Patent ID: 7190195

Claim:
An input circuit which receives an input signal from an input terminal and outputs a control signal to a function circuit, comprising: an input transistor arranged to receive an input signal from the input terminal at a control end; a first load element arranged between an output end of the input transistor and a first constant potential; a first control transistor arranged between an input end of the input transistor and a second constant potential; a second load element arranged between a control end of the first control transistor and the first constant potential; a third load element arranged between the control end of the first control transistor and the second constant potential; a second control transistor which turns ON and OFF to connect and disconnect a current which flows through the second and third load elements by inputting a signal that is substantially the same as a signal at a node between the output end of the input transistor and the first load element into a control end; and a third control transistor which turns ON and OFF to connect and disconnect a current which flows through the second and third load elements by inputting the input signal from the input terminal into a control end; wherein the control signal is output to the function circuit depending on the signal at the node between the output end of the input transistor and the first load element.