Abstract:
An amplifier circuit having a differential input and an amplifier output is provided. In some examples, the amplifier circuit includes a first input stage having a first complementary transistor pair providing a first input and a first output, the first input being a first half of the differential input; a second input stage having a second complementary transistor pair providing a second input and a second output, the second input being a second half of the differential input; an output stage coupled to the first input stage and the second input stage and providing the amplifier output; and a transistor coupled in parallel to one transistor in one of the first complementary transistor pair or the second complementary transistor pair.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     One or more aspects of the present invention relate generally to electrical circuits and, more particularly, to a differential amplifier with hysteresis. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the design of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits, differential amplifiers are used for various applications, such as digital or analog amplifiers, comparators, buffer stages, and the like. For example, in a digital integrated circuit (IC), input receivers on the chip may employ differential amplifiers for buffering digital input signals to make input signal levels from external sources compatible with internal switching levels. Conventional differential amplifier circuits do not have hysteresis. That is, changes in the output of the differential amplifier are synchronized with changes in the input (i.e., the output of the amplifier does not lag the input of the amplifier). Without hysteresis, small undesired variations in input voltage (e.g., due to noise) can cause the output voltage of the amplifier to change in a non-ideal fashion. 
     Consider a digital input buffer where one input of the differential amplifier is coupled to a reference voltage, and the other input of the differential amplifier is configured to receive a digital input signal. In some circumstances, the two input voltages may be fairly close in value. For example, when the digital input is floating, the logic level of the digital input is typically pulled to the reference voltage by a termination resistor. Since the output of the differential amplifier changes state when there is any difference between the two input voltages, variations on either input due to noise can cause undesired switching at the output Therefore, it is desirable to compensate for noise on the inputs of a differential amplifier. It is further desirable for an input receiver in an IC to compensate for noise, rather than forcing the user of the IC to compensate for such noise at a board-level. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a method and apparatus for providing a differential amplifier with hysteresis. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some embodiments, an amplifier circuit having a differential input and an amplifier output is provided. The amplifier circuit can include a first input stage having a first complementary transistor pair providing a first input and a first output, the first input being a first half of the differential input; a second input stage having a second complementary transistor pair providing a second input and a second output, the second input being a second half of the differential input; an output stage coupled to the first input stage and the second input stage and providing the amplifier output; and a transistor coupled in parallel to one transistor in one of the first complementary transistor pair or the second complementary transistor pair. The transistor can be an N-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor coupled in parallel to another NMOS transistor in the first complementary transistor pair or the second complementary transistor pair, for example. Alternatively, the transistor can be a P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor coupled in parallel to another PMOS transistor in the first complementary transistor pair or the second complementary transistor pair. The output stage can include: a first output stage having a third input coupled to the first output and a third output providing a bias voltage; and a second output stage having a fourth input coupled to the second output and a fourth output, the fourth output being the amplifier output. The amplifier circuit can further include a current source configured to provide current to the first input stage and the second input stage. 
     In some embodiments, an amplifier circuit having a differential input and an amplifier output is provided. The amplifier circuit can include a first input stage having a first complementary transistor pair providing a first input and a first output, the first input being a first half of the differential input; a second input stage having a second complementary transistor pair providing a second input and a second output, the second input being a second half of the differential input; an output stage coupled to the first input stage and the second input stage and providing the amplifier output; a first hysteresis circuit coupled in parallel with one transistor in the first complementary transistor pair, the first hysteresis circuit including a first transistor; a second hysteresis circuit coupled in parallel with one transistor in the second complementary transistor pair, the second hysteresis circuit including a second transistor; and a control circuit configured to selectively enable either the first transistor or the second transistor in response to the amplifier output. 
