Integrated circuit with breakdown voltage multiplier
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit device, the device comprising:
- an output stage having a device output and a plurality of output transistors in a stacked configuration; and
a signal distributor configured to receive an input signal at an input, generate a plurality of intermediate driver signals based on the input signal, and couple the intermediate driver signals to the output stage such that each output transistor contributes a portion of an output signal and a total output voltage swing exceeds a breakdown voltage of any one of the plurality of output transistors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for driving an output signal in a high speed integrated circuit. The apparatus and methods enable the output voltage swing from the driver to exceed the breakdown voltage of any individual element in the output driver. A high speed driver can utilize one or more transistors in a stacked configuration, such that the breakdown voltage of the entire stacked configuration is based on the number of transistors in the stack. The driver is configured to distribute the output voltage substantially equally among each of the stacked transistors, such that the driver is able to source an output voltage swing that is greater than the breakdown voltage of any individual transistor in the driver.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit device, the device comprising:
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an output stage having a device output and a plurality of output transistors in a stacked configuration; and
a signal distributor configured to receive an input signal at an input, generate a plurality of intermediate driver signals based on the input signal, and couple the intermediate driver signals to the output stage such that each output transistor contributes a portion of an output signal and a total output voltage swing exceeds a breakdown voltage of any one of the plurality of output transistors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated circuit device, the device comprising:
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a device input configured to receive a signal having a data rate that exceeds 9 Giga symbols per second;
a drive transistor having a base coupled to the device input and configured to generate a first intermediate driver signal at a collector;
a bias resistor configured to couple the collector of the drive transistor to a first voltage source;
a capacitor coupled in parallel with the bias resistor and configured to delay a signal path through the drive transistor;
a level shifter coupled to the device input and configured to generate a level shifted version of the input signal as a second intermediate driver signal;
a first output transistor having a base coupled to the collector of the drive transistor and a collector coupled to a device output and configured to provide an output signal having a voltage swing that exceeds a breakdown voltage of any transistor within the device;
a load resistor configured to couple the collector of the first output transistor to a second voltage source; and
a second output transistor having a base coupled to the level shifter and a collector coupled to an emitter of the first output transistor.
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18. A method of producing a drive signal, the method comprising:
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receiving an input signal having a data rate that is greater than 5 Giga symbols per second;
level shifting the input signal to produce a plurality of level shifted signals;
generating a plurality of intermediate driver signals from the plurality of level shifted signals;
coupling each of the plurality of intermediate driver signals to a corresponding one of a plurality of output transistors, wherein the plurality of output transistors are arranged in a stacked configuration; and
providing an output signal from the plurality of output transistors, the output signal having a voltage swing that exceeds a breakdown voltage of any one of the plurality of output transistors. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification