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. 15, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 28, 2000
Mark A. Burns, McKinney, TX (US);
Ben D. Hodge, Dallas, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A clipping circuit ( ) for clipping an input signal to a level corresponding to a regulated power supply voltage (AVDD). The clipping circuit ( ) includes a current mirror-like arrangement having a reference transistor ( ) and a mirror transistor ( ) The input signal (BDATA) is received at the drain of the mirror transistor ( ), with the source of the mirror transistor ( ) producing the output signal (CLPBDATA). The reference transistor ( ) receives a bias current (I ) that is mirrored by the mirror transistor ( ) to limit the pull-up drive of the mirror transistor ( ) in pulling up the output (CLPBDATA). Disclosed embodiments of the clipping circuit ( ″) include a current source ( ) for producing a DC bias current (I ), and a charge pump ( ) for producing a transient bias current (IPUMP).