DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER WITH OVER-VOLTAGE PROTECTION AND METHOD

摘要

Circuitry for preventing damage to bipolar transistors in integrated circuit amplifier circuitry during slew-limited operation includes first (Ql or Q3) and second transistors (Q2 or Q4), each having first, second, and third electrodes, a first one of the first and second electrodes of the first transistor being coupled to receive a first signal (Vin+ or Vin++), and a first one of the first and second electrodes of the second transistor being coupled to receive a second signal (Vin- or Vin-- ). A first separator transistor (J3) having a first current-carrying electrode coupled to the first one of the first and second electrodes of the first transistor and a second current-carrying electrode coupled to the first one of the first and second electrodes of the second transistor.