Comparator capable of preventing large noise voltage

• US 5,477,170 A
• Filed: 02/17/1994
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yotsuyanagi, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, TOAN V
• Application Number:
  US08/197,885
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 327/63, 327/65, 327/66-70, 327/77, 327/80, 327/81, 327/82, 327/88, 327/89, 327/51, 327/53, 327/427, 330/253, 330/257, 323/315, 323/316
• US Class Current: 327/66
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/345 with field-effect devices H03F3/347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/2472 using field effect transistors H03K5/2436 takes precedence

Abstract

A first field effect transistor has a drain electrode connected to a first current input terminal of a first current mirror circuit and a gate electrode connected to a first voltage input terminal which is supplied with a first voltage input terminal. A second field effect transistor has a drain electrode connected to a first current output terminal of the first current mirror circuit and a gate electrode connected to a second voltage input terminal which is supplied with a second input voltage. A second current mirror circuit has a second current input terminal connected to the first current output terminal and a second current output terminal connected to a power terminal through a resistor and to a voltage output terminal which is supplied with an output voltage. A comparator may include third and fourth current mirror circuits instead of the first and the second field effect transistors. In this event, the third current mirror circuit has a third current input terminal supplied with a first input current and a third current output terminal connected to the first current input terminal. The fourth current mirror circuit has a fourth current input terminal supplied with a second input current and a fourth current output terminal connected to the first current output terminal.

Claims

1. A comparator having first and second voltage input terminals and a voltage output terminal, for comparing a first input voltage from said first voltage input terminal and a second input voltage from said second voltage input terminal to produce and supply an output voltage to said voltage output terminal, said comparator comprising:

a first current mirror circuit having a first current input terminal and a first current output terminal;

a first field-effect transistor having a first drain electrode connected to said first current input terminal, a first source electrode connected to a first power terminal, and a first gate electrode connected to said first voltage input terminal, said first power terminal supplied with a low voltage having a low level;

a second field-effect transistor having a second drain electrode connected to said first current output terminal, a second source electrode connected to said first power terminal, and a second gate electrode connected to said second voltage input terminal; and

a second current mirror circuit having a second current input terminal connected to said first current output terminal and a second current output terminal connected to a second power terminal through a resistor and to said voltage output terminal, said second power terminal supplied with a high voltage having a high level which is higher than said low level.

3. A comparator according to claim 1, wherein said first current mirror circuit further includes a power terminal and a third field-effect transistor,

said third field-effect transistor including a drain electrode coupled to said first current input terminal, a gate electrode coupled to said first current input terminal and a source electrode coupled to said power terminal of said first current mirror circuit.

4. A comparator according to claim 3, wherein said first current mirror circuit further includes a fourth field-effect transistor,

said fourth field-effect transistor including a drain electrode coupled to said first current output terminal, a gate electrode coupled to said first current input terminal and a source electrode coupled to said power terminal of said first current mirror circuit.

5. A comparator according to claim 1, wherein said second current mirror circuit further includes a power terminal and a fifth field-effect transistor,

said fifth field-effect transistor including a drain electrode coupled to said second current input terminal, a gate electrode coupled to said second current input terminal and a source electrode coupled to said power terminal of said second current mirror circuit.

6. A comparator according to claim 5, wherein said second current mirror circuit further includes a sixth field-effect transistor,

said sixth field-effect transistor including a drain electrode coupled to said second current output terminal, a gate electrode coupled to said second current input terminal and a source electrode coupled to said power terminal of said second current mirror circuit.

7. A comparator according to claim 1, wherein said second current input terminal is coupled to a node between the first current output terminal and said second drain electrode of said second field-effect transistor.

8. A comparator according to claim 6, wherein said voltage output terminal is coupled to a node between said resistor and said drain electrode of said sixth field-effect transistor.

2. A comparator having first and second current input terminals and a voltage output terminal, for comparing a first input current from said first current input terminal and a second input current from said second current input terminal to produce and supply an output voltage to said voltage output terminal, said comparator comprising:

a first current mirror circuit having a first current output terminal and said first current input terminal;

a second current mirror circuit having a second current output terminal and said second current input terminal;

a third current mirror circuit having a third current input terminal connected to said first current output terminal and a third current output terminal connected to said second current output terminal; and

a fourth current mirror circuit having a fourth current input terminal connected to said third current output terminal and to said second current output terminal and a fourth current output terminal connected to a power terminal through a resistor and to said voltage output terminal, said power terminal supplied with a power voltage.

9. A comparator according to claim 2, wherein said first current mirror circuit further includes first and second field-effect transistors.

10. A comparator according to claim 9, wherein said second current mirror circuit further includes third and fourth field-effect transistors.

11. A comparator according to claim 2, wherein said third current mirror circuit further includes a power terminal and a fifth field-effect transistor,

said fifth field-effect transistor including a drain electrode coupled to said third current input terminal, a gate electrode coupled to said third current input terminal and a source electrode coupled to said power terminal of said third current mirror circuit.

12. A comparator according to claim 11, wherein said third current mirror circuit further includes a sixth field-effect transistor,

said sixth field-effect transistor including a drain electrode coupled to said third current output terminal, a gate electrode coupled to said third current input terminal and a source electrode coupled to said power terminal of said third current mirror circuit.

13. A comparator according to claim 2, wherein said fourth current mirror circuit further includes a power terminal and a seventh field-effect transistor,

said seventh field-effect transistor including a drain electrode coupled to said fourth current input terminal, a gate electrode coupled to said fourth current input terminal and a source electrode coupled to said power terminal of said fourth current mirror circuit.

14. A comparator according to claim 13, wherein said fourth current mirror circuit further includes an eighth field-effect transistor,

said eighth field-effect transistor including a drain electrode coupled to said fourth current output terminal, a gate electrode coupled to said fourth current input terminal and a source electrode coupled to said power terminal of said fourth current mirror circuit.

15. A comparator according to claim 2, wherein said voltage output terminal is coupled to a node between said resistor and a drain electrode of said second current mirror circuit.

16. A comparator according to claim 2, wherein input currents are caused to flow into said third and fourth current mirror circuits.

17. A comparator according to claim 2, wherein input currents are caused to flow in an inflow direction of said third and fourth current mirror circuits.

18. A comparator according to claim 2, wherein third and fourth input currents of said third and fourth current mirror circuits are caused to flow in a same direction.