Tristate output gate structure particularly for CMOS integrated circuits

Abstract: The tristate output gate structure particularly for CMOS integrated circuits comprises an enable terminal (30) receiving an enable signal and an input terminal (31) receiving an input signal, which connects, through signal switching means (38), an output terminal (32) to a positive power supply terminal or to a negative power supply terminal. The enable terminal can be electrically connected to the gate terminal of a first P-channel transistor (33) through signal inverting means (35,37) and to the gate terminal of a second N-channel transistor (34). The output terminal (32) is electrically connected to the drain terminals of the first and second transistors (33,34). The first and second transistors (33,34) electrically insulate the output terminal (32) from the input terminal (31).

Description: The present invention relates to a tristate output gate structure particularly for CMOS integrated circuits. The output gates of integrated circuits are currently manufactured with various methods which are able to avoid bus-conflict, which can occur on a connecting bus or line shared by various outputs of different integrated circuits, or by various outputs of a single complex integrated circuit. In particular, and as described in greater detail hereinafter, tristate CMOS gates are very suitable for this purpose. Said gates currently have an input the effect whereof on the output is activated by means of a pair of enable channels arranged in input to said gate. Said channels are logically opposite to one another, and each enables a complementary-technology transistor. The output is connected between said two transistors. The use of two enable signals is redundant and is also the source of manufacturing problems ahead of the output gate. Furthermore, in order to have outputs with a logic level which corresponds to the input, pairs of transistors made in the same technology and arranged in series are usually provided. The problem arises, in this case, from the reaction times of the different pairs, one with P-channel transistors, the other with N-channel transistors. A P-channel transistor is intrinsically slower, due to its execution, than an N-channel transistor, dimensions being equal. Thus, in order to make their speeds equal, it is necessary to manufacture P-channel transistors which are larger than N-channel transistors. However, this causes a corresponding increase in parasitic capacitors, which reach values higher than that of the N-channel transistor. This, combined with the intrinsic electric resistance of the P-channel transistor, entails a charge and discharge time constant, given by the product of the resistance and the value of the parasitic capacitor, which is greater than that of an N-channel transistor. This effect is aggravated by the series arrangement of two P-channel transistors, since the time constants are not added but multiplied by one another, causing a quadratic increase in said time constant. Document PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 14, no. 133 (E-0902), 13 March 1990; & JP-A-2 002 206 discloses a tristate output gate structure particularly for CMOS integrated circuits, comprising an enable terminal receiving an enable signal, an input terminal receiving an input signal which connects, through signal switching means, an output terminal to a terminal of a positive power supply or to a terminal of a negative power supply, said enable terminal being electrically connectable to the gate terminal of a first P-channel transistor through signal inverting means and to the gate terminal of a second N-channel transistor, said output terminal being electrically connected to the drain terminals of said first and second transistors, said first and second transistors being suitable for electrically insulating said output terminal from said input terminal. The aim of the present invention is to eliminate or substantially reduce the disadvantages described in known types of tristate gate by providing a tristate output gate structure particularly for CMOS integrated circuits which reduces the enable inputs. Within the scope of the above aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a gate structure which eliminates the series connection of a plurality of P-channel transistors. Another object of the present invention is to provide a gate structure which can be easily integrated in a CMOS integrated circuit. Not least object of the present invention is to provide a gate structure which is relatively easy to manufacture and at competitive costs. This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a tristate NOR logic gate structure and a tristate NAND logic gate structure as defined in the independent claims 1 and 4, respectively. