National Semiconductor Corporation

Mark S Shieu

Ronald C Laugesen

Robert C Dobkin

Robert B Johnson

A comparator amplifier circuit is integrated in MOS form. A sense amplifier section is coupled to a buffer amplifier section to provide an output that changes sharply at a particular voltage input. A compensating amplifier section is coupled between the comparator amplifier and a node in the buffer amplifier so that the voltage sense is independent of integrated circuit manufacturing variables.

MOS on-chip voltage sense amplifier circuit

Plural bootstrap capacitors are coupled to an output stage of a MOSFET driver. A conventional bootstrap driver is preceded by one or more additional bootstrap stages. Each one includes a capacitor, a tri state inverter and a delay section. When the output stage is off all capacitors are discharged. To turn the output stage on, all capacitors, including the output gate capacitance, are charged in parallel. Then each capacitor in turn is caused to pump its charge into the gate of the output stage, with the last capacitor pumping the output stage gate voltage to a level well in excess of the applied power supply voltage.

Multi-bootstrap driver circuit

In a MOS integrated circuit, a voltage level detecting and indicating circuit apparatus is provided. In the apparatus there is provided a MOS integrated circuit means responsive to a change in the magnitude of a voltage in the circuit. In the circuit means there is provided a first node at which occurs a first signal when the magnitude of the voltage is changed to a first predetermined magnitude, said occurrence of said first signal being independent of at least one of a plurality of process variables including threshold voltage, mobility, body effect factor and lateral diffusion within a predetermined range of magnitude of said variable, and a second node at which occurs a second signal when said magnitude of said voltage is changed to a second predetermined magnitude and a third signal when said magnitude of said voltage is changed to the third predetermined magnitude, said occurrence of said second and third signals being dependent on at least one of said plurality of process variables.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Mark S Shieu