Radiation hardened differential output buffer
First Claim
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1. A radiation hardened differential output buffer, comprising in combination:
- a plurality of stages designed to provide a substantially similar output signal upon receiving a substantially similar input signal, wherein an output of each of the plurality of stages is electrically connected to provide an output of the differential output buffer, and wherein a single stage is unable to change the output of the differential output buffer; and
a pre-drive circuit controlling the plurality of stages by providing the substantially similar input signal to the plurality of stages.
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Abstract
A radiation hardened differential output buffer is partitioned into multiple stages, each including at least one current source and a bridge circuit. Each stage receives substantially the same inputs at substantially the same time, and provides substantially the same output. The outputs of each stage are connected together. As a result, if one of the stages is disrupted by SEE, the disrupted stage does not contribute enough current to the output of the differential output buffer to disrupt the output signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A radiation hardened differential output buffer, comprising in combination:
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a plurality of stages designed to provide a substantially similar output signal upon receiving a substantially similar input signal, wherein an output of each of the plurality of stages is electrically connected to provide an output of the differential output buffer, and wherein a single stage is unable to change the output of the differential output buffer; and
a pre-drive circuit controlling the plurality of stages by providing the substantially similar input signal to the plurality of stages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A radiation hardened differential output buffer, comprising in combination:
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a plurality of stages having two current sources connected to a transistor bridge circuit, wherein each of the plurality of stages is designed to provide a substantially similar differential current output signal upon receiving a substantially similar complementary digital input signal, and wherein an output of each of the plurality of stages is electrically connected to provide an output of the differential output buffer; and
a pre-drive circuit providing the substantially similar complementary digital input signal to each of the plurality of stages, wherein a particle strike on one of the plurality of stages is unable to cause an erroneous signal at the output of the differential output buffer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of radiation hardening a differential output buffer, comprising in combination:
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selecting a number of stages having at least one current source and a bridge circuit;
connecting an output of each of the stages to a node; and
driving the stages with a digital signal, wherein each of the stages provides a current signal in response to the digital signal, and wherein an output of one of the stages is unable to disrupt a signal at the node. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification