Patent ID: 7477081

Claim:
A data output circuit including a pre-driver circuit, the pre-driver circuit comprising: a plurality of pull-up elements for outputting a power supply voltage to an output terminal in response to a data signal, wherein the pull-up elements are connected in parallel with each other, and wherein each of the plurality of pull-up elements are coupled directly to the data signal for controlling operation of the plurality of pull-up elements; a plurality of pull-down elements for outputting a ground voltage to the output terminal in response to the data signal, wherein the pull-down elements are connected in parallel with each other, and wherein each of the plurality of pull-down elements are coupled directly to the data signal for controlling operation of the plurality of pull-up elements; a drive strength regulating unit for outputting to the output terminal the power supply voltage in response to a low level of the data signal and the ground voltage in response to a high level of the data signal; and a control unit for transferring the data signal to the drive strength regulating unit in response to a control signal, wherein in response to inactivation of the control signal, the control unit does not transfer the data signals to the drive strength regulating unit and the drive strength regulating unit is not operated, and wherein in response to activation of the control signal, the control unit transfers the data signals to the drive strength regulating unit and the drive strength regulating unit is operated during the operation of the pull-up elements or the pull-down elements to increase a drive strength.