Method and apparatus to improve output of amplifier

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus to improve the output of an amplifier. An example apparatus includes a first buffer circuitry (124, 210, 302, 606) having a first terminal and a second terminal; a second buffer circuitry (132, 214, 308, 622) having a first terminal and a second terminal; a third buffer circuitry (144, 220, 316, 628) having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the third buffer circuitry coupled to the first terminal of the second buffer circuitry; a first transistor (128, 212, 306, 620) having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the first transistor coupled to the first terminal of the first buffer circuitry, the control terminal of the first transistor coupled to the second terminal of the second buffer circuitry; and a second transistor (140, 218, 314, 626) having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the second transistor coupled to the second terminal of the first buffer circuitry.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This patent application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 540,885, filed on September 27, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present description relates generally to amplifiers and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for improving the output of an amplifier. Background Art

[0004] As electronic devices continue to advance, systems have become capable of operating safely under increasingly complex operating conditions (e.g., higher power and higher speed). In amplifier circuitry, increasingly complex circuitry implements advanced technology to support increased output voltage, output current, and speed. This circuitry allows the amplifier circuitry to accurately supply power to increasingly complex loads at higher speeds despite the complex operating conditions. Summary of the invention

[0005] For methods and apparatus for improving the output of an amplifier, an example amplifier includes: an input stage circuit system including: a first buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal; a second buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal; a third buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the third buffer circuit system being coupled to the first terminal of the second buffer circuit system; a first transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the first transistor being coupled to the first terminal of the first buffer circuit system, the control terminal of the first transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the second buffer circuit system; a second transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the second transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the first buffer circuit system, the control terminal of the second transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the third buffer circuit system; and an output stage circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the output stage circuit system being coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor, the second terminal of the output stage circuit system being coupled to the second terminal of the second transistor. Other examples are described.

[0006] For methods and apparatus for improving the output of an amplifier, an example amplifier includes: an input stage circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal; and an output stage circuit system including: a first current mirror circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first current mirror circuit system being coupled to the first terminal of the input stage circuit system; a second current mirror circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the second current mirror circuit system being coupled to the second terminal of the input stage circuit system; a pre-driver circuit system having a terminal; a first buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal; and a second buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the second buffer circuit system being coupled to the first terminal of the first buffer circuit system; a first transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the first transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the first current mirror circuit system, the control terminal of the first transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the first buffer circuit system; and a second transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the second transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the second current mirror circuit system, the second terminal of the second transistor being coupled to a terminal of the pre-driver circuit system and the second terminal of the first transistor, and the control terminal of the second transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the second buffer circuit system. Other examples are described.

[0007] For methods and apparatus for improving the output of an amplifier, an example apparatus includes: an input stage circuit system configured to: generate an input operating point of an input voltage, and generate a reference current based on the input operating point; and an output stage circuit system coupled to the input stage circuit system, the output stage circuit system configured to: generate a reference voltage based on the reference current, generate an output voltage based on the reference voltage, generate an output operating point of the output voltage, and increase the output current of the output voltage in response to the output operating point. Other examples are described. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example power supply system including example amplifier circuitry structured to supply a relatively high voltage output to drive a capacitive load.

[0009] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of an example amplifier circuit system including an example input stage circuit system and an example output stage circuit system.

[0010] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an example of an input stage circuit system.

[0011] Figure 4A and 4B for Figure 2Schematic diagram of an example of an output stage circuit system, the output stage circuit system including a structured system for improving Figure 1 and 2 An example of the output swing of an amplifier circuit system and a bootstrap buffer circuit system.

[0012] Figure 5 for Figure 4A and 4B Schematic diagram of an example of a bootstrap buffer circuit system.

[0013] Figure 6 for Figure 1 and 2 Schematic diagram of another example of an amplifier circuit system.

[0014] Figure 7 is a flowchart representing example operations that may be at least one of performed, instantiated, or executed to implement Figure 2 and 3 The input stage circuit system, Figure 2 , 4A , 4B and 5, or more generally, Figure 1 , 2 and 6 amplifier circuit systems.

