Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
In a circuit for use with a decoder, said circuit having a first node and a second node and a stack of transistors connected in series between the first node and the second node, the transistors being individually gated, the improvement comprising: a strobe transistor being positioned at the top of the stack and being coupled to the first node and a third node, said strobe transistor discharging the first node in response to the strobe signal; and a charge restoring transistor coupled to the third node and being gated by the strobing signal, said charge restoring transistor connecting said third node to a power supply, such that said charge restoring transistor charges the third node when said strobe transistor is nonconductive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a circuit for use with a decoder, said circuit having a first node and a second node and a stack of transistors connected in series between the first node and the second node, the transistors being individually gated, the improvement comprising: a strobe transistor being positioned at the top of the stack and being coupled to the first node and a third node, said strobe transistor discharging the first node in response to the strobe signal; and a charge restoring transistor coupled to the third node and being gated by the strobing signal, said charge restoring transistor connecting said third node to a power supply, such that said charge restoring transistor charges the third node when said strobe transistor is nonconductive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said strobe transistor further isolates the first node from the third node when the third node is being discharged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said strobe transistor is positioned between said first node and said second node, such that said strobe transistor is part of the stack of transistors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of said circuits are connected together to form a decoder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said strobe transistor comprises an n-channel device, and said charge restoring transistor comprises a p-channel device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
165 words
A circuit for use with a decoder, said circuit being connected to a strobe signal, said circuit comprising: a charge restoring device having an input and an output, said input being connected to the strobe signal; a pre-charge device having an input and an output, the input of said pre-charge device being connected to the strobe signal in a manner that said pre-charge device becomes conductive when the charge restoring device becomes conductive, wherein said charge restoring gate and said pre-charge device are both either conducting or nonconducting at the same time; a strobing device having an input connected to the strobe signal, said strobing device being coupled between said charge restoring device and said pre-charge device at a first node, said strobing device being in a conducting state when said charge restoring gate and said pre-charge device are in a nonconducting state, and said strobing device being in a nonconducting state when said charge restoring device and pre-charge device are in a conducting state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
165 words
A circuit for use with a decoder, said circuit being connected to a strobe signal, said circuit comprising: a charge restoring device having an input and an output, said input being connected to the strobe signal; a pre-charge device having an input and an output, the input of said pre-charge device being connected to the strobe signal in a manner that said pre-charge device becomes conductive when the charge restoring device becomes conductive, wherein said charge restoring gate and said pre-charge device are both either conducting or nonconducting at the same time; a strobing device having an input connected to the strobe signal, said strobing device being coupled between said charge restoring device and said pre-charge device at a first node, said strobing device being in a conducting state when said charge restoring gate and said pre-charge device are in a nonconducting state, and said strobing device being in a nonconducting state when said charge restoring device and pre-charge device are in a conducting state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
A circuit for use in a decoder, said circuit comprising: a plurality of individually gated transistors, said transistors each accepting a bit of a multi-bit input and being connected in series between a first node and a second node; a strobing transistor being connected to said second node and a third node, said strobing transistor being gated by a strobing signal and storing charge at said third node; a charge restoring transistor being coupled to said second node and being gated by the strobing signal; a pre-charge transistor being coupled to said third node and being gated by the strobing signal; wherein when all of said plurality of individually gated transistors form a path to ground and said second node is at a ground potential, said strobing transistor conducts to discharge said third node to ground, thereby producing an output in a time substantially independent of the number of input transistors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
A circuit for use in a decoder, said circuit comprising: a plurality of individually gated transistors, said transistors each accepting a bit of a multi-bit input and being connected in series between a first node and a second node; a strobing transistor being connected to said second node and a third node, said strobing transistor being gated by a strobing signal and storing charge at said third node; a charge restoring transistor being coupled to said second node and being gated by the strobing signal; a pre-charge transistor being coupled to said third node and being gated by the strobing signal; wherein when all of said plurality of individually gated transistors form a path to ground and said second node is at a ground potential, said strobing transistor conducts to discharge said third node to ground, thereby producing an output in a time substantially independent of the number of input transistors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The circuit as defined in claim 7 wherein a plurality of said circuits are connected together to form a decoder.