Bootstrap circuit
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorJonathan Herman Fischer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a bootstrap circuit comprises a pair of drivers coupled together so as to form a bootstrap node and a bipolar transistor coupled to the bootstrap node. A method of using a bipolar transistor in such a bootstrap circuit comprises the step of applying a voltage signal to the input ports of the drivers, the voltage signal having a magnitude sufficient to activate the bipolar transistor.
Claims11
An integrated circuit comprising a bootstrap circuit including:
- at least a pair of drivers and one capacitor coupled in a configuration forming a bootstrap node, each of said drivers having an input port;
- and
- a bipolar transistor having its emitter coupled to said node and having its base coupled to the input port of one of said drivers.
A bootstrap circuit comprising:
- at least two drivers having respective output ports coupled together via a capacitor to provide a bootstrap node on one side of said capacitor, each of said drivers also having an input port;
- one of said drivers having its output port on the bootstrap node side of the capacitor including an output stage comprising a MOS transistor;
- and
- a bipolar transistor having its base coupled to the input port of said one of said drivers and its emitter coupled to the bootstrap node.
A bootstrap circuit comprising:
- at least a pair of drivers and one capacitor coupled in a configuration forming a bootstrap node, each of said drivers also having an input port;
- a transistor coupled to the bootstrap node;
- and
- a clamping circuit coupled to said transistor.
A method of using a bipolar transistor in a bootstrap circuit comprising at least two drivers and at least one capacitor coupled in a configuration forming a bootstrap node, each of said drivers also having an input port;
- the bipolar transistor having its emitter coupled to the bootstrap node and its base coupled to the input port of one of said drivers;
- said method comprising the step of applying a first voltage signal to said input port of one of said drivers, said first voltage signal having a sufficient magnitude for activating the bipolar transistor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.