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of an inverting logic gate; figure 2 is a symbolic schematic diagram of an inverting logic gate; figure 3 is a schematic diagram of inverting gates output connections toward a bus; figure 4 is a conceptual diagram of a tristate inverting logic gate; figure 5 is a schematic view of the execution of a tristate inverting logic gate; figures 6 and 7 are schematic views of parasitic capacitive loads of the gate of figure 5; figure 8 is a schematic view of the execution of a tristate inverting output logic gate structure; figure 9 is a view of a tristate inverting logic gate, made with a technology which is complementary to the gate of figure 8; figure 10 is a schematic view of the execution of a tristate NAND logic gate according to the invention; and figure 11 is a schematic view of the execution of a tristate NOR logic gate according to the invention. With reference to figures 1 to 7, the inverting logic gates 1 are executed according to the conceptual diagram illustrated in figure 1. Said gate 1 comprises an input terminal 2 and an output terminal 3 which can be electrically connected respectively to a negative terminal 6 (ground) or to a positive terminal 7 by means of the switches 4 and 5 by the input terminal 2. The operation of said gate is as follows: when a high logic value is present on the input terminal 2, the switch 4 is closed so as to connect the output terminal 3 to the negative voltage 6. Instead, when there is a low logic value on the input terminal 2, the switch 5 is closed, connecting the output terminal 3 to the positive voltage 7. The simultaneous closure of both switches 4 and 5 is impossible, since they are controlled by complementary logic values. Said gates are used to connect logic circuits to bus transmission channels 8, which are essential for the execution of electronic circuits with microprocessors and are furthermore shared by a considerable number of different logic circuits. The sharing of a bus 8 by a plurality of logic circuits, however, entails the possibility of the occurrence of so-called bus-conflict. In this case, as illustrated in figure 3, if an inverting gate 1a transmits a high logic value to the bus 8, while an inverting logic gate 1b transmits a low logic value to the bus 8, the logic value present on the bus 8 assumes an indefinite logic value. This causes bus-conflict. In order to obviate this problem, tristate inverting logic gates have been provided; their conceptual diagram is illustrated in figure 4. The diagram has an input terminal 9 and two enabling terminals 10 and 11. The terminals 10 and 11 simultaneously assume complementary logic values. The input terminal 9 is electrically connected to switches 12 and 13, the terminal 10 is connected to a switch 15 and the terminal 11 is connected to a switch 14. An output terminal 16 is arranged between the switches 14 and 15. The operation of said gate is as follows: when the signals in the terminals 10 and 11 are inactive, i.e. logically low on the terminal 10 and high on the terminal 11, the switches 14 and 15 are open, electrically insulating the output 16, regardless of the value assumed by the input 9. Instead, when the terminals 10 and 11 are active, i.e. logically high on the terminal 10 and low on the terminal 11, the switches 14 and 15 are closed, connecting the terminal 16 to the node 21 or to the ground according to the logic values assumed by the input 9, which, as previously described for the structure illustrated in figure 1, close the switch 14 or the switch 15. Thus said gate has three states, i.e. a high logic value, a low logic value and a state of electric insulation from the communications bus. The conventional execution of the conceptual diagram of figure 4 is the one illustrated in figure 5. Transistors replaces the switches. The gate still has an input terminal 9 which is connected to the gate terminal of an N-channel transistor 17 and to the gate terminal of a P-channel transistor 18. The enable terminals 10 and 11 are respectively connected to the gate terminal of an N-channel transistor and to the gate terminal of a P-channel transistor 20. The transistor 17 has its source terminal connected to the ground and its drain terminal connected to the source terminal of the transistor 19. The drain terminal of the transistor 19 is connected to the drain terminal of the transistor 20 and to the output terminal 16, whereas the source terminal of the transistor 20 is connected to the drain terminal of the transistor 18, the source terminal whereof is connected to the power supply 21. The operation of the real inverting gate is as follows: when the logic values on the terminals 10 and 11 are low and high respectively, the transistors 19 and 20 are off, electrically insulating the output terminal 16 both from the positive power supply 21 and from the ground, regardless of the logic value present on the input 9. By observing the gate from the terminal 16, it can be seen that it has no logic value, but has a high impedance, which insulates the gate from the bus 8 as previously mentioned. If a high logic value and a low logic value are instead present on the terminals 10 and 11 respectively, the transistors 19 and 20 are both on. The logic value of the output 16 is complementary with respect to the logic value of the input 9 due to the action of the transistors 17 and 18. The transistors thus provided are connected in series. The greatest problem in the execution of the gate as illustrated in figure 5 is related to the series of P-channel transistors. Said transistors are intrinsically slower than N-channel transistors of equal dimensions. Transistors in fact do not have the ideal characteristics of ideal switches, i.e. they have a resistance of their own and parasitic capacitors. In the case of P-channel transistors, this problem is aggravated by the fact that they are slower, by a factor comprised between two and three, than N-channel transistors. In order to compensate the above problem said P-channel transistors are made larger, by a factor comprised between two and three, than the corresponding N-channel transistors. This size increase, however, increases the parasitic capacitors of the P-channel transistors. As illustrated in figures 6 and 7, the transistors 18 and 20 are respectively affected by intrinsic parasitic capacitors 22 and 23, as well as by a charging capacitor 24. Figure 7 illustrates the electric circuit which is the equivalent of figure 6. In said figure 7, the transistors are replaced with respective resistors 25 and 26. The charging time constant of each individual transistor is equal to the product of its own resistance and the value of its parasitic capacitor. For a series, the time constant of the series is equal to the product of the time constants of the individual transistors, i.e. is equal to the square of the time constant of the individual transistor. This slows the state change of the transistor even further. In order to improve the characteristics of these gates, contrasting requirements are faced, which can be summarized as follows: to maximize speed: reduction of the number of series transistors when this is possible, and/or enlargement of the transistors; to minimize area: reduction of the number of transistors and/or of series-connected transistors, with a reduction in the area of each individual transistor. In order to cope with the problem in a unitary manner, and also to reduce the number of enable terminals, a tristate output gate structure may be provided which, with reference to figure 8, comprises a terminal 30 for an enable signal, a terminal 31 for an input signal, which connects, by virtue of signal switching means, a terminal for an output signal 32 to a positive power supply terminal or to a negative power supply or ground terminal. The enable terminal 30 is electrically connected to the gate terminal of a first P-channel transistor 33 and is electrically connected to the gate terminal of a second N-channel transistor 34. The output terminal 32 is connected to a node which is constituted by the drain terminals of the first transistor 33 and of the second transistor 34, these last constituting the signal switching means. The transistors 33 and 34 can electrically insulate the output terminal 32. The enable terminal 30 is connected to the gate terminal of a third P-channel transistor 35 the drain terminal whereof is connected to the gate terminal of the first transistor 33. The source terminal of the third transistor 35 is connected to the power supply 36. The enable terminal 30 is furthermore connected to the gate terminal of a fourth N-channel transistor 37. The drain terminal of the fourth transistor 37 is connected to the gate terminal of the first transistor 33 and to the drain terminal of the third transistor 35. The source terminal of the fourth transistor 37 is connected to the input terminal 31, which is connected to the gate terminal of a fifth N-channel transistor 38. The source terminal of the fifth transistor 38 is connected to the ground, whereas the drain terminal of the fifth transistor 38 is connected to the source terminal of the second transistor 34. The operation of this gate is described completely by table 1, wherein X is indicated when a value is of no interest, OFF indicates when a transistor is not on or when an enable signal is not active, ON indicates the condition opposite to OFF, and HI indicates the high-impedance state. In other words, to summarize, when a low logic value (OFF) occurs on the terminal 30, the output terminal 32 has a high impedance. Otherwise, if the terminal 30 has a high logic value (ON), the output terminal 32 has a logic value which is complementary to the logic value of the input terminal 31. From the gate structure illustrated in figure 8 it is possible to obtain, by symmetry, an inverting logic gate structure in complementary technology, which is illustrated in figure 9 and described for the