Patent ID: 6127876
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A circuit for reducing positive ground bounce effects on an integrated circuit having at least one integrated circuit transistor that has reduced conduction when exposed to a positive ground bounce potential, comprising:circuitry responsive to an increase in ground potential to produce a drive current comprising a ground bounce sense transistor of same conductivity type as said integrated circuit transistor and a circuit to bias said ground bounce sense transistor normally into conduction to pass a control current and to allow said ground bounce sense transistor to have reduced conduction when exposed to a positive ground bounce potential so as to produce said drive current;and circuitry for applying said drive current to said at least one integrated circuit transistor to oppose said reduced conduction comprising a diode coupled to direct said drive current into said at least one integrated circuit transistor;wherein said positive ground bounce would be of sufficient magnitude to switch said integrated circuit transistor off, and wherein said circuitry responsive to an increase in ground potential to produce a drive current produces a current of magnitude sufficient to prevent said integrated circuit transistor from switching off.