[0015] The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In general, the same reference numerals in the drawings and the specification refer to the same or similar features and / or parts (functionally and / or structurally). Although the drawings show regions with clear lines and boundaries, some or all of these lines and boundaries may be idealized. In practice, boundaries or lines may be unobservable, mixed or irregular. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] As electronic devices continue to advance, systems have become capable of operating safely under increasingly complex operating conditions (e.g., higher power and higher speed). In amplifier circuitry, increasingly complex circuitry implements advanced technology to support increased output voltage, output current, and speed. This circuitry allows the amplifier circuitry to accurately supply power to increasingly complex loads at higher speeds despite the complex operating conditions.

[0017] In some designs, amplifier circuitry is structured to supply power to complex loads that include increasingly large capacitive elements. For example, in a display test system, amplifier circuitry generates large voltage pulses to drive a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel that has a relatively high capacitance. The amplifier circuitry accurately drives the capacitive load by generating output pulses with large voltage swings and high slew rates (e.g., the slope of the voltage change over time during a transient). To support such complex outputs, amplifier circuitry continues to implement increasingly complex techniques.

[0018] In some designs, the amplifier circuit system uses circuit system to control a series of transistors that produce output. In order to support relatively large voltage swings, the amplifier circuit system includes a resistor divider that distributes a relatively large voltage across multiple transistors. The resistor divider allows the amplifier circuit system to support relatively high output voltages using relatively low voltage transistors, which have higher bandwidths compared to higher voltage transistors. However, stacking lower voltage transistors to support higher output voltages limits the output current compared to the output current supported by the higher voltage transistors. In addition, reducing the output current by using lower voltage transistors limits the slew rate of the output of the amplifier circuit system, which results in poor transient response.

[0019] In other designs, the amplifier circuit system uses a discrete unity gain operational amplifier or a high voltage transistor to use the supply voltage of the output bootstrap signal path amplifier. In such designs, the amplifier circuit system includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, a third amplifier and a resistor divider. The resistor divider divides the supply voltage of the amplifier circuit system to generate a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, wherein the first reference voltage is between the high side supply voltage and the output voltage, and the second reference voltage is between the low side supply voltage and the output voltage. The first amplifier uses the first reference voltage to set the high side supply voltage of the second amplifier. The third amplifier uses the second reference voltage to set the low side supply voltage of the second amplifier. The second amplifier (also referred to as the signal path amplifier) ​​uses the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage to drive the output of the amplifier circuit system. However, using the first amplifier and the third amplifier to bootstrap the second amplifier to the output has a relatively large footprint, which produces thermal performance problems, stability problems, and output current that is still limited by the second amplifier.

[0020] Examples described herein include methods and apparatus for improving the output of an amplifier by implementing bootstrap techniques to increase the voltage swing, current, and slew rate at the output of the amplifier. Circuitry structured to implement bootstrap techniques has a feedback path from output to input that produces an effective high impedance input and improves input response. In some described examples, example amplifier circuitry includes input stage circuitry and output stage circuitry that implement bootstrap techniques to support increasingly complex outputs. In the described examples, both the input stage circuitry and the output stage circuitry utilize current feedback to bootstrap signal paths and boost output current, supporting high output voltage swings and high slew rates.

[0021] The input stage circuit system includes an input buffer circuit system, a bootstrap buffer circuit system, a voltage divider circuit system, and a transistor. The input buffer circuit system receives an input voltage at an inverting input and a non-inverting input. The input buffer circuit system uses the input voltage to generate an auxiliary input voltage proportional to the input voltage. The voltage divider circuit system generates first and second modulation input operating points by dividing the difference between the auxiliary input voltage and the supply voltage. The bootstrap buffer circuit system buffers the input operating point to control the base of the transistor, which may be referred to as a cascode transistor. The input buffer circuit system generates an input current representing the input voltage. Advantageously, the input stage circuit generates the input current in response to receiving the input voltage using the bootstrap buffer circuit system.

[0022] The output stage circuit system includes a current mirror circuit system, a pre-driver circuit system, a bootstrap buffer circuit system, a voltage divider circuit system, and a transistor. The current mirror circuit system mirrors the input current from the input stage circuit system. Some transistors supply a copy of the input current to the pre-driver circuit system (also referred to as the gate driver circuit system). The output stage circuit system converts the input current to a reference input voltage at a high impedance terminal, and the pre-driver circuit system uses the reference input voltage to bias the output stage circuit system of the amplifier circuit system. The pre-driver circuit system also controls the transistor to generate an auxiliary output voltage proportional to the output voltage. The voltage divider circuit system generates a first and second output operating point by dividing the difference between the auxiliary output voltage and the supply voltage. The bootstrap buffer circuit system buffers the output operating point to control the base of the transistor, which may be referred to as a common source common gate transistor. In response to the bootstrap buffer circuit system supplying the output operating point, the transistor increases the output current at the output of the amplifier circuit system. Advantageously, the output current of the boost amplifier circuit system increases the slew rate and improves the transient response. Advantageously, the amplifier circuitry described herein supports complex outputs by using bootstrapping to support high output voltage swings and high output currents with high slew rates and improved transient response.

[0023] Figure 11 is a block diagram of an example power supply system 100 including an example analog signal source circuit system 104, an example amplifier circuit system 108, and an example capacitive load 112. Figure 1 In the example of , amplifier circuitry 108 includes input stage circuitry 116 and output stage circuitry 120 . Figure 1 The example input stage circuit system 116 includes an example input buffer circuit system 124, a first example transistor 128, a first example bootstrap buffer circuit system 132, a first example voltage divider circuit system 136, a second example transistor 140, a second example bootstrap buffer circuit system 144, and a second example voltage divider circuit system 148. Figure 1 The example output stage circuit system 120 includes a first example current mirror circuit system 152, a third example transistor 156, a second example current mirror circuit system 160, a fourth example transistor 164, an example pre-driver circuit system 168, a fifth example transistor 170, a sixth example transistor 172, a third example bootstrap buffer circuit system 176, a third example voltage divider circuit system 180, a seventh example transistor 182, an eighth example transistor 184, a fourth example bootstrap buffer circuit system 188, and a fourth example voltage divider circuit system 192. Figure 1 In the example of , amplifier circuitry 108 is structured to supply a relatively high complexity output to capacitive load 112 in response to a relatively less complex input from analog signal source circuitry 104 .

[0024] The analog signal source circuit system 104 has a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to the amplifier circuit system 108. In some instances, the analog signal source circuit system 104 is a type of programmable circuit system, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), etc. The amplifier circuit system 108 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first and second terminals (also referred to as input terminals) of the amplifier circuit system 108 are coupled to the analog signal source circuit system 104. The third terminal (also referred to as the output terminal) of the amplifier circuit system 108 is coupled to the capacitive load 112. In such instances, the analog signal source circuit system 104 is integrated with the amplifier circuit system 108 (for example, in the same package or separate from the same integrated circuit). In other instances, the analog signal source circuit system 104 is external to the amplifier circuit system 108. In Figure 1In the example of , analog signal source circuitry 104 is structured as external circuitry that supplies an input voltage to amplifier circuitry 108. Capacitive load 112 has a terminal coupled to amplifier circuitry 108. In some examples, capacitive load 112 is external circuitry having a capacitive element, such as an LCD panel. Alternatively, amplifier circuitry 108 may be coupled to an alternate type of load having any combination of elements.

[0025] Input stage circuitry 116 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. The first and second terminals (also referred to as input terminals) of input stage circuitry 116 are coupled to analog signal source circuitry 104. The third and fourth terminals of input stage circuitry 116 are coupled to output stage circuitry 120. Figure 1 In the example of , the input stage circuit system 116 is structured as a voltage-to-current converter circuit system that generates a current as an output in response to an input voltage. Figure 2 , 3 An example of input stage circuitry 116 is shown and described in FIGS.

