Variable drive current driver circuit

• US 7,030,665 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LONG T
• Application Number:
  US10/647,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 377108-112, 377/170, 377/379, 377/389, 377/391, 377/65, 377/67, 326/26, 326/27, 326/30, 326/82, 326/83, 326/86, 326/87
• US Class Current: 327/112
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/018528 with at least one differential stage
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0272 Arrangements for coupling to multiple lines, e.g. for differential transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0274 Arrangements for ensuring balanced coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/028 Arrangements specific to the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0282 Provision for current-mode coupling

Abstract

Disclosed is a variable drive current driver circuit, comprising: a pair of push-pull circuits for driving a load circuit complementarily; a first current source circuit for having a bias current flow into the pair of push-pull circuits; a second current source circuit for having the bias current flow out of the pair of push-pull circuits; and a control circuit for varying both the bias current flowed by the first current source circuit and the bias current flowed by the second current source circuit according to a control signal.

Claims

1. A variable drive current driver circuit, comprising:

a pair of push-pull circuits for driving a load circuit complementarily;

a first current source circuit for having a first bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a second current source circuit for having said first bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits;

a third current source circuit capable of having a second bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a fourth current source circuit capable of having said second bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits; and

a control circuit for varying both said second bias current driven by said third current source circuit and said second bias current driven by said fourth current source circuit according to a control signal,

wherein each push-pull circuit comprises two transistors having their gates directly connected together.

2. The variable drive current driver circuit according to claim 1, wherein

said control circuit controls whether said second bias current driven by said third current source flows to said pair of push-pull circuits, and

said control circuit controls whether said second bias current driven by said fourth current source flows from said push-pull circuits.

3. The variable drive current driver circuit according to claim 1,

wherein said first bias current is a constant current.

4. A variable drive current driver circuit, comprising:

a pair of push-pull circuits for driving a load circuit complementarily;

a first current source circuit for having a first bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a second current source circuit for having said first bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits;

a third current source circuit capable of having a second bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a fourth current source circuit capable of having said second bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits; and

a control circuit for varying both said second bias current driven by said third current source circuit and said second bias current driven by said fourth current source circuit according to a control signal,

wherein each push-pull circuit comprises at least two conductive types of transistors having their gates directly connected together.

5. The variable drive current driver circuit according to claim 4, wherein

said control circuit controls whether said second bias current driven by said third current source flows to said pair of push-pull circuits, and

said control circuit controls whether said second bias current driven by said fourth current source flows from said push-pull circuits.

6. A variable drive current driver circuit, comprising:

a pair of push-pull circuits for driving a load circuit complementarily;

a first current source circuit for having a first bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a second current source circuit for having a second bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits;

a third current source circuit capable of having a third bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a fourth current source circuit capable of having a fourth bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits; and

a control circuit for varying both said third bias current driven by said third current source circuit and said fourth bias current driven by said fourth current source circuit according to a control signal,

wherein each push-pull circuit comprises two transistors having their gates directly connected together.

7. The variable drive current driver circuit according to claim 6, wherein

said control circuit controls whether said third bias current driven by said third current source flows to said pair of push-pull circuits, and

said control circuit controls whether said fourth bias current driven by said fourth current source flows from said push-pull circuits.

8. The variable drive current driver circuit according to claim 6,

wherein said first bias current is a constant current.

9. The variable drive current driver circuit according to claim 6,

wherein said second bias current is a constant current.

10. A variable drive current driver circuit comprising:

a pair of push-pull circuits for driving a load circuit complementarily;

a first current source circuit for having a first bias current flaw to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a second current source circuit for having said first bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits;

a third current source circuit capable of having a second bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a fourth current source circuit capable of having said second bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits; and

a control circuit for turning on or off both said second bias current driven by said third current source circuit and said second bias current driven by said fourth current source circuit according to a control signal,

wherein each push-pull circuit comprises at least two different types of transistors, and

wherein said first bias current is a constant current.

11. A variable drive current driver circuit, comprising:

a pair of push-pull circuits for driving a load circuit complementarily;

a first current source circuit for having a first bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a second current source circuit for having a second bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits;

a third current source circuit capable of having a third bias current flaw to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a fourth current source circuit capable of having a fourth bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits; and

a control circuit for varying both said third bias current driven by said third current source circuit and said fourth bias current driven by said fourth current source circuit according to a control signal,

wherein each push-pull circuit comprises at least two conductive types of transistors having their gates directly connected together.

12. The variable drive current driver circuit according to claim 11, wherein

said control circuit controls whether said third bias current driven by said third current source flows to acid pair of push-pull circuits, and

said control circuit controls whether said fourth bias current driven by said fourth current source flows from said push-pull circuit.

13. A variable drive current driver circuit, comprising:

a pair of push-pull circuits for driving a load circuit complementarily;

a first current source circuit for having a first bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a second current source circuit for having a second bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits;

a third current source circuit capable of having a third bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a fourth current source circuit capable of having a fourth bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits; and

a control circuit for turning on or off bat said third bias current driven by said third current source circuit and said fourth bias current driven by said fourth current source circuit according to a control signal,

wherein each push-pull circuit comprises at least two different types of transistors, and

wherein said first bias current is a constant current.

14. A variable drive current driver circuit, comprising:

a pair of push-pull circuits for driving a load circuit complementarily;

a first current source circuit for having a first bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a second current source circuit for having a second bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits;

a third current source circuit capable of having a third bias current flow to said pair of push-pull circuits;

a fourth current source circuit capable of having a fourth bias current flow from said pair of push-pull circuits; and

a control circuit for turning on or off both said third bias current driven by said third current source circuit and said fourth bias current driven by said fourth current source circuit according to a control signal,

wherein each push-pull circuit comprises at least two different types of transistors, and

wherein said second bias current is a constant current.