Integrated circuit with breakdown voltage multiplier

摘要

An apparatus and method for driving an output signal in a high speed integrated circuit. The apparatus and methods enable the output voltage swing from the driver to exceed the breakdown voltage of any individual element in the output driver. A high speed driver can utilize one or more transistors in a stacked configuration, such that the breakdown voltage of the entire stacked configuration is based on the number of transistors in the stack. The driver is configured to distribute the output voltage substantially equally among each of the stacked transistors, such that the driver is able to source an output voltage swing that is greater than the breakdown voltage of any individual transistor in the driver.