[0026] Output stage circuitry 120 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first and second terminals of output stage circuitry 120 are coupled to input stage circuitry 116. The third terminal of output stage circuitry 120 (also referred to as an output terminal) is coupled to capacitive load 112. Figure 1 In the example of , the output stage circuit system 120 is structured as a current-voltage converter circuit system that generates an output voltage in response to an input current. Figure 2 , 4A , 4B, 5 and 6 illustrate and describe examples of output stage circuitry 120.

[0027] Buffer circuit system 124 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. The first and second terminals of buffer circuit system 124 are coupled to analog signal source circuit system 104. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 124 is coupled to transistor 128. The fourth terminal of buffer circuit system 124 is coupled to transistor 140. Figure 2 , 3 An example of buffer circuitry 124 is shown and described in FIGS.

[0028] Transistor 128 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 128 is coupled to buffer circuitry 124. The second terminal of transistor 128 is coupled to output stage circuitry 120. The control terminal of transistor 128 is coupled to buffer circuitry 132.

[0029] The buffer circuit system 132 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. The first terminal of the buffer circuit system 132 is coupled to the supply voltage V CC In some examples, power supply system 100 supports high-side supply voltages ranging from negative twenty-five volts to positive thirty volts. A second terminal of buffer circuit system 132 is coupled to transistor 128. A third terminal of buffer circuit system 132 is coupled to voltage divider circuit system 136. A fourth terminal of buffer circuit system 132 is coupled to voltage divider circuit systems 136, 148, and buffer circuit system 144. Figure 2 , 3 An example of buffer circuitry 132 is shown and described in FIGS.

[0030] Voltage divider circuit system 136 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of voltage divider circuit system 136 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of voltage divider circuit system 136 is coupled to buffer circuit system 132. The third terminal of voltage divider circuit system 136 is coupled to buffer circuit system 132, 144, and voltage divider circuit system 148. Figure 2 , 3 An example of voltage divider circuitry 136 is shown and described in FIGS.

[0031] Transistor 140 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 140 is coupled to buffer circuitry 124. The second terminal of transistor 140 is coupled to output stage circuitry 120. The control terminal of transistor 140 is coupled to buffer circuitry 144.

[0032] The buffer circuit system 144 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. The first terminal of the buffer circuit system 144 is coupled to the supply voltage V EE A common terminal of the buffer circuit system 144. In some examples, the power supply system 100 supports a low side supply voltage ranging from positive twenty-five volts to negative thirty volts. In some such examples, the power supply system 100 supports high and low supply voltages having a sixty volt difference. A second terminal of the buffer circuit system 144 is coupled to the transistor 140. A third terminal of the buffer circuit system 144 is coupled to the voltage divider circuit system 148. A fourth terminal of the buffer circuit system 144 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 132 and the voltage divider circuit systems 136, 148. Figure 2 , 3 An example of buffer circuitry 144 is shown and described in FIGS.

[0033] The voltage divider circuit system 148 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of the voltage divider circuit system 148 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the voltage divider circuit system 148 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 144. The third terminal of the voltage divider circuit system 148 is coupled to the buffer circuit systems 132, 144 and the voltage divider circuit system 136. Figure 2 , 3 An example of voltage divider circuitry 148 is shown and described in FIGS.

[0034] Current mirror circuitry 152 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of current mirror circuitry 152 is coupled to input stage circuitry 116. The second terminal of current mirror circuitry 152 is coupled to transistor 156. The third terminal of current mirror circuitry 152 is coupled to transistor 170.

[0035] Transistor 156 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 156 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 152. The second terminal of transistor 156 is coupled to transistor 164 and pre-driver circuitry 168. The control terminal of transistor 156 is coupled to buffer circuitry 176.

[0036] Current mirror circuitry 160 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of current mirror circuitry 160 is coupled to input stage circuitry 116. The second terminal of current mirror circuitry 160 is coupled to transistor 164. The third terminal of current mirror circuitry 160 is coupled to transistor 182.

[0037] Transistor 164 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 164 is coupled to transistor 156 and pre-driver circuitry 168. The second terminal of transistor 164 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 160. The control terminal of transistor 164 is coupled to buffer circuitry 188.

