Patent ID: 8035448

Claim:
A differential amplifier comprising: a first reference voltage node; a second reference voltage node; an input stage comprising a first input node for a first component of a differential input signal, a second input node for a second component of the differential input signal, a plurality of first conductivity type input transistors, and a plurality of second conductivity type input transistors, the first conductivity type input transistors having nominally matched operating characteristics and the second conductivity type input transistors having nominally matched operating characteristics; a first output stage comprising a first second conductivity type output transistor having its source coupled to the first reference voltage node and having its drain coupled to a first output node for a first component of a differential output signal, and comprising a second first conductivity type output transistor having its drain coupled to the first output node and having its source coupled to the second reference voltage node; and a second output stage comprising a third second conductivity type output transistor having its source coupled to the first reference voltage node and having its drain coupled to a second output node for a second component of the differential output signal, and comprising a fourth first conductivity type output transistor having its drain coupled to the second output node and having its source coupled to the second reference voltage node; wherein the first conductivity type output transistors have nominally matched operating characteristics; the second conductivity type output transistors have nominally matched operating characteristics; and each output transistor conducts a respective output current that includes contributions from at least one of the first conductivity type input transistors and at least one of the second conductivity type input transistors.