US5144162A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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High speed signal driving scheme
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1990-07-13
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Granted: 1992-09-01
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Expires: 2010-07-13
Abstract
Abstract A high speed signal driving scheme is disclosed which reduces timing delays associated with a signal line by limiting the voltage transition on the signal line from its precharged voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiep V. Tran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:07
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/01; H03K19/017; H03K19/01728; H03K19/0008; H03K19/0013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A signal driver which comprises: a driver circuit; a signal line connected to said driver circuit; a precharge circuit, said precharge circuit being operable to precharge said signal line to a predetermined voltage which is less than the supply voltage to said driver and said precharge circuit; and a receiver circuit, said receiver circuit being operable to output logic high and logic low voltage levels from said precharged signal line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A signal driver which comprises: a driver circuit; a signal line connected to said driver circuit; a precharge circuit, said precharge circuit being operable to precharge said signal line to a predetermined voltage which is less than the supply voltage to said driver and said precharge circuit; and a receiver circuit, said receiver circuit being operable to output logic high and logic low voltage levels from said precharged signal line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A signal driver as recited in claim 1 wherein said driver circuit is a complementary signal driver and said receiver circuit is a differential signal receiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A signal driver as recited in claim 2 wherein said driver circuit is a tri-state driver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A signal driver as recited in claim 2 wherein said receiver circuit is a cascoded sensing amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A signal driver as recited in claim 2 wherein said receiver circuit is capable of outputting a rail to rail voltage level equal to the supply voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A signal driver as recited in claim 2 wherein said receiver circuit comprises a pair of field effect transistors with their gates cross coupled to their sources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A signal driver as recited in claim 6 wherein said receiver circuit comprises a complementary pair of circuits which operates in complementary fashion, each complementary pair includes a pair of field effect transistors with their gates cross coupled to their sources.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A signal driver as recited in claim 2 wherein said predetermined voltage is substantially one half of said supply voltage to the other circuits.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A signal driver as recited in claim 2 wherein said receiver circuit further comprises a pair of field effect transistors which each receive a common reference signal at their gates.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A signal driver as recited in claim 1 wherein said precharge circuit includes a precharge transistor and wherein said precharge circuit is operable to charge a second signal line, said signal driver being operable to bring a selected signal line to a predetermined voltage level while connecting the remaining signal line to a predetermined precharge voltage through said precharge transistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A signal driver as recited in claim 1 which is operable to disconnect said signal line from said precharge circuit charging so as to attain a floating voltage level on said signal line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4763023A
Cited
US4983860A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-01 | 1996-03-02 | 1996-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-01 | 2000-03-02 | 2000-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-01 | 2004-03-02 | 2004-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |