Patent ID: 7459967

Claim:
A differential amplifier comprising: an input differential stage that includes first and second differential pairs and a load circuit commonly connected to output pairs of said first and second differential pairs; an amplifier stage for receiving a common output signal of said first and second differential pairs and for driving an output terminal by a charging or discharging operation; and a control circuit for controlling switching between at least two states including: a first state in which the output terminal is feedback-connected to a first differential input of said first differential pair; a reference voltage is supplied to a second differential input of said first differential pair; a voltage at the output terminal and the reference voltage supplied to the first and second differential inputs of said first differential pair are stored in first and second capacitors, respectively, connected to the first and second differential inputs of said first differential pair; and first and second voltages are supplied to first and second differential inputs, respectively, of said second differential pair; and a second state in which the output terminal is feedback-connected to the first differential input of said second differential pair; a third voltage is supplied to the second differential input of said second differential pair; the first and second differential inputs of said first differential pair are cut off from the output terminal and a supply terminal of the reference voltage; and voltages that have been stored in the first and second capacitors are supplied to the first and second differential inputs, respectively, of said first differential pair.