Output stage for electronic devices integrated on a semiconductor substrate, in particular for high frequency applications and corresponding method

An output stage for an electronic circuit between a supply terminal receiving a first reference voltage and a reference terminal being maintained at a second reference voltage, the output stage comprising:

• at least one input terminal to receive an input signal;
• an output terminal to be coupled to an external load;
• a pre-buffer coupled to said at least one input terminal and comprising an enable terminal to receive a general enable signal and at least one first output terminal for supplying a first control signal;
• an output buffer comprising at least one first transistor between the supply terminal and said output terminal, and a control terminal coupled to said at least one first output terminal of said pre-buffer for receiving the first control signal;
• and
• at least one first tracking circuit between the supply terminal and said at least one first output terminal of said pre-buffer, said at least one first tracking circuit comprising a first intermediate node, a switch activated by a first activation signal during at least one transient of said at least one first transistor, and a first capacitor between the supply terminal and said first intermediate node, said first intermediate node to be coupled to said at least one first output terminal of said pre-buffer by way of said switch, thereby reconstructing a noise of the first reference voltage.

An electronic device comprising:

• a supply terminal receiving a first reference voltage;
• a reference terminal being maintained at a second reference voltage;
• and
• an output stage between said supply terminal and said reference terminal and comprising
• at least one input terminal to receive an input signal,
• an output terminal to be coupled to an external load,
• a pre-buffer coupled to said at least one input terminal and comprising an enable terminal to receive a general enable signal and at least one first output terminal for supplying a first control signal,
• an output buffer comprising at least one first transistor between the supply terminal and said output terminal, and a control terminal coupled to said at least one first output terminal of said pre-buffer for receiving the first control signal, and
• at least one first tracking circuit between the supply terminal and said at least one first output terminal of said pre-buffer, said at least one first tracking circuit comprising a first intermediate node, a switch activated by a first activation signal during at least one transient of said at least one first transistor, and a first capacitor between the supply terminal and said first intermediate node, said first intermediate node to be coupled to said at least one first output terminal of said pre-buffer by way of said switch, thereby reconstructing a noise of the first reference voltage.

A method for driving an output stage for an electronic circuit between a supply terminal receiving a first reference voltage and a reference terminal being maintained at a second reference voltage, the output stage comprising at least one input terminal to receive an input signal, an output terminal to be coupled to an external load, a pre-buffer to be coupled to the at least one input terminal and comprising an enable terminal receiving a general enable signal and at least one first output terminal for supplying a first control signal, an output buffer comprising at least one first transistor between the supply terminal and the output terminal, and having a control terminal coupled to the at least one first output terminal of the pre-buffer for receiving the first control signal, and at least one first tracking circuit between the supply terminal and the at least one first output terminal of the pre-buffer, the at least one first tracking circuit having a first capacitor between the supply terminal and a first intermediate node, the first intermediate node to be coupled to the at least one first output terminal of the pre-buffer by a switch activated by a first activation signal, the method comprising:

• activating the at least one first transistor of the output buffer to generate the corresponding first control signal on the at least one first output terminal of the pre-buffer;
• and
• replicating, at least in a transient, the first reference voltage from the supply terminal on the control terminal of the at least one first transistor by at least reconstructing a noise present in the first reference voltage.