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. 09, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 19, 1999
Kenneth Smetana, San Diego, CA (US);
Applied Micro Circuits Corporation, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
An integrated circuit device in which the magnitude of the output voltage swings of outputs in a circuit having emitter coupled output transistors is programmable includes a variable bias generator that produces a bias voltage. The bias voltage is connected to the base of a current source transistor in order to program the magnitude of the output voltage swings. An electrical connection area of the integrated circuit device is connected to the bias voltage generator. An external programming circuit can be connected to the electrical connection area in order to set the bias voltage, to thereby program the desired magnitude of the output voltage swings. The external programming circuit typically can be a resistance or an external voltage source. The variable bias generator can be any of a number of circuits that produce a bias voltage that is dependent upon the external programming circuit connected to the electrical connection area, and that produce a default bias voltage if no external programming circuit is connected to the electrical connection area. Another aspect of the invention is a method for programming the magnitude of the output voltage swings in an integrated circuit device having emitter coupled output transistors. The invention provides the ability to program the magnitude of the output voltage swings of the outputs to increase the magnitude of the output voltage swings, or alternatively, to decrease the magnitude of the output voltage swings thereby advantageously saving power and preventing unnecessary heat generation.