Reversable electrically alterable amplifier configurations
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorsDavid L. Taylor, Stephen A. Harris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An amplifier for use as on the output buffer for semiconductor memories including an amorphous element added to a push-pull configuration to allow conversion between push-pull and open collector nonvolatile configurations by electrically altering the impedence of the amorphous element.
Claims11
In a push-pull amplifier having phase splitting means, a first transistor means in an emitter follower configuration and a second transistor means in a common emitter configuration, the improvement comprising:
- amorphous material means in said first transistor means, electrically alterable between high and low impedance states, for converting said amplifier between a push-pull and open collector nonvolatile configurations.
In a semiconductor memory having an output buffer which includes a preamplifier, a phase splitter and an output amplifier, the improvement being said output amplifier which comprises:
- first transistor means in an emitter follower configuration;
- second transistor means in a common emitter configuration;
- and
- amorphous material means in said first transistor means, electrically alterable between high and low impedance states, for converting said output amplifier between push-pull and open collector nonvolatile configurations.
A method of programming an amplifier configuration comprising the steps of:
- connecting a first transistor means in an emitter follower configuration;
- connecting a second transistor means in a common emitter configurations;
- interconnecting said first and second transistor means in a push-pull configuration;
- and
- connecting an amorphous material means, electrically alterable between high and low resistance states, to said first transistor means for causing said amplifier to be in either a push-pull or open collector configuration and being electrically alterable to convert said amplifier to the other of said push-pull or open collector configurations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.