Flehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert
Pulsed bootstrapping output buffer and associated method
 An output buffer circuit is provided for use with a first external voltage which provides voltage at a first level, the output buffer circuit comprising: an output terminal; a second voltage supply for providing voltage at a second level less than the first level; an n-channel pull-up transistor including a drain coupled to the first voltage supply and including a source coupled to the output terminal; a p-channel pull-up transistor including a drain coupled to the output terminal and a source coupled to the second voltage supply; an n-channel pull-down transistor including a drain coupled to the output terminal; a bootstrapping turn-on circuit for raising a gate of the n-channel pull-up transistor to a raised voltage level which is above the first voltage level such that the n-channel pull-up transistor becomes turned on; a turn-off circuit for turning off the n-channel pull-up transistor when the output terminal has been substantially pulled up to the second voltage level; and a turn-on circuit for turning on the p-channel pull-up transistor when the output voltage at the output terminal has been substantially pulled up to the second level. 
H
H03K
inventional
Jun In-Nan
Kim Wu