sake of completeness. A tristate inverting logic gate structure comprises a terminal 40 for an enable signal, a terminal 41 for an input signal, which connects, by virtue of signal switching means, a terminal for an output signal 42 to a positive power supply terminal 48 or to a negative power supply or ground terminal. The enable terminal 40 is connected to the gate terminal of a first N-channel transistor 43 and is connected to the gate terminal of a second P-channel transistor 44. The output terminal is connected to the node which is constituted by the drain terminals of the first transistor 43 and of the second transistor 44. The enable terminal 40 is connected to the gate terminal of a third N-channel transistor 45 the source terminal whereof is connected to the ground and the drain terminal whereof is connected to the gate terminal of the first transistor 43. The source terminal of the first transistor 43 is connected to the ground. The enable terminal 40 is also connected to the gate terminal of a fourth P-channel transistor 46, the source terminal whereof is connected to the input terminal 41, whereas the drain terminal is connected to a node which is constituted by the gate terminal of the first transistor 41 and by the drain terminal of the third transistor 45. The input terminal 41 is connected to the gate terminal of a fifth P-channel transistor 47 which has its source terminal connected to the power supply 48 and its drain terminal connected to the source terminal of the second transistor 44. The operation of said inverting gate is completely described by table 2, wherein the symbols used have the same meaning as described above. To summarize, when the enable terminal 40 is at a high logic level (ON), the terminal 42 has a high impedance, furthermore insulating the output terminal 42. Otherwise, if the enable terminal 40 is at a low logic level (OFF), the output terminal 42 has a logic value which is complementary to the logic value assumed by the input terminal 41. The transistor 35 could theoretically not be necessary, but it is included in the gate structure according to the invention in order to ensure the state of the transistor 33, especially if there is a low logic value at the terminal 30. This insertion is due to the fact that, especially at high operating frequencies, charges can accumulate on the gate terminal of the transistor 33 and can lower the voltage of the gate terminal to a level sufficient to maintain the state of the transistor 33 as ON, i.e. conducting, thus connecting the output terminal 32 to the power supply 36 when the gate must instead be in the high-impedance state. The NOR gates and NAND gates according to the invention have also been executed with the same concepts described above for tristate inverting gates. With reference to figure 10, a tristate NAND logic gate structure according to the invention comprises a terminal 50 for an enable signal, a first terminal 51 for a first input signal and a second terminal 52 for a second input signal. The enable terminal 50 is electrically connected to the gate terminal of a first P-channel transistor 55, to the gate terminal of a second P-channel N-channel transistor 56, to the gate terminal of a third N-channel transistor 57, to the gate terminal of a fourth N-channel transistor 58 and to the gate terminal of a fifth transistor 59. The transistors 55 to 59 can electrically insulate an output terminal 53. The first input terminal 51 is connected to the gate terminal of a sixth N-channel transistor 60 and to the source terminal of the fourth transistor 58. The drain terminal of the fifth transistor 59 is connected to the drain terminal of a seventh P-channel transistor 61. The seventh transistor 61 has its source terminal connected to the power supply 54 and its gate terminal connected to a node which is constituted by the drain terminal of the fourth transistor 58 and by the drain terminal of the second transistor 56. The source terminal of the second transistor 56 is connected to the power supply 54. The second input terminal 52 is connected to the gate terminal of an eighth N-channel transistor 62 and to the source terminal of the third transistor 57. The eighth transistor 62 has its source terminal connected to the ground and its drain terminal connected to the source terminal of the sixth transistor 60. The third transistor 57 has its drain terminal connected to a node which is constituted by the drain terminal of the first transistor 55 and by the gate terminal of a ninth P-channel transistor 63. The first transistor 55 has its source terminal connected to the power supply 54 and the ninth transistor 63 has its source terminal also connected to the power supply 54. The output terminal 53 is connected to a node which is constituted by the drain terminal of the seventh transistor 61, by the drain terminal of the fifth transistor 59 and by the drain terminal of the ninth transistor 