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Motorola Corporation

Ben Gilsdorf

Gary W Hoshizaki

James S Caravella

John H Quigley

A circuit and method for reducing a gate voltage of a transmission gate to prevent overvoltage that could damage or affect reliability of the transmission gate. The transmission gate resides in a charge pump circuit (41) coupled to a capacitor for generating a voltage greater than a power supply voltage. A buffer (44,45) receives a control signal and couples to a gate terminal of the transmission gate. The buffer (44,45) includes a power supply terminal that is coupled to a variable voltage reference (43). The variable voltage reference (43) provides a voltage that reduces the gate voltage of the transmission gate when an output voltage of the charge pump circuit reaches a predetermined voltage. The variable voltage reference (43) reduces a voltage range between logic levels provided by the buffer (44,45) to protect the transmission gate from an excessive voltage.

Circuit and method for reducing a gate volage of a transmission gate

A circuit (10) for enhancing logic transitions appearing on a line (34) has been provided. The circuit includes a first comparator (14) for sensing when a voltage on the line exceeds a first level and subsequently pulling the voltage on the line to a first predetermined voltage. The circuit also includes a second comparator (12) for sensing when the voltage on the line falls below a second level and subsequently pulling the voltage on the line to a second predetermined voltage.

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Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Ben Gilsdorf