Cmos differential input buffer with source-follower input clamps

Abstract

A differential input buffer shows reduced sensitivity to input conditions such as input-trace loading and upstream driver characteristics. Varying input conditions can be measured as differences in amplitude, slew rate, and common-mode offset. Wide input-voltage swings are clamped to a limited voltage range by an input clamp circuit that uses source followers to drive p-channel clamp transistors that turn off when the input voltage is too low. A voltage divider then sets the lowest voltage input to a differential stage. The differential stage receives the clamped inputs and has two tail current sinks to reduce delay sensitivity to charging and discharging of tail capacitances. A middle voltage is applied to transistors opposite the differential transistors that receive the clamped input voltages. A bias voltage for the tail current sinks is generated by mirroring currents and setting a gate voltage by injecting and removing a same bias current from a resistor.