     The first hysteresis circuit can include a first switch in series with the first transistor, and the second hysteresis circuit can include a second switch in series with the second transistor. The control circuit can selectively enable either the first transistor or the second transistor by selectively activating either the first switch or the second switch, respectively. The control circuit can include first and second logic gates having outputs coupled to first and second inverters, respectively, and the first inputs of the first and second logic gates can receive the amplifier output and a logical inversion of the amplifier output, respectively. Second inputs of the first and second logic gates can receive a hysteresis enable signal. The output stage can include: a first output stage having a third input coupled to the first output and a third output providing a bias voltage; and a second output stage having a fourth input coupled to the second output and a fourth output, the fourth output being the amplifier output. The amplifier circuit can include a current source configured to provide current to the first input stage and the second input stage. 
     In some embodiments, an amplifier circuit having a differential input and an amplifier output is described. The amplifier circuit can include means for providing a first input stage having a first input and a first output, the first input being a first half of the differential input; means for providing a second input stage having a second input and a second output, the second input being a second half of the differential input; means for providing an output stage having the amplifier output; and means for effectively increasing a width of one transistor in one of the first complementary transistor pair or the second complementary transistor pair. The means for effectively increasing can include an N-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor coupled in parallel to another NMOS transistor, for example. Alternatively, the means for effectively increasing can include a P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor coupled in parallel to another PMOS transistor. The means for providing the amplifier output can include means for providing a bias voltage. The amplifier circuit can further include means for providing current to the first input stage and the second input stage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Accompanying drawings show exemplary embodiments in accordance with one or more aspects of the invention. However, the accompanying drawings should not be taken to limit the invention to the embodiments shown, but are for explanation and understanding only. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram depicting an embodiment of a differential amplifier; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram depicting another embodiment of a differential amplifier; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram depicting another embodiment of a differential amplifier; and 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram depicting another embodiment of a differential amplifier. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram depicting an embodiment of a differential amplifier  100 . The differential amplifier  100  includes a first input stage  102 , a second input stage  104 , a first output stage  106 , a second output stage  108 , and a current source  110 . The first input stage  102  provides a first differential input Vin+, and the second input stage  104  provides a second differential input Vin−. An output of the first input stage  102  (labeled as junctions A and B) is coupled to an input of the first output stage  106 . An output of the second input stage  104  (labeled as junctions C and D) is coupled to an input of the second output stage  108 . An output of the first output stage  106  (labeled as BIAS) provides a bias voltage for the differential amplifier  100 . An output of the second output stage  108  (labeled as Vout) provides a single-ended output for the differential amplifier  100 . The first output stage  106  and the second output stage  108  are collectively referred to as an output stage. The current source  110  provides current to the first input stage and the second input stage. 
     The first output stage  106  includes P-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistors  112  and  114 , and N-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistors  116  and  118 . A source of the PMOS transistor  112  is coupled to a supply voltage Vsupply. A drain of the PMOS transistor  112  is coupled to a source of the PMOS transistor  114  and to the junction A. A drain of the PMOS transistor  114  is coupled to a drain of the NMOS transistor  116 . A source of the NMOS transistor  116  is coupled to a drain of the NMOS transistor  118 , as well as the junction B. A source of the NMOS transistor  118  is coupled to a return voltage such as, for example, electrical ground. While electrical ground will be used by way of example, it is to be understood that the return voltage can be a potential other than electrical ground. Gates of the PMOS transistors  112  and  114  and the NMOS transistors  116  and  118  are each coupled to the drain of the PMOS transistor  114  and the drain of the NMOS transistor  116  to form the junction BIAS. 
     Similarly, the second output stage  108  includes PMOS transistors  120  and  122 , and N-MOS transistors  124  and  126 . A source of the PMOS transistor  120  is coupled to a supply voltage Vsupply. A drain of the PMOS transistor  120  is coupled to a source of the PMOS transistor  122  and to the junction C. A drain of the PMOS transistor  122  is coupled to a drain of the NMOS transistor  124 . A source of the NMOS transistor  124  is coupled to a drain of the NMOS transistor  126 , as well as the junction D. A source of the NMOS transistor  126  is coupled to electrical ground. Gates of the PMOS transistors  120  and  122  and the NMOS transistors  124  and  126  are each coupled to the junction BIAS. The drain of the PMOS transistor  122  and the drain of the NMOS transistor  124  provide the output Vout. 
     The current source  110  includes a PMOS transistor  128  and an NMOS transistor  130 . A source of the PMOS transistor  128  is coupled to the supply voltage Vsupply. A source of the NMOS transistor  130  is coupled to electrical ground. Gates of the PMOS transistor  128  and the NMOS transistor  130  are coupled to the junction BIAS. 
     The first input stage  102  includes an NMOS transistor  132  and a PMOS transistor  134 . A drain of the NMOS transistor  132  is coupled to the junction A. A source of the NMOS transistor  132  is coupled to a drain of the NMOS transistor  130  in the current source  110 . A source of the PMOS transistor  134  is coupled to a drain of the PMOS transistor  128  in the current source  110 . A drain of the PMOS transistor  134  is coupled to the junction B. Gates of the NMOS transistor  132  and the PMOS transistor  134  provide the input Vin+. The NMOS transistor  132  and the PMOS transistor  134  comprise a complementary transistor pair (referred to herein as a first complementary transistor pair). The first complementary transistor pair includes the Vin+ input (first input) and an output (the A and B junctions comprising a first output). 
     Similarly, the second input stage  104  includes an NMOS transistor  136  and a PMOS transistor  138 . A drain of the NMOS transistor  136  is coupled to the junction C. A source of the NMOS transistor  136  is coupled to a drain of the NMOS transistor  130  in the current source  110 . A source of the PMOS transistor  138  is coupled to a drain of the PMOS transistor  128  in the current source  110 . A drain of the PMOS transistor  138  is coupled to the junction D. Gates of the NMOS transistor  136  and the PMOS transistor  138  provide the input Vin−. The NMOS transistor  136  and the PMOS transistor  138  comprise a complementary transistor pair (referred to herein as a second complementary transistor pair). The second complementary transistor pair includes the Vin− input (first input) and an output (the C and D junctions comprising a second output). 
     In operation, the differential amplifier  100  receives two differential inputs Vin+ and Vin−, and produces a single-ended output Vout such that Vout equals a gain factor times the difference between Vin+ and Vin−. The BIAS junction provides the bias voltage for the differential amplifier. The bias is generated by the negative feedback from the drains of transistors  114  and  116  to the gates of transistors  112 - 118 ,  120 - 126 , and  128 - 130 . This negative feedback causes the bias voltage to be stable. Because the bias for the differential amplifier  100  is generated internally, the amplifier provides a self-bias and does not require an external biasing scheme. Further operational details of differential amplification can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,133, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     In an embodiment, the first input stage  102  further includes an NMOS transistor  150  coupled in parallel to the NMOS transistor  132 . That is, the gate, the drain, and the source of the transistor  150  are each coupled to the gate, the drain, and the source of the transistor  132 , respectively. By adding the NMOS transistor  150  coupled in parallel with the Vin+ input, the first input stage  102  becomes wider than the second input stage  104 . For example, assume the width of the NMOS transistor  132  equals the width of the NMOS transistor  136 . The addition of the NMOS transistor  150  increases the overall width of the input NMOS on Vin+ so that the effective width of the first input stage  102  is the sum of widths of the NMOS transistors  150  and  132 . By increasing the width of the first input stage  102  versus the second input stage  104 , the trip point of the differential amplifier  100  (i.e., the point at which the output switches given a particular input) is shifted by shifting the threshold of the NMOS transistor  136  upwards with respect to the NMOS transistor  150 / 132  combination. The amount of trip point shift added is determined by the width of the additional NMOS transistor  150 . As discussed further below, by shifting the trip point, hysteresis can be added to the differential amplifier  100 . 