63. The operation of the tristate NAND gate is described completely by table 3, wherein the symbols used have the previously described meaning. To summarize, when the enable terminal 50 has a low logic value (OFF), the terminal 53 has a high impedance and is electrically insulated. When the enable terminal 50 has a high logic value (ON), the output terminal 53 has a logic value which is complementary to the logic product of the input signals on the first and second input terminals 51 and 52 respectively. With reference to figure 11, a tristate NOR logic gate structure according to the invention comprises a terminal 71 for an enable signal, a first terminal 70 for a first input signal and a second terminal 72 for a second input signal. The enable terminal 71 is connected to the gate terminal of a first P-channel transistor 75, to the gate terminal of a second P-channel transistor 76, to the gate terminal of a third N-channel transistor 77, to the gate terminal of a fourth N-channel transistor 78 and to the gate terminal of a fifth N-channel transistor 79. The transistors 75 to 79 can electrically insulate the output terminal 73. The first transistor 75 has its source terminal connected to the power supply 74 and its drain terminal connected to the drain terminal of the third transistor 77; the latter has its source terminal connected to the second input terminal 72. Said second input terminal 72 is connected to the gate terminal of a sixth N-channel transistor 80. Said sixth transistor 80 has its source terminal connected to the ground and its drain terminal connected to the source terminal of the fourth transistor 78; the latter has its drain terminal connected to the drain terminal of the fifth transistor 79. The third transistor 77 has its drain terminal connected to the gate terminal of a seventh transistor 81. Said seventh transistor has its drain terminal connected to the drain terminal of the fifth transistor 79 and its source terminal connected to the drain terminal of an eighth P-channel transistor 82; said eighth transistor 82 has its source terminal connected to the power supply 74 and its drain terminal connected to the drain terminal of the second transistor 76. The first input terminal 70 is connected to the source terminal of a ninth N-channel transistor 83 and to the gate terminal of a tenth transistor 84. The ninth transistor 83 has its gate terminal connected to the enabling terminal 71 and its drain terminal connected to the drain terminal of the second transistor 76. The tenth transistor 84 has its drain terminal connected to the source terminal of the fifth transistor 79 and its source terminal connected to the ground. The output terminal 73 is connected to a node which is constituted by the drain terminal of the seventh transistor 81, by the drain terminal of the fifth transistor 79 and by the drain terminal of the fourth transistor 78. The operation of the tristate NOR gate is completely described by table 4, wherein the symbols used are the usual ones. 31 30 35 33 34 37 38 32 X OFF ON OFF OFF OFF X HI 0 ON OFF ON ON ON OFF 1 1 ON OFF OFF ON ON ON 0 41 40 45 43 44 46 47 42 X ON ON OFF OFF OFF X HI 0 OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON 1 1 OFF OFF ON ON ON OFF 0 51 52 50 55 63 58 56 61 59 57 60 62 53 X X OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF X X HI 0 0 ON OFF ON ON OFF ON ON ON OFF OFF 1 0 1 ON OFF OFF ON OFF ON ON ON OFF ON 1 1 0 ON OFF ON ON OFF OFF ON ON ON OFF 1 1 1 ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON ON ON ON 0 70 72 71 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 73 X X OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF X OFF OFF OFF X HI 0 0 ON OFF OFF ON ON ON OFF ON ON ON OFF 1 0 1 ON OFF OFF ON ON ON ON OFF ON ON OFF 0 1 0 ON OFF OFF ON ON ON OFF ON OFF ON ON 0 1 1 ON OFF OFF ON ON ON ON OFF OFF ON ON 0 To summarize, when the enable terminal 71 has a low logic value (OFF), the terminal 73 has a high impedance. When instead the enable terminal 71 has a high logic value (ON), the output terminal 73 assumes a logic value which is complementary with respect to the logic sum of the signals in input on the input terminals 70 and 72. The NOR and NAND gate structures executed in complementary technology are obvious transformations of the above described gates. The described gates achieve the intended aim and objects, as is evident from the above text. Especially, the circuital simplification introduced by eliminating an enable signal is evident. Response to input signals is furthermore accelerated by reducing the series connections between P-channel transistors. Finally, these structures are easy to integrate in any type of logic integrated circuit. In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements. The invention thus conceived is furthermore susceptible to numerous modifications and variations. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of the claim.

