Active cascode differential latch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An active cascode differential latch comprising:
- a first input port;
a second input port;
a first transistor of a first conductivity type comprising a gate, and a drain connected to the first input port;
a second transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a gate, and a drain connected to the second input port;
a first active cascode transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a source connected to the drain of the first transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the first transistor;
a second active cascode transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a source connected to the drain of the second transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the second transistor;
a load coupled to the first and second active cascode transistors; and
a pre-charge transistor to provide a low impedance path between the gates of the first and second transistors only if ON.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An active cascode differential latch for providing a logic output signal indicative of whether or not a first current is greater than a second current. The first and second currents are fed into two input ports of the active cascode differential latch. The active cascode differential latch has a relatively small input impedance, and has utility for comparators and discrete-time analog filters, to name just a few, particularly when used in high bandwidth and low voltage applications.
14 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. An active cascode differential latch comprising:
-
a first input port;
a second input port;
a first transistor of a first conductivity type comprising a gate, and a drain connected to the first input port;
a second transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a gate, and a drain connected to the second input port;
a first active cascode transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a source connected to the drain of the first transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the first transistor;
a second active cascode transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a source connected to the drain of the second transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the second transistor;
a load coupled to the first and second active cascode transistors; and
a pre-charge transistor to provide a low impedance path between the gates of the first and second transistors only if ON. - View Dependent Claims (2)
a third transistor of a second conductivity type, the second conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type, comprising a drain connected to the drain of the first active cascode transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the first active cascode transistor and the drain of the second cascode transistor; and
a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type comprising a drain connected to the drain of the second active cascode transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the second active cascode transistor and the drain of the first cascode transistor.
-
-
3. An analog filter comprising:
-
a voltage-to-current converter comprising a first input port and a second input port, the voltage-to-current converter comprising;
a first drive transistor to conduct a first current I1 and comprising a gate connected to the first input port;
a second drive transistor to conduct a second current I2 and comprising a gate connected to the second input port; and
a current source to source a current I to the first and second drive transistors so that the sum of the first current I1 and the second current I2 is substantially equal to the current;
a current multiplier comprising first and second output ports, the current multiplier coupled to the voltage-to-current converter to pass a first weighted current α
I1 to the first output port and a second weighted current α
I2 to the second output port, where α
is a weight; and
an active cascode differential latch comprising;
a first input port connected to the first output port of the current multiplier;
a second input port connected to the second output port of the current multiplier;
a first transistor of a first conductivity type comprising a gate, and a drain connected to the first input port;
a second transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a gate, and a drain connected to the second input port;
a first active cascade transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a source connected to the drain of the first transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the first transistor;
a second active cascode transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a source connected to the drain of the second transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the second transistor; and
a load coupled to the first and second active cascode transistors. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
a third transistor of a second conductivity type, the second conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type, comprising a drain connected to the drain of the first active cascode transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the first active cascode transistor and the drain of the second cascade transistor; and
a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type comprising a drain connected to the drain of the second active cascode transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the second active cascode transistor and the drain of the first cascode transistor.
-
-
5. The analog filer as set forth in claim 4, the active cascode differential latch further comprising:
a pre-charge transistor to provide a low impedance path between the gates of the first and second transistors only if ON.
-
6. The analog filter as set forth in claim 3, the active cascode differential latch further comprising:
a pre-charge transistor to provide a low impedance path between the gates of the first and second transistors only if ON.
-
7. A comparator comprising:
-
a differential pair of transistors to provide a first current and a second current in response to a differential voltage;
an active cascode differential latch comprising;
a first input port to receive the first current;
a second input port to receive the second current;
a first transistor of a first conductivity type comprising a gate, and a drain connected to the first input port;
a second transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a gate, and a drain connected to the second input port;
a first active cascode transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a source connected to the drain of the first transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the first transistor;
a second active cascode transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a source connected to the drain of the second transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the second transistor;
a load coupled to the first and second active cascode transistors; and
a pre-charge transistor to provide a low impedance path between the gates of the first and second transistors only if ON. - View Dependent Claims (8)
a third transistor of a second conductivity type, the second conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type, comprising a drain connected to the drain of the first active cascode transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the first active cascode transistor and the drain of the second cascode transistor; and
a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type comprising a drain connected to the drain of the second active cascode transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the second active cascode transistor and the drain of the first cascode transistor.
-
-
9. A computer system comprising:
-
a board comprising a first transmission line and a second transmission line; and
a receiver coupled to the first and second transmission lines, the receiver comprising an active cascode differential latch, the active cascode differential latch comprising;
a first input port;
a second input port;
a first transistor of a first conductivity type comprising a gate, and a drain connected to the first input port;
a second transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a gate, and a drain connected to the second input port;
a first active cascode transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a source connected to the drain of the first transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the first transistor;
a second active cascode transistor of the first conductivity type comprising a source connected to the drain of the second transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the second transistor;
a load coupled to the first and second active cascode transistors; and
a pre-charge transistor to provide a low impedance path between the gates of the first and second transistors only if ON. - View Dependent Claims (10)
a third transistor of a second conductivity type, the second conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type, comprising a drain connected to the drain of the first active cascode transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the first active cascode transistor and the drain of the second cascode transistor; and
a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type comprising a drain connected to the drain of the second active cascode transistor, and a gate connected to the gate of the second active cascode transistor and the drain of the first cascode transistor.
-
Specification