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:
Oct. 19, 1999
Filed:
May. 19, 1997
Charles D Waggoner, Richardson, TX (US);
STMicroelectronics, Inc., Carrollton, TX (US);
Abstract
A tri-state I/O buffer and a method of inhibiting current to an I/O buffer arranged to be powered by a supply voltage and to drive an output terminal are provided. The I/O buffer preferably has an output driving circuit connected to the supply voltage for driving the output terminal and includes a first plurality of transistors defining an isolated floating well circuit for operatively connecting the output terminal to the supply voltage and a second plurality of transistors defining a pull-down circuit for operatively connecting the output terminal to ground. An input control circuit is connected to the output driving circuit and the supply voltage, and is arranged to receive a buffer input signal for controlling the buffer input signal to the output driving circuit. A bias controlling circuit is connected to the isolated floating well circuit and the supply voltage, and is arranged to receive a tri-state enabling signal and the buffer input signal for controlling a biasing signal to the floating well circuit.