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US 5,329,186 AGranted
CMOS bootstrapped output driver method and circuit
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsGlen Hush, Mark R. Thomann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An output driver circuit of a DRAM is wired in a push-pull arrangement. A CMOS transistor arrangement provides a strong output signal. This transistor arrangement comprises the pull-up transistor circuit of the push-pull arrangement. A bootstrap circuit gates the NMOS of the CMOS causing an incremental increase in CMOS drain current.
Claims13
An output driver circuit, comprising:
- a) an output node;
- b) a supply node, connectable to a supply potential;
- c) an initial switching device operatively interposed between said supply node and said output node;
- d) a bootstrap circuit for providing a bootstrap potential having at least two incremental potentials, said initial switching device responsive, at a control input, to said incremental potentials, such that a potential of said output node is capable of being driven toward the supply potential when said initial switching device is actuated by said bootstrap potential, a bootstrap current through said initial switching device having at least two incremental currents corresponding to said two incremental potentials;
- and
- e) a series switching device serially connected to said initial switching device and in electrical communication with said supply node, said series switching device being actuated in conjunction with said initial switching device being actuated in order to drive said potential of said output node toward the supply potential when said supply node is coupled to the supply potential.
3 more elements
A method of driving a potential to an output node, comprising:
- a) electrically interposing an initial switching device between a supply node, having a supply potential, and an output node;
- b) actuating said initial switching device with a first signal;
- c) conducting a first current between said supply node and said output node through said initial switching device;
- d) actuating said initial switching device with a second signal having a potential different than said first signal;
- e) conducting a second current between said supply node and said output node through said initial switching device, said second current being different than said first current;
- and
- f) actuating a series switching device in conjunction with said actuating of said initial switching device, said series switching device thereby conducting said first and second currents in conjunction with said initial switching device conducting said first and second currents.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.