# US 5,329,177 A · Output circuit including current mirror circuits > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,329,177 A - Document ID: US5329177A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/051,566 - Filed: 1993-04-26 - Granted: 1994-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 1992-04-27 - Assignees: NEC Corporation - Inventors: Nobutaka Nagai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5329177A ## CPC - H03K 17/162: {without feedback from the output circuit to the control circuit} - H03K 19/00361: {in field effect transistor circuits} - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract The invention provides an output circuit in a semiconductor integrated circuit which comprises an input terminal for receiving input signals controlling output circuits, an output terminal for delivering output signals driving a load device being connected to the output terminal, high and low voltage supply lines for supplying high and low voltage driving the output circuit, a first current mirror circuit on its output stage including a single transistor being connected between the high voltage supply line and the output terminal, a second current mirror circuit on its output stage including a single transistor being connected between the low voltage supply line and the output terminal, a first logic circuit being connected between the input terminal and the first current mirror circuit for receiving input signals from the input terminal for a subsequent controlling of the first current mirror circuit, and a second logic circuit being connected between the input terminal and the second current mirror circuit for receiving input signals from the input terminal for a subsequent controlling of the second current mirror circuit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An output circuit in a semiconductor integrated circuit comprising: an input terminal for receiving input signals controlling output circuits; an output terminal for delivering output signals driving a load device being connected to said output terminal; high and low voltage supply lines for supplying high and low voltage driving said output circuit; a first current mirror circuit on its output stage including a single transistor being connected between said high voltage supply line and said output terminal; a second current mirror circuit on its output stage including a single transistor being connected between said low voltage supply line and said output terminal; a first logic circuit being connected between said input terminal and said first current mirror circuit for receiving input signals from said input terminal for a subsequent controlling of said first current mirror circuit; and a second logic circuit being connected between said input terminal and said second current mirror circuit for receiving input signals from said input terminal for a subsequent controlling of said second current mirror circuit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The output circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transistors on said output stage in said first and second current mirror circuits are p-type and n-type MOS field effect transistors respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The output circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first current mirror circuit comprises: a first p-type MOS field effect transistor arranged on said output stage, said first transistor being connected between said high voltage supply line and said output terminal at its source and drain respectively; a second p-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its gate and source to a gate and said source of said first transistor respectively, said second transistor having a short connection between its gate and drain; and a third n-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its drain to said drain of said second transistor, said third transistor being grounded at its source, said first logic circuit comprises: a fourth p-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its source and drain to said source and a drain of said second transistor respectively; a first invertor being connected at its input side to said input terminal, said first invertor being connected at its output side to a gate of said fourth transistor; and a second invertor being connected at its input side to said input terminal, said second invertor being connected at its output side to a gate of said third transistor in said current mirror circuit and said second invertor being biased by a constant voltage supply line and a ground line, said second current mirror circuit comprises: a fifth n-type MOS field effect transistor arranged on said output stage, said fifth transistor being connected between a low voltage supply line taking a ground potential and said output terminal through its source and drain respectively; a sixth n-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its gate and source to a gate and said source of said fifth transistor respectively, said sixth transistor having a short connection between its gate and drain; and a seventh p-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its drain to said drain of said sixth transistor, said seventh transistor being connected at its source to said high voltage supply line, said second logic circuit comprises: an eighth n-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its source and drain to said source and a drain of said sixth transistor respectively; a third invertor being connected at its input side to said input terminal, said third invertor being connected at its output side to a gate of said eighth transistor; and a fourth invertor being connected at its input side to said input terminal, said fourth invertor being connected at its output side to a gate of said seventh transistor in said current mirror circuit and said fourth invertor being biased by said high voltage supply line and a ground line. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The output circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said high voltage supply line supplies a voltage of 10 V to said output circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The output circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first current mirror circuit comprises: a first p-type MOS field effect transistor arranged on said output stage, said first transistor being connected between said high voltage supply line and said output terminal at its source and drain respectively; a second p-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its gate and source to a gate and said source of said first transistor respectively, said second transistor having a short connection between its gate and drain; and a third n-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its drain to said drain of said second transistor, said third transistor being grounded at its source, said first logic circuit comprises: a fourth p-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its source and drain to said source and a drain of said second transistor respectively; a first invertor being connected at its input side to said input terminal, said first invertor being connected at its output side to a gate of said fourth transistor; and a second invertor being connected at its input side to said input terminal, said second invertor being connected at its output side to a gate of said third transistor in said current mirror circuit and said second invertor being biased by a constant voltage supply line and a ground line, said second current mirror circuit comprises: a fifth n-type MOS field effect transistor arranged on said output stage, said fifth transistor being connected between a low voltage supply line taking an negative potential and said output terminal through its source and drain respectively; a sixth n-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its gate and source to a gate and said source of said fifth transistor respectively, said sixth transistor having a short connection between its gate and drain; and a seventh p-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its drain to said drain of said sixth transistor, said seventh transistor being connected at its source to a positive voltage supply line, said second logic circuit comprises: an eighth n-type MOS field effect transistor being connected at its source and drain to said source and a drain of said sixth transistor respectively; a third invertor being connected at its input side to said input terminal, said third invertor being connected at its output side to a gate of said eighth transistor; and a fourth invertor being connected at its input side to said input terminal, said fourth invertor being connected at its output side to a gate of said seventh transistor in said current mirror circuit and said fourth invertor being biased by said positive voltage supply line and said positive voltage supply line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The output circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said high voltage supply line supplies a positive voltage of 10 V, said low voltage supply line supplies an negative voltage of -10 V, and said positive voltage supply line supplies a positive voltage of 5 V.