Radiation hardened differential output buffer
First Claim
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1. A radiation hardened differential output buffer, comprising:
- a plurality of stages configured to provide a substantially similar output signal at approximately a same time 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 radiation induced disruption experienced by a single stage is unable to change the output of the differential output buffer; and
a pre-drive circuit configured to provide the substantially similar input signal to the plurality of stages, and wherein the pre-drive circuit is further configured to delay the substantially similar input signal provided to at least one stage of the plurality of stages located further from the pre-drive circuit with a shorter delay than a delay associated with a stage located closer to the pre-drive circuit.
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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.
55 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A radiation hardened differential output buffer, comprising:
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a plurality of stages configured to provide a substantially similar output signal at approximately a same time 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 radiation induced disruption experienced by a single stage is unable to change the output of the differential output buffer; and a pre-drive circuit configured to provide the substantially similar input signal to the plurality of stages, and wherein the pre-drive circuit is further configured to delay the substantially similar input signal provided to at least one stage of the plurality of stages located further from the pre-drive circuit with a shorter delay than a delay associated with a stage located closer to the pre-drive circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A radiation hardened differential output buffer, comprising:
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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 configured to provide a substantially similar differential current output signal at approximately a same time 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 configured to provide the substantially similar complementary digital input signal to each of the plurality of stages, wherein a radiation induced error experienced by one of the plurality of stages is unable to cause an erroneous signal at the output of the differential output buffer, and wherein the pre-drive circuit is further configured to delay the substantially similar input signal provided to at least one stage of the plurality of stages located further from the pre-derive circuit with a shorter delay than a delay associated with a stage located closer to the pre-drive circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
driving, using a pre-drive circuit, each stage of a plurality of stages of a multi-stage buffer with a substantially similar digital input signal, wherein each stage has at least one current source and a bridge circuit, wherein an output of each stage is connected to a node, wherein each stage provides a substantially similar current signal at approximately a same time upon receiving the substantially similar digital input signal, and wherein a state of a signal at the node remains unchanged if a single stage experiences a radiation-induced disruption, wherein driving each stage of the plurality of stages comprises delaying the substantially similar digital input signal provided to at least one stage of the plurality of stages located further from a pre-drive circuit with a shorter delay than a delay associated with a stage located closer to the pre-drive circuit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
Specification