     More specifically, assume the differential amplifier  100  operates as an input receiver or buffer of a digital input signal. The digital input signal is applied to Vin+, and a reference voltage can be applied to Vin−. The output voltage Vout switches with the input voltage on Vin+ (the voltage levels at Vin+ and Vout can be different and is controlled by the gain of the differential amplifier and the reference voltage on Vin−). Assume that during a period of time, the input signal at Vin+ is at a logic high voltage level, causing the output voltage at Vout to be at a logic high voltage level. Without the NMOS transistor  150 , a variation in the reference voltage at Vin− may be such that the output voltage at Vout changes to a logic low voltage level despite the fact that the input voltage at Vin+did not change. Since the output voltage should switch with the input voltage, this is undesirable. The reference voltage at Vin− may have variations due to noise. With the addition of the NMOS transistor  150 , the threshold of the NMOS transistor  136  is increased with respect to the NMOS transistor  132 / 150  combination. This makes the differential amplifier respond to a rising edge on the input voltage at Vin+ sooner than an edge of the reference voltage on Vin− (a shift in trip point). Thus, the output voltage Vout is less susceptible to switching on variations of the reference voltage on Vin−. The amount of trip point shift is selectable based on the width of the transistor  150 . Notably, the differential amplifier  100  can have various applications in addition to the input receiver or buffer, which is described above by way of example. 
     By way of example, the NMOS transistor  150  is shown coupled in parallel with the NMOS transistor  132 . It is to be understood that the NMOS transistor  150  can be coupled in parallel to the NMOS transistor  136  in the second input stage  104  and would operate similarly as described above, except for reversing the roles of Vin+ and Vin−. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram depicting another embodiment of a differential amplifier  200 . Elements of  FIG. 2  that are the same or similar to those of  FIG. 1  are designated with identical reference numerals and described in detail above. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , an NMOS transistor  150  was coupled in parallel with an NMOS transistor in the first or second input stage. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a PMOS transistor  250  is coupled in parallel to one of the PMOS transistor  134  or  138  (e.g., the PMOS transistor  250  is illustratively shown as being coupled to the PMOS transistor  134 ). That is, the source, drain, and gate of the PMOS transistor  250  are coupled to the source, drain, and gate of the PMOS transistor  134 . The differential amplifier  200  operates similarly to the differential amplifier  100  described above, including the addition of trip point shift as described above. 
     Accordingly, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a differential amplifier provides a shift in the trip point by coupling a transistor in parallel to one transistor (PMOS or NMOS) in one of the first complementary transistor pair (in the first input stage  102 ) or the second complementary transistor pair (in the second input stage  104 ). By dynamically changing the trip point shift, hysteresis can be added to the differential amplifier. 
     In particular,  FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram depicting another embodiment of a differential amplifier  300 . In the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the width of one input stage is made wider than the other input stage on a fixed basis. Thus, the trip point is shifted when the output voltage Vout is at one voltage (e.g., the logic high level). The differential amplifier  300  includes circuitry for dynamically adjusting the width of the first input stage or the second input stage to provide hysteresis when the output voltage is at both extremes (both logic high and logic low). Elements of  FIG. 3  that are the same or similar to those of  FIGS. 1 and 2  are designated with identical reference numerals, and are described in detail above. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , hysteresis compensation circuitry includes NMOS transistors  302 ,  304 ,  306 , and  308 , and PMOS transistors  310  and  312 . The NMOS transistors  302  and  304 , and the PMOS transistor  310  comprise a first hysteresis circuit. The NMOS transistors  306  and  308 , and the PMOS transistor  312  comprise a second hysteresis circuit. 
     The first hysteresis circuit is coupled in parallel with the NMOS transistor  132 . More specifically, a drain of the NMOS transistor  302  and a source of the PMOS transistor  310  are coupled to the junction A. A source of the NMOS transistor  302  and a drain of the PMOS transistor  310  are coupled to a drain of the NMOS transistor  304 . A source of the NMOS transistor  304  is coupled to the drain of the NMOS transistor  130 . The NMOS transistor  302  and the PMOS transistor  310  collectively provide a switch in series with the NMOS transistor  304 . A gate of the NMOS transistor  302  receives a signal hys_m. A gate of the PMOS transistor  310  receives a signal hys_m_b. The signals hys_m and hys_m_b are used to activate or deactivate the switch formed by the NMOS transistor  302  and the PMOS transistor  310 . A gate of the NMOS transistor  304  receives the input voltage Vin+. Generation of the signals hys_m and hys_m_b is described below. 
