Integrated circuit output buffers having feedback switches therein for reducing simultaneous switching noise and improving impedance matching characteristics

Abstract

Integrated circuit output buffers include pull-down an pull-up circuits and a control circuit that utilizes a preferred feedback circuit to facilitate a reduction in simultaneous-switching noise during pull-down and pull-up operations and also improve the impedance matching characteristics of the output buffers during DC conditions. The preferred feedback circuit also limits the degree to which external noise can influence operation of the control circuit. Each of the pull-down and pull-up circuits may comprise a respective pair of primary and secondary transistors. The pull-down circuit is preferably configured so that the primary and secondary pull-down transistors (e.g., NMOS transistors) are electrically coupled to an output signal line (through an ESD protection resistor) and a first reference signal line (e.g., Vss). The control circuit is designed to activate the pull-down circuit by turning on both the primary and secondary pull-down transistors during a leading portion of the pull-down time interval and by turning off the secondary pull-down transistor during a trailing portion of the pull-down time interval using a first feedback switch that is electrically coupled in series between the output signal line and a gate electrode of the secondary pull-down transistor so that a signal representing a potential of said output signal line can be passed through the first feedback switch to the gate electrode of the secondary pull-down transistor.