Patent ID: 8717723

Claim:
A driver circuit of an integrated circuit, the driver circuit comprising: a signal node coupled to receive a data signal to be generated as an output of the integrated circuit; an inductor circuit having a resistor coupled in series with an inductor between a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is coupled to the signal node; an electro-static discharge protection circuit coupled to the second terminal of the inductor circuit; and an output node coupled to the second terminal of the inductor circuit, wherein the data signal is generated at the output node; and wherein the inductor comprises an outer coil having a first plurality of loops having a first size and extending from a bottom metal layer of a plurality of metal layers to a top metal layer of the plurality of metal layers, an inner coil having a second plurality of loops having a second size smaller than the first size and extending from the top metal layer toward the bottom metal layer, and an inner loop in the top metal layer coupled to the second plurality of loops and having a third size which is smaller than the second size, the inner loop coupled to the second terminal by a plurality of vias extending between the top metal layer and the bottom metal layer.