Patent ID: 6949963

Claim:
A line driver comprising: a driver output terminal for connection to a line to be driven; a reference terminal for connection to a reference voltage; a current source output transistor having its first main electrode coupled to the reference terminal and its second main electrode coupled to the driver output terminal; and a driver stage for providing a drive signal for a control electrode of the current source output transistor in response to the input signal, the driver stage comprising: a first resistor connected between the control electrode of the current source output transistor and the reference terminal, a reference transistor having a control electrode, a first main electrode connected to the reference terminal and a second main electrode coupled to an input node, the input node being connected to receive the input signal; a second resistor connected between the control electrode of the reference transistor and the reference terminal; a first transistor having its control electrode coupled to the input node, its first main electrode coupled to the control electrode of the reference transistor and its second main electrode coupled to a supply voltage terminal; and a second transistor having its control electrode coupled to the input node, its first main electrode coupled to the control electrode of the output current source transistor and its second main electrode coupled to the supply voltage terminal.