Patent ID: 7116170

Claim:
A differential amplifier comprising: first and second input terminals to which a differential signal composed of first and second signals is inputted; first and second level shift circuits for shifting respective voltages of the first and second signals inputted to the first and second input terminals; a first differential couple and a first current source for converting the differential signal level-shifted by the first and second level shift circuits to currents; a second differential couple and a second current source for converting the differential signal inputted to the first and second input terminals to currents; a third current source and a reference voltage source; a comparator for comparing the voltage of the first or second signal inputted to the first or second input terminal with a voltage of the reference voltage source; a switch circuit for selectively supplying a current from the third current source to the first or second current source depending on a result of the comparison by the comparator; and first and second output terminals to which an output of the first differential couple and an output of the second differential couple are connected commonly.