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US 9,093,992 B1Granted
Current-boosting output stage with short-circuit protection
AssigneeMaxim Integrated Products, Inc.
InventorGabriel E. Tanase
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit is provided for both boosting output current and providing short circuit protection in an integrated circuit such as an operational amplifier. In an embodiment, a current-boosting output stage with short-circuit protection includes six current sources and six transistors, where the the boosting of output current is achieved using positive feedback and the short circuit protection is achieved using negative feedback.
Claims16
A current-boosting output stage with short-circuit protection comprising:
- a first current source having a first current source output;
- a second current source having a second current source output;
- a third current source having an input coupled to the second current source output and having a third current source output;
- a fourth current source having an input coupled to the first current source output and having a fourth current source output;
- a fifth current source having an input coupled to the third current source output and having a fifth current source output;
- a sixth current source having an input coupled to the fourth current source output;
- a first transistor coupled to the fifth current source output and having a first base coupled to an input node;
- a second transistor coupled to the sixth current source output and having a second base coupled to the input node;
- a third transistor that is coupled to and smaller than the first transistor and having a third base coupled to the fifth current source output;
- a fourth transistor that is coupled to and smaller than the second transistor and having a fourth base coupled to the sixth current source output;
- a fifth transistor that is larger than the third transistor and having a fifth base coupled to the fifth current source output;
- and
- a sixth transistor that is larger than the fourth transistor and having a sixth base coupled to the sixth current source output;
- wherein the fifth transistor is larger than the first transistor and the sixth transistor is larger than the second transistor;
- wherein the third transistor and the fifth transistor comprise a first mirrored transistor pair coupled to an output node and the fourth transistor and the sixth transistor comprise a second mirrored transistor pair coupled to the output node;
- and
- wherein the first transistor, the second transistor, the third transistor, the fourth transistor, the fifth transistor and the sixth transistor are arranged in a diamond-buffer configuration.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.