Flip-flop accompanied by two current switches, one having a smaller current sink capability than the other

In combination, a flip-flop circuit residing in one of a quiescent state in which direct current conduction is eliminated in said flip-flop circuit and an activated state, said flip-flop including first and second nodes, first and second field-effect transistors cross-coupled to each other at said first and second nodes;

• a first current switching circuit connected to said first node and having an input terminal for receiving an input signal;
• a second current switching circuit connected to said second node and having a control terminal connected to said first node and further having an activation terminal for receiving an activation signal, said second switching circuit having a smaller current sinking capability than said first switching circuit;
• means for switching said flip-flop circuit from said quiescent state to said activated state in response to said activation signal;
• means for precharging said first and second nodes to first and second potentials sufficient in amplitude to cause said first and second transistors to be in their conductive state, respectively, during said quiescent state, said first potential being higher than said second potential;
• whereby said first node voltage becomes opposite in its digital level to said input signal and said second node voltage becomes of substantially the same digital level as said input signal when said flip-flop circuit is switched to said activated state by said switching means.

A decoder circuit comprising an output node;

• input terminals receiving a plurality of input signals;
• a plurality of field-effect transistors connected in parallel between said output node and a reference potential, control gates of said transistors being coupled with said input terminals;
• a flip-flop circuit having a quiescent state in which direct current paths are eliminated in said flip-flop circuit and an activated state and further having a first node directly connected to said output node and a second node;
• a current switching circuit connected to said second node, said current switching circuit having a control terminal connected to said first node and an activation terminal for receiving an activation signal, said switching circuit having a smaller current sinking capability than said transistors;
• means for switching said flip-flop circuit from said quiescent state to activated state in response to said activation signal;
• means for precharging said first and second potentials, respectively, during said quiescent state of said flip-flop circuit, said first potential being higher than said second potential;
• whereby said output node directly connected to said first node becomes said reference potential when at least one of said transistors becomes the conductive state at the same time that said flip-flop circuit is switched to said activated state by said switching means.