     The second hysteresis circuit is coupled in parallel with the NMOS transistor  136 . More specifically, a drain of the NMOS transistor  306  and a source of the PMOS transistor  312  are coupled to the junction C. A source of the NMOS transistor  306  and a drain of the PMOS transistor  312  are coupled to a drain of the NMOS transistor  308 . A source of the NMOS transistor  308  is coupled to the drain of the NMOS transistor  130 . The NMOS transistor  306  and the PMOS transistor  312  collectively provide a switch in series with the NMOS transistor  308 . A gate of the NMOS transistor  306  receives a signal hys_p. A gate of the PMOS transistor  312  receives a signal hys_p_b. The signals hys_p and hys_p_b are used to activate or deactivate the switch formed by the NMOS transistor  306  and the PMOS transistor  312 . A gate of the NMOS transistor  308  receives the input voltage Vin−. Generation of the signals hys_p and hys_p_b is described below. 
     The hysteresis circuitry further includes control logic  320  that generates the hys_p, hys_m, hys_p_b, and hys_m_b signals noted above. The control logic  320  includes NAND gates  322  and  324  (or other logic gates that provide a logical equivalent of NAND gates), and inverters  326  and  328 . Inputs of the NAND gate  322  receive the voltage Vout and a hys_enable signal, respectively. Inputs of the NAND gate  324  receive a logic inversion of Vout and the hys_enable signal. An output of the NAND gate  322  is coupled to an input of the inverter  326 . An output of the NAND gate  324  is coupled to an input of the inverter  328 . The output of the NAND gate  322  provides the signal hys_p, and the output of the NAND gate  324  provides the signal hys_m. An output of the inverter  326  provides the signal hys_p_b, and an output of the inverter  328  provides the signal hys_m_b. 
     In operation, the control logic  320  selectively switches either the NMOS transistor  304  in parallel with the NMOS transistor  132 , or the NMOS transistor  308  in parallel with the NMOS transistor  136 . That is, the control logic  320  selectively makes wider either the first input stage  102  or the second input stage  104 . As a result, hysteresis is added for both rising and falling edges of the output Vout. The NMOS and PMOS transistors  302  and  310  ensure that the NMOS transistor  304  is coupled in parallel with the NMOS transistor  132  only for rising edges on Vin+. The NMOS and PMOS transistors  306  and  312  ensure that the NMOS transistor  308  is coupled in parallel with the NMOS transistor  136  only for rising edges of Vin− (since Vin+ and Vin− are complements of each other). The dynamic switching is determined by the control logic  320  through the generation of the hys_p, hys_p_b, hys_m, and hys_m_b signals. The output of the differential amplifier  300  (Vout) is used to toggle the hysteresis transistors on and off. Note that hysteresis can be disabled or enabled as a whole through the hys_enable signal input to the control logic  320  (i.e., if hys_enable is a logic high, hysteresis is enabled; if hys_enable is a logic low, hysteresis is disabled). When hysteresis is enabled, as Vout transitions from low to high, the NMOS transistor  304  is enabled and the NMOS transistor  308  is disabled, making the transistor  136  weaker than the transistor  132 . When Vout transitions from high to low, the transistor  308  is enabled and the transistor  304  is disabled, making the transistor  132  weaker than the transistor  136 . 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram depicting another embodiment of a differential amplifier  400 . Elements of  FIG. 4  that are the same or similar to those of  FIG. 3  are designated with identical reference numerals and described in detail above. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , NMOS transistor  304  and  308  are selectively coupled in parallel with NMOS transistors in the first or second input stage, respectively. In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , PMOS transistors  404  and  408  are selectively coupled in parallel to the PMOS transistors  134  and  138 , respectively. The differential amplifier  400  operates similar to the differential amplifier  300  described above, including the addition of hysteresis as described above. 
     While the foregoing describes exemplary embodiments in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, other and further embodiments in accordance with the one or more aspects of the present invention may be devised without departing from the scope thereof, which is determined by the claims that follow and equivalents thereof.