The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 18, 1991
Filed:
Sep. 15, 1989
Oscar W Freitas, Portland, ME (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
An ECL cutoff driver circuit for an ECL gate coupled between ECL high and low potential power rails includes a cutoff clamp circuit. The ECL gate with differential signal inputs and at least one output node is coupled for delivering ECL logic output signals of high and low potential levels during operation of the ECL gate in a switching mode. The cutoff driver circuit includes cutoff transistor elements for shifting down the ECL output at least to a maximum specified cutoff potential level below the ECL logic low potential level in a cutoff state. The cutoff clamp circuit is coupled between the ECL high potential power rail and the output node or output nodes for clamping the ECL output at a minimum or lower bound voltage level substantially at the specified cutoff voltage level V.sub.OLZ. This prevents output buffer transistor elements from being completely turned off for faster return of the ECL gate from the cutoff state to operation in the switching mode. The clamp circuit references the clamp voltage level to the ECL high potential power rail and is substantially independent of the current level in the cutoff clamp circuit.