Patent ID: 6930551

Claim:
A class AB output circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, comprising: (a) a P-channel first output transistor having a source coupled to a first supply voltage, a drain coupled to the output terminal, and a gate coupled to respond to an input signal on the input terminal, and an N-channel second output transistor having a drain coupled to the output terminal, a source coupled to a second supply voltage, and a gate coupled to respond to the input signal; (b) a first N-channel transistor having a drain coupled to a gate of the first output transistor and also coupled to the first supply voltage by means of a first current source and a source coupled to the second supply voltage by means of a second current source; (c) a first diode-connected N-channel transistor, a second diode-connected N-channel transistor, and a first voltage level shifting circuit coupled in series between the second supply voltage and a gate of the first N-channel transistor, and a current source coupled between the first supply voltage and the gate of the first N-channel transistor; and (d) a second voltage level shifting circuit coupled between the gate of the second output transistor and the source of the first N-channel transistor.