Patent ID: 7504882

Claim:
A differential amplifier circuit comprising: an input-stage differential amplifier section connected between a first power supply and a second power supply; and an output section connected to the input-stage differential amplifier section; wherein said output section has a cascode-connected formulation and is connected between said first and second power supplies, wherein said output section comprises: a first MOS transistor of a first conductivity type having a gate to which a non-inverted output of said input-stage differential amplifier section is connected and a first end to which said first power supply is connected; a second MOS transistor of the first conductivity type having a gate to which a first bias terminal is connected and a first end to which a second end of said first MOS transistor of the first conductivity type is connected; a first MOS transistor of a second conductivity type having a gate to which a second bias terminal is connected and a second end to which the second end of said second MOS transistor of the first conductivity type is connected; and a second MOS transistor of the second conductivity type having a gate to which a third bias terminal is connected, a second end to which a first end of said first MOS transistor of the second conductivity type is connected, and a first end to which a said second power supply is connected; the second end of said second MOS transistor of the first conductivity type being connected to an output terminal.