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US 7,405,620 B2Granted
Differential amplifier and method
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsHayden C. Cranford, Jr., Todd M. Rasmus
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a differential amplifier on a substrate which has a greater tolerance for applied voltages and a chip so formed. The differential amplifier circuit on a substrate has additional transistors connected with resistors which form a voltage divider, thereby sharing the voltage stress which may be applied and accommodating enhanced capabilities for the differential amplifier.
Claims6
Method comprising:
- forming on a suitable substrate a complex of electrical circuit components including transistors and resistors;
- the forming including forming a pattern of transistors into a differential amplifier having:
- a first pair of transistors receiving input voltages;
- two pairs of low Vt (LVT) transistors coupled to the first pair of transistors, each pair having one transistor coupled in series with one transistor of the other pair;
- and
- four resistors coupled to the two pairs of LVT transistors in voltage dividing array;
- wherein one of said resistors is connected between gates of a series connected pair of said Low Voltage Transistors and wherein other of said resistors is connected between gates of other series connected pair of said Low Voltage Transistors;
- the voltage dividing array of resistors protecting the LVT transistors against excessive voltage stress during operation of the differential amplifier.
5 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a substrate;
- a complex of electrical circuit components formed on said substrate and defining a differential amplifier, said components including:
- a first pair of transistors receiving input voltages;
- two pairs of low Vt (LVT) transistors coupled to the first pair of transistors, each pair having one transistor coupled in series with one transistor of the other pair;
- and
- four resistors coupled to the two pairs of LVT transistors in voltage dividing array;
- wherein one of said resistors is connected between gates of a series connected pair of said Low Voltage Transistors and wherein other of said resistors is connected between gates of other series connected pair of said Low Voltage Transistors;
- the voltage dividing array of resistors protecting the LVT transistors against excessive voltage stress during operation of the differential amplifier.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.