Integrated circuit to reduce switching noise

Abstract

A transistor (14) having a plurality of sub-transistors (29a-f) includes a voltage controlling device (45). The voltage controlling device induces a current through an elongated gate (24) producing a voltage drop across the elongated gate (24) by providing a path between the gate and ground (32). The voltage drop across the elongated gate (24) sequentially reduces the gate voltage present at each of the sub-transistors (29a-f), thereby reducing the amount of current which the sub-transistors (29a-f) can conduct. The voltage controlling circuit (45) gradually reduces the current through the gate (24), thereby increasing the amount of current flowing through the sub-transistors (29a-f). The limiting of current through the output transistors (29a-f) for a predetermined time interval reduces the generation of output noise by controlling the rate at which current is changing in that output.