Cmos strobed comparator

Abstract

An all CMOS voltage comparator circuit which incorporates a strobed latch. A strobe signal precharges the entire circuit to a known state which is independent of the input voltages and in which substantially no static current is drawn. Under static conditions after the circuit has been strobed, the source coupled pair is virtually disconnected from the supply voltage(s) and draws almost no current, as well. When the circuit is strobed, a source coupled FET pair amplifies the differential input signal, with positive feedback provided through a pair of cross coupled PMOS load transistors, as well as cross coupled NMOS cascode transistors. The source coupled pair feeds a pair of output buffers, or drivers, whose FETs are sized such that a 'low' voltage level is generated on both outputs until the source-coupled pair resolves the input voltage difference (i.e., the differential input voltage exceeds the switching threshold). At that time, the outputs become complementary digital levels and are usable.