RAIL-TO-RAIL LINE DRIVER USING DIFFERENTIAL CASCODE BOOTSTRAPING

摘要

Aspects of rail-to-rail line drivers using differential cascode bootstrapping are described. In one embodiment, a differential line driver includes first and second differential driver output legs. The first output leg includes a first p-type cascode stack and a first n-type cascode stack, and the second output leg includes a second p-type cascode stack and a second n-type cascode stack. The differential line driver also includes a differential cascode bootstrap circuit arrangement coupled to an output of the differential line driver. More particularly, the differential cascode bootstrap circuit arrangement is coupled between the first and second differential output driver legs and the output of the differential line driver. According to aspects of the embodiments described herein, differential line drivers with overvoltage protection and rail-to-rail output swings may be achieved. Further, the differential line drivers may be generally smaller, with cascode stack transistors of reduced in size.

主权项

1. A differential line driver, comprising:
a first differential driver output leg comprising a first p-type cascode stack and a first n-type cascode stack; a second differential driver output leg comprising a second p-type cascode stack and a second n-type cascode stack; and a differential cascode bootstrap circuit arrangement coupled to an output of the differential line driver.