Analog multiplexer cell for mixed digital and analog signal inputs

摘要

An input cell circuit for an integrated circuit for use in a mixed signal mode where an input pin may receive either digital or analog signals. The circuit solves the problem where several such pins are used in a mixed signal mode and share a common internal bus. Such input signals will cause erratic values on the common analog bus, if any given input pin is used as a digital input signal and the voltage on that input pin exceeds the supply voltage by the base-emitter voltage of the parasitic transistor in the P-channel transistor in a pass gate in the associated input cell. This problem is solved by adding a second P-channel transistor to the pass gate and also adding an N-channel transistor connected to a node between the two P-channel transistors, as well as adding an input resistor. The second N-channel transistor is on while the other three transistors are off and exhibits a drain/source on-resistance such that the lateral and vertical bipolar parasitic transistors formed by the second P-channel transistor will not turn on and there is no leakage current between the input of the cell and the output of the cell.