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:
May. 22, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 12, 1999
Katsuya Arai, Kyoto, JP;
Shoichi Yoshizaki, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
In an output circuit having an input/output terminal, first and second p-channel MOS transistors are serially connected between a power supply and the input/output terminal. An enable signal and an input signal are supplied to an NAND circuit. The gate of the second p-channel MOS transistor is controlled using the output signal of the NAND circuit, thereby outputting a signal through the input/output terminal. If a voltage of a signal received at the input/output terminal exceeds the power supply voltage, a gate controller turns OFF the first p-channel MOS transistor. Accordingly, even if a signal with a voltage higher than the power supply voltage is received at the input/output terminal, the input signal can be output through the input/output terminal with a reduced delay and without generating unnecessary current inside the output circuit or causing any breakdown in a gate oxide film.