Claims: A tristate NOR logic gate structure, particularly for CMOS integrated circuits, comprising an enable terminal (71) for an enable signal, a first input terminal (70) for a first input signal, a second input terminal (72) for a second input signal and an output terminal (73), said enable terminal being electrically connected respectively to the gate terminals of a first (75), second (76), third (77), fourth (78) and fifth (79) transistors, said first transistor (75) having its source terminal electrically connected to a power supply (74) and its drain terminal electrically connected to the drain terminal of said third transistor (77) which in turn has its source terminal electrically connected to said second input terminal; said second transistor (76) having its source terminal electrically connected to said power supply (74); said second input terminal (72) being electrically connected to the gate terminal of a sixth transistor (80) having its source terminal connected to the ground and its drain terminal electrically connected to the source terminal of said fourth transistor (78); said third transistor having its drain terminal electrically connected to the gate terminal of a seventh transistor (81), said seventh transistor having its source terminal electrically connected to the drain terminal of an eighth transistor (82), said eighth transistor (82) having its source terminal electrically connected to the power supply (74) and its gate terminal electrically connected to the drain terminal of said second transistor; said first input terminal (70) being electrically connected to the source terminal of a ninth transistor (83) and to the gate terminal of a tenth transistor (84), said ninth transistor (83) having its gate terminal electrically connected to said enable terminal (71) and its drain terminal electrically connected to the drain terminal of said second transistor (76), said tenth transistor (84) having its drain terminal electrically connected to the source terminal of said fifth transistor (79) and its source terminal connected to the ground; said output terminal (73) being electrically connected to a node which is constituted by the drain terminal of said seventh transistor (81), by the drain terminal of said fifth transistor (79) and by the drain terminal of said fourth transistor (78); said first (75), second (76), seventh (81), and eighth (82) transistors being first channel type transistors, and said third (77), fourth (78), fifth (79), sixth (80), ninth (83) and tenth (84) transistors being second channel type transistors. A tristate NOR logic gate according to claim 1, characterized in that said first channel type transistors (75, 76, 81, 82) are P-channel transistors and said second channel type transistors (77, 78, 79, 80, 83, 84) are N-channel transistors. A tristate NOR logic gate according to claim 1, characterized in that said first channel type transistors (75, 76, 81, 82) are N-channel transistors and said second channel type transistors (77, 78, 79, 80, 83, 84) are P-channel transistors. A tristate NAND logic gate structure, particularly for CMOS integrated circuits, comprising an enable terminal (50) for an enable signal, a first input terminal (51) for a first input signal and a second input terminal (52) for a second input signal and an output terminal (53), said enable terminal (50) being electrically connected respectively to the gate terminals of a first (55), second (56), third (57), fourth (58) and fifth (59) transistors; said first input terminal (51) being electrically connected to the gate terminal of a sixth (60) transistor and to the source terminal of said fourth transistor (58), said sixth transistor (60) having its drain terminal electrically connected to the source terminal of said fifth transistor (59) which in turn has its drain terminal electrically connected to the drain terminal of a seventh transistor (61), said seventh transisto (61) having its source terminal electrically connected to a power supply (54) and its gate terminal electrically connected to the drain terminal of said fourth transistor (58) and to the drain terminal of said second transistor (56), said second transistor (56) having its source terminal electrically connected to the power supply (54); said second input terminal (52) being electrically connected to the gate terminal of an eighth transistor (62) and to the source terminal of said third transistor (57), said eighth transistor (62) having its source terminal connected to the ground and its drain terminal connected to the source terminal of said sixth transistor (60), said third transistor (57) having its drain terminal electrically connected to the drain terminal of said first transistor (55) and to the gate terminal of a ninth transistor (63), said first transistor (55) having its source terminal electrically connected to the power supply (54), said ninth transistor (63) having its source terminal electrically connected to the power supply (54); said output terminal (53) being electrically connected to a node which is constituted by the drain terminal of said seventh transistor (61), by the drain terminal of said fifth transistor (59) and by the drain terminal of said ninth transistor (63); said first (55), second (56), seventh (61) and ninth (63) transistors being first channel type transistors, and said third (57), fourth (58), fifth (59), sixth (60) and eighth (62) transistors being second channel type transistors. A tristate NAND logic gate according to claim 4, characterized in that said first channel type transistors (55, 56, 61, 63) are P-channel transistors, and said second channel type transistors (57, 58, 59, 60, 62) are N-channel transistors. A tristate NAND logic gate according to claim 4, characterized in that said first channel type transistors (55, 56, 61, 63) are N-channel transistors, and said second channel type transistors (57, 58, 59, 60, 62) are P-channel transistors.

Inventors: BETTI GIORGIO, MOLONEY DAVID, VAI GIANFRANCO, ZUFFADA MAURIZIO, BETTI, GIORGIO, MOLONEY, DAVID, VAI, GIANFRANCO, ZUFFADA, MAURIZIO
Applicants: ST MICROELECTRONICS SRL, STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: H03K19
IPC codes: H03K19