Patent ID: 6407582
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
An enhanced off-chip driver providing high speed output with voltage level shift comprising:a predriver circuit performing level shifting of an on chip generated signal from a lower supply voltage level to a higher supply voltage level; an enhancement circuit interposed between the predriver circuit and an output stage, the enhancement circuit speeding up switching times of the signals input to the output stage, the enhancement circuit comprising first and second complementary transistors connected in cascode between the higher supply voltage level and ground and a third transistor connected between an output node of the predriver circuit and the higher supply voltage level, a gate of the first transistor being connected to said output node and a gate of the third transistor being connected to a common node between the first and second complementary transistors so that a rising signal from the predriver circuit turns the first transistor on causing the third transistor to turn on, pulling the output of the predriver circuit rapidly to the higher supply voltage level; and means responsive to the rising input signal to turn off the second transistor preventing current feed through the first and second complementary transistors.