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. 19, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 10, 2000
David P. Morrill, Scarborough, ME (US);
Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, South Portland, ME (US);
Abstract
A variable base drive output circuit that is operational for low-potential power supplies. The output circuit includes a current regulating branch and a base drive branch. A control transistor is logically coupled to an enable signal and an input signal to be propagated. Activation of that control transistor establishes a current path to the base of a bipolar pulldown transistor that is coupled to output. The current regulating branch includes a resistance device in series with current limiting transistors. The resistance device is coupled to the control node of a base current transistor such that when the load on the output node drops, the current to the base of the pulldown transistor also drops. The result is a savings in Icc current for logic LOW signals at the output node. The variable base drive output circuit is operable for low supply potentials.