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:
Nov. 06, 2007
Filed:
May. 30, 2006
Qadeer A. Khan, New Delhi, IN;
Divya Tripathi, Bhopal, IN;
Qadeer A. Khan, New Delhi, IN;
Divya Tripathi, Bhopal, IN;
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
A transmission line driver circuit that operates at a first voltage level is fabricated using devices that operate at a second, lower voltage level. The driver circuit includes a ramp generator that receives a speed signal and a data signal and generates a charge ramp signal and a discharge ramp signal. A pair of series connected source follower transistors have their gates connected to respective charge and discharge signal outputs of the ramp generator. The driver circuit output signal is generated at an output node between the sources of the NMOS and PMOS source follower transistors. A charge_ls generator circuit provides a charge_ls signal and a discharge_ls generator circuit provides a discharge_ls signal. A pair of protection transistors includes a first NMOS protection transistor and a first PMOS protection transistor, which are connected in series with respective ones of the source follower transistors, and their gates are connected to respective ones of the charge and discharge signals. The pair of protection transistors prevents the voltage across the NMOS and PMOS source follower transistors from exceeding their breakdown voltages.