth inverters are formed on the same chip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
The buffer/inverter of claim 2, wherein said first, second, third and fourth inverters are of similar switching speeds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
The buffer/inverter of claim 3, wherein said first, second, third and fourth inverters are CMOS devices.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 131 words
A system for generating from an input signal a first output signal and a second output signal which is symmetric and complementary to the first output signal, comprising: (a) a first inverting means for delaying and inverting the input signal so as to generate a first intermediate signal; (b) a second inverting means for delaying and inverting said first intermediate signal so as to generate the first output signal; (c) a third inverting means for delaying and inverting the first output signal so as to generate a second intermediate signal; (d) a fourth inverting means for delaying and inverting the input signal so as to generate a third intermediate signal; and (e) a coupling means for coupling said second and third intermediate signals so as to generate the second output signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 131 words
A system for generating from an input signal a first output signal and a second output signal which is symmetric and complementary to the first output signal, comprising: (a) a first inverting means for delaying and inverting the input signal so as to generate a first intermediate signal; (b) a second inverting means for delaying and inverting said first intermediate signal so as to generate the first output signal; (c) a third inverting means for delaying and inverting the first output signal so as to generate a second intermediate signal; (d) a fourth inverting means for delaying and inverting the input signal so as to generate a third intermediate signal; and (e) a coupling means for coupling said second and third intermediate signals so as to generate the second output signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 5, wherein any of said first, second, third and fourth inverting means is an inverter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 5, wherein any of said first, second, third and fourth inverting means is a NAND gate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 5, wherein any of said first, second, third and fourth inverting means is a NOR gate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 5, wherein any of said first, second, third and fourth inverting means is a AND-OR-invert gate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 5, wherein any of said first, second, third and fourth inverting means is a OR-AND-invert gate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said first, second, third and fourth inverting means are formed on a single chip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said first, second, third and fourth inverting means are CMOS devices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said first, second, third and fourth inverting means have a switching speed which is substantially the same.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said coupling means is an electrical connection between an output of said third inverting means and an output of said fourth inverting means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4074148A Cited
US4149099A Cited
US4130768A Cited
US4529896A Cited
US4547684A Cited
US4783604A Cited
US4950920A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-08-18 1996-02-17 1996-08-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-08-18 2000-02-17 2000-08-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-08-18 2004-02-17 2004-08-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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