Patent ID: 7053681

Claim:
A method for amplifying an input signal, comprising: providing, by use of a first current source/sink, a first current to an output node; sinking, by use of a third current source/sink, a third current from the output node; and inputting the input signal to a control input of the third current source/sink, wherein a control input of the first current source/sink is connected to the third current source/sink, and to a clamping capacitor, such that an output node load capacitance, representing a second current source/sink, is rapidly charged when the input signal changes its state in a first direction, and is rapidly discharged when the input signal changes its state in a second direction, wherein when the node load capacitance is rapidly charged, an output signal changes its state in a first direction, and, when the node load capacitance is rapidly discharged, the output signal changes its state in the second direction, the clamping capacitor is coupled to a resistor, providing, by use of a fourth current source/sink, a fourth current to the output node, a signal derived from the input signal is input to a control input of the fourth current source/sink, and when the input signal changes are relatively small, and/or relatively large and below a reference voltage, the changes in the current provided by the fourth current source/sink prevent the output signal from changing its state.