Buffer inverter circuit with adaptive bias

An integrated circuit buffer inverter is created by cascading an emitter follower stage with a common emitter stage. Both stages include constant collector current loads. The emitter follower stage is adaptively biased from a current mirror that is driven from the collector of the emitter follower for the purpose of maximizing bipolar drive to the common emitter stage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to linear integrated circuit (IC) structures. Where a 
circuit function requires a buffer amplifier having high voltage gain and 
high input impedance, a combination of a common emitter stage driven from 
an emitter follower stage is employed. This conventional configuration 
when implemented in the usual way has several drawbacks. The common 
emitter transistor ordinarily has its base returned to its emitter by way 
of a resistor. If the resistor value is increased its pull down capability 
is compromised. If it is made too small the input stage drive capability 
is compromised. Thus, the resistor value must be selected as a trade off 
between the available drive and the output stage base pull down. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the invention to provide a buffer inverter amplifier in 
which the input stage adapts its operating level according to the level of 
conduction of the output stage. 
It is a further object of the invention to bias an emitter follower, driver 
stage as a function of the current in a common emitter output stage so 
that the available drive (both sink and source) to the output stage is 
maximized. 
These and other objects are achieved in a circuit configured as follows. A 
common emitter output transistor stage has its collector returned to the 
supply by means of a constant current drive so as to achieve high voltage 
gain. Its base is driven from an emitter follower to provide a high input 
impedance. The emitter follower has a constant current device coupled in 
series between its collector and the supply. The collector of the emitter 
follower is diode coupled to a current mirror input, the output of which 
is coupled to the base of the common emitter output stage. If the current 
mirror has unity gain the circuit threshold voltage is 2 V.sub.BE and the 
emitter follower collector is clamped at 2 V.sub.BE. The output stage 
maximum base current drive, as well as the maximum base current pulldown, 
is equal to the current value of the device in the collector of the 
emitter follower. Since there is no pull down resistor there is no design 
compromise.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
In the schematic diagram of FIG. 1 a common inverting amplifier buffer is 
shown. The circuit operates from a V.sub.CC power supply connected + to 
terminal 10 and - to ground terminal 11. The output at terminal 12 is 
taken from common emitter transistor 13. Emitter follower transistor 14, 
which operates at high input impedance, is used to drive the base of 
transistor 13 and is in turn driven from input terminal 15. Resistor 16 
returns the base of transistor 13 to its emitter and acts as a pull down 
element. Current source 17 supplies I.sub.2 to the collector of transistor 
13 thus making it a high gain inverting amplifier stage. 
Current source 18 supplies I.sub.1 to the collector of emitter follower 
transistor 14. When transistor 14 is biased full on its maximum current is 
I.sub.1 which flows in part into the base of transistor 13. The remainder 
flows in resistor 16. The base drive I.sub.BMAX =I.sub.1 -(V.sub.BE13 
/R.sub.16) where V.sub.BE13 is the base to emitter voltage of transistor 
13 and R.sub.16 is the resistance of resistor 16. Thus the current flowing 
in resistor 16 is parasitic in that it does not contribute to the base 
drive. When transistor 14 is turned off resistor 16 will pull the base of 
transistor 13 low so as to turn it off and the maximum pull down current, 
I.sub.PD =(V.sub.BE13 /R.sub.16). It can be seen that in order to enhance 
pull down resistor 16 should be made as small as possible but this 
increases the parasitic part of the base drive current for turn on. 
Therefore, the value of resistor 16 must be a compromise. 
Transistor 19 is an optional device which when used requires a voltage 
source 20 to operate. If transistor 14 is turned off or conducts less than 
I.sub.1 without transistor 19, source 18 will go into saturation which can 
create problems for the bias circuitry of source 18. Transistor 19 
prevents this by providing an alternate path for I.sub.1 when transistor 
14 is off. Voltage source 20 provides a V.sub.BE of the base of transistor 
19 so that its emitter will clamp the collector of transistor 14 at 2 
V.sub.BE. Thus, when transistor 14 is off its collector will rise only to 
2 V.sub.BE and I.sub.1 is shunted to ground so that source 18 will not 
saturate. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the circuit of the invention. Where the 
elements are the same as those of FIG. 1 the same numbers are used. 
The output stage, which is common emitter transistor 13, with its load 17, 
is the same as FIG. 1 and is driven by emitter follower transistor 14. 
Resistor 16 has been eliminated and replaced by current mirror 21. The 
current mirror input is coupled via diode 22 to the collector of 
transistor 14. Current mirror 21 is composed of diode connected transistor 
23 and transistor 24. In the preferred embodiment the size of diode 23 is 
made equal to the size of transistor 24 so that the current mirror has 
unity gain. Under this condition the circuit threshold is set at the input 
condition where transistor 14 conducts I.sub.1/2. The same current will 
flow in diodes 22 and 23 and hence in transistor 24. This means that zero 
current is available for the base of transistor 13. If the input at 
terminal 15 rises, reflecting an increase in the conduction of transistor 
13 due to loading at terminal 12, the conduction of transistor 14 
increases so that less current will flow in diodes 22 and 23 and hence 
transistor 24. The difference will then be forced into the base of 
transistor 13. The maximum drive current will be I.sub.1 which will be 
invoked when transistor 14 is sufficiently conductive to overwhelm any 
conduction in transistor 24. On the other hand when the potential at 
terminal 15 drops to where transistor 14 is turned off, I.sub.1 will flow 
in diodes 22 and 23. First the diodes will clamp the potential at the 
collector of transistor 14 to 2 V.sub.BE and at the same time transistor 
24 will pull the base of transistor 13 down with a drive capability of 
I.sub.1. It can be seen that the drive to transistor 13 is greater for 
both pull up and pull down than it was for FIG. 1. Furthermore, the 
circuit provides clamping so that source 18 cannot saturate. The threshold 
at terminal 15 for conduction in transistor 13 is set by the current 
mirror ratio. For example, with the unity gain preferred, the conduction 
threshold is close to 2 V.sub.BE as described above. If the mirror is made 
to have current gain the threshold is raised and with a current loss, or 
attenuation, the threshold is lowered. This means that the threshold can 
be independently selected by means of a geometry control. In the prior art 
circuit the threshold can be varied by varying the value of resistor 16, 
but its value is already a compromise that is determined by other 
considerations. 
The invention has been described and its relationship to the prior art 
detailed. When a person skilled in the art needs the foregoing, 
alternatives and equivalents, within the spirit and intent of the 
invention, will be apparent. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of 
the invention be limited only by the claims that follow.