Patent ID: 6522174
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: H03K,H04L

Abstract:
A current mode driver circuit comprising:a pair of differential output nodes; a cascode output circuit coupled between the pair of differential output nodes and a pair of internal cascode nodes; a pair of pre-charge circuits to pre-charge the pair of cascode nodes; a differential pair of input transistors coupled to the pair of internal cascode nodes, the differential pair of input transistors having control nodes coupled to a differential pair of input signal nodes, wherein the pair of pre-charge circuits includes transistors having control nodes coupled to the differential pair of input signal nodes; a tail current transistor coupled between a power supply node and the differential pair of input transistors; and a bias circuit to bias the tail current transistor, the bias circuit including a first transistor with a gate at a fixed potential, and a second transistor diode connected around the first transistor.