Patent ID: 6392449
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A comparator circuit that is configurable into a tracking state and a comparison state, the comparator circuit comprising:a regenerative stage with a quiescent current source and a dynamic current source, the quiescent current source being configured to provide a quiescent current to charge a common-source node, the dynamic current source being configured to provide a dynamic current to charge the common-source node, wherein the quiescent current source is configured to be enabled during the tracking and comparison states, and wherein the dynamic current source is configured to be disabled during the tracking state and enabled during the comparison state, the regenerative stage being further configured to receive an input signal and generated in response thereto an intermediate signal during the comparison state having a logic state that is a function of a logic state of the input signal, the regenerative stage generating the intermediate signal at a rate that is dependent on the current provided to the common-source node; and an output latch stage coupled to receive the intermediate signal from the regenerative stage, wherein during the comparison state the output latch stage is configured to generate an output signal having a logic state that is a function of the logic state of the intermediate signal.