[0038] Pre-driver circuit system 168 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a fourth terminal, a fifth terminal, and a sixth terminal. The first terminal of pre-driver circuit system 168 is coupled to transistors 156, 164. The second terminal of pre-driver circuit system 168 is coupled to transistor 170. The third terminal of pre-driver circuit system 168 is coupled to transistor 172. The fourth terminal of pre-driver circuit system 168 is coupled to transistor 182. The fifth terminal of pre-driver circuit system 168 is coupled to transistor 184. The sixth terminal (also referred to as the output terminal) of pre-driver circuit system 168 is coupled to capacitive load 112. Figure 2 An example of pre-driver circuitry 168 is shown and described in FIGS.

[0039] Transistor 170 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 170 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 152. The second terminal of transistor 170 is coupled to pre-driver circuitry 168. The control terminal of transistor 170 is coupled to transistor 172 and buffer circuitry 176.

[0040] Transistor 172 has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 172 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 172 is coupled to pre-driver circuitry 168. The control terminal of transistor 172 is coupled to transistor 170 and buffer circuitry 176.

[0041] Buffer circuit system 176 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a fourth terminal, and a fifth terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuit system 176 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of buffer circuit system 176 is coupled to transistor 156. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 176 is coupled to transistors 170, 172. The fourth terminal of buffer circuit system 176 is coupled to voltage divider circuit system 180. The fifth terminal of buffer circuit system 176 is coupled to voltage divider circuit systems 180, 192 and buffer circuit system 188. Figure 2 , 4 and 5 illustrate and describe examples of buffer circuit system 176.

[0042] Voltage divider circuit system 180 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of voltage divider circuit system 180 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of voltage divider circuit system 180 is coupled to buffer circuit system 176. The third terminal of voltage divider circuit system 180 is coupled to buffer circuit systems 176, 188, and voltage divider circuit system 192. Figure 2 An example of voltage divider circuitry 180 is shown and described in FIGS.

[0043] Transistor 182 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 182 is coupled to pre-driver circuitry 168. The second terminal of transistor 182 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 160. The control terminal of transistor 182 is coupled to transistor 184 and buffer circuitry 188.

[0044] Transistor 184 has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 184 is coupled to pre-driver circuit system 168. The second terminal of transistor 184 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The control terminal of transistor 184 is coupled to transistor 182 and buffer circuit system 188.

[0045] Buffer circuit system 188 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a fourth terminal and a fifth terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuit system 188 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The second terminal of buffer circuit system 188 is coupled to transistor 164. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 188 is coupled to transistors 182, 184. The fourth terminal of buffer circuit system 188 is coupled to voltage divider circuit system 192. The fifth terminal of buffer circuit system 188 is coupled to buffer circuit system 176 and voltage divider circuit systems 180, 192. Figure 2 , 4 and 5 illustrate and describe examples of buffer circuit system 188.

[0046] The voltage divider circuit system 192 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of the voltage divider circuit system 192 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the voltage divider circuit system 192 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 188. The third terminal of the voltage divider circuit system 192 is coupled to the buffer circuit systems 176, 188 and the voltage divider circuit system 180. Figure 2 An example of voltage divider circuitry 192 is shown and described in FIGS.

[0047] exist Figure 1 In the example of , transistors 128, 164, 172, 182 are NPN bipolar junction transistors (BJTs). Alternatively, transistors 128, 164, 172, 182 may be n-channel field effect transistors (FETs), n-channel insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), n-channel junction field effect transistors (JFETs), n-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), or, with slight modifications, p-type equivalent devices. Figure 1 In the example of , transistors 140, 156, 170, 184 are PNP BJTs. Alternatively, transistors 140, 156, 170, 184 may be p-channel FETs, p-channel IGBTs, p-channel JFETs, p-channel MOSFETs, or N-type equivalent devices with slight modifications. Transistors 128, 140, 156, 164, 170, 172, 182, 184 may be depletion-mode devices, drain-extended devices, enhancement-mode devices, natural transistors, or other types of device structure transistors. Furthermore, transistors 128, 140, 156, 164, 170, 172, 182, 184 may be implemented in / on a silicon substrate (Si), a silicon carbide substrate (SiC), a gallium nitride substrate (GaN), or a gallium arsenide substrate (GaAs).

[0048] Figure 2 For Figure 1FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example amplifier circuit system 200 of an example amplifier circuit system 108 of FIG. Figure 2 In the example of , amplifier circuitry 200 includes a first feedback resistor 202 , a second feedback resistor 204 , an input stage circuitry 206 , and an output stage circuitry 208 . Figure 2 The example input stage circuit system 206 includes an example input buffer circuit system 210, a first example transistor 212, a first example bootstrap buffer circuit system 214, a first example voltage divider circuit system 216, a second example transistor 218, a second example bootstrap buffer circuit system 220 and a second example voltage divider circuit system 222. Figure 2 The example buffer circuitry 214 includes a first example buffer circuitry 224 , a first example resistor 226 , and a first example capacitor 228 . Figure 2 The example voltage divider circuitry 216 includes a second example resistor 230 and a third example resistor 232 . Figure 2 The example buffer circuitry 220 includes a second example buffer circuitry 234 , a fourth example resistor 236 , and a second example capacitor 238 . Figure 2 The example voltage divider circuitry 222 includes a fifth example resistor 240 and a sixth example resistor 242 .

[0049] Figure 2 The example output stage circuit system 208 includes a first example current mirror circuit system 243, a first example transistor 244, a second example current mirror circuit system 245, a second example transistor 246, a first example capacitor 247, an example pre-driver circuit system 248, a third example transistor 249, a fourth example transistor 250, a fifth example transistor 251, a first example bootstrap buffer circuit system 252, a first example voltage divider circuit system 253, a sixth example transistor 254, a seventh example transistor 255, an eighth example transistor 256, a second example bootstrap buffer circuit system 257 and a second voltage divider circuit system 258. Figure 2 The example pre-driver circuitry 248 includes a first example buffer circuitry 259 , a ninth example transistor 260 , a tenth example transistor 261 , an eleventh example transistor 262 , a thirteenth example transistor 263 , a fourteenth example transistor 264 , and a fifteenth example transistor 265 . Figure 2 The example buffer circuit system 252 includes a second example buffer circuit system 266, a first example resistor 267, a second example resistor 268, and a second example capacitor 269. Figure 2 The example voltage divider circuitry 253 includes a third example resistor 270 and a fourth example resistor 271 . Figure 2The example buffer circuit system 257 includes a third example buffer circuit system 272, a fifth example resistor 273, a sixth example resistor 274, and a third example capacitor 275. Figure 2 The example voltage divider circuitry 258 includes a seventh example resistor 276 and an eighth example resistor 277 .

[0050] Resistor 202 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 202 is coupled to resistor 204 and input stage circuitry 206. The second terminal of resistor 202 is coupled to output stage circuitry 208. Resistor 204 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 204 is coupled to resistor 202 and input stage circuitry 206. The second terminal of resistor 204 is coupled to a common terminal that supplies a common potential (e.g., ground). Figure 2 In the example of FIG. 2 , resistors 202 , 204 are structured as a feedback network having resistances that set the gain of amplifier circuit system 200 . Figure 2 In the example of the embodiment, the resistors 202, 204 are shown as being external to the amplifier circuit system 200, but in some examples, the resistors 202, 204 are internal to the amplifier circuit system 200. In such examples, the amplifier circuit system 200 is structured as an open-loop amplifier. Furthermore, in other examples, the resistors 202, 204 are not included in the system.

[0051] Input stage circuitry 206 is coupled to resistors 202, 204 and output stage circuitry 208. In some examples, for example, Figure 1 , the input stage circuitry 206 is coupled to Figure 1 The analog signal source circuit system 104 supplies the analog input signal. The input stage circuit system 206 is Figure 1 The output stage circuit system 208 is coupled to the resistor 202 and the input stage circuit system 206. In some examples, such as in Figure 1 , the output stage circuit system 208 is coupled to a load, such as Figure 1 The capacitive load 112. The output stage circuit system 208 is Figure 1 An example of output stage circuit system 120 is shown in FIG. Figure 2 In the example of , input stage circuitry 206 and output stage circuitry 208 are structured as amplifier circuitry 200 .

[0052] The buffer circuit system 210 is coupled to a non-inverting input terminal (V IN+ ), an inverting input terminal (V IN- ) and transistors 212, 218. In some examples, external circuitry (e.g., Figure 1 The analog signal source circuit system 104) is structured to supply an input voltage to the buffer circuit system 210 by setting a positive phase and a negative phase input terminal. The buffer circuit system 210 is Figure 1 The following is an example of a buffer circuit system 124. Figure 6 Another example of buffer circuitry 210 is shown and described.

[0053] Transistor 212 is coupled to output stage circuitry 208 and buffer circuitry 210, 214. Transistor 212 is Figure 1 Buffer circuitry 214 is coupled to transistor 212, voltage divider circuitry 216, 222, and buffer circuitry 220. Buffer circuitry 214 is Figure 1 1. The voltage divider circuit system 216 is coupled to the buffer circuit systems 214, 220 and the voltage divider circuit system 222. The voltage divider circuit system 216 is Figure 1 An example of a voltage divider circuit system 136.

[0054] Transistor 218 is coupled to output stage circuitry 208 and buffer circuitry 210, 220. Transistor 218 is Figure 1 Buffer circuit system 220 is coupled to transistor 218, buffer circuit system 214 and voltage divider circuit systems 216, 222. Buffer circuit system 220 is Figure 1 14. Voltage divider circuitry 222 is coupled to buffer circuitry 214, 220 and voltage divider circuitry 216. Voltage divider circuitry 222 is Figure 1 An example of voltage divider circuit system 148.

[0055] Buffer circuit system 224 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuit system 224 is coupled to voltage divider circuit system 216. The second terminal of buffer circuit system 224 is coupled to resistor 226. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 224 is coupled to voltage divider circuit systems 216, 222, and buffer circuit system 220. Figure 3An example of a buffer circuit system 224 is depicted and described. A resistor 226 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the resistor 226 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 224. The second terminal of the resistor 226 is coupled to the transistor 212 and the capacitor 228. The capacitor 228 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the capacitor 228 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the capacitor 228 is coupled to the transistor 212 and the resistor 226. The resistor 226 and the capacitor 228 are structured as a low-pass filter circuit system that has a corner frequency that suppresses relatively high frequency transients to improve the stable response at the output of the buffer circuit system 224.

[0056] Resistor 230 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 230 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of resistor 230 is coupled to buffer circuit system 214 and resistor 232. Resistor 232 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 232 is coupled to buffer circuit system 214 and resistor 230. The second terminal of resistor 232 is coupled to buffer circuit system 214, 220 and voltage divider circuit system 222. Resistors 230, 232 are structured as a voltage divider that sets the input of buffer circuit system 214 to a voltage that is halfway between the auxiliary input voltage and the high-side supply voltage. The auxiliary input voltage is a copy of the non-inverting input terminal of buffer circuit system 210. Figure 3 Examples of auxiliary input voltages are further described.

[0057] Buffer circuit system 234 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuit system 234 is coupled to voltage divider circuit system 222. The second terminal of buffer circuit system 234 is coupled to resistor 236. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 234 is coupled to buffer circuit system 214 and voltage divider circuit systems 216, 222. Figure 3 An example of a buffer circuit system 234 is depicted and described. A resistor 236 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the resistor 236 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 234. The second terminal of the resistor 236 is coupled to the transistor 218 and the capacitor 238. The capacitor 238 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the capacitor 238 is coupled to a common potential for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the capacitor 238 is coupled to the transistor 218 and the resistor 236. The resistor 236 and the capacitor 238 are structured as a low-pass filter circuit system having a corner frequency that suppresses relatively high frequency transients to improve the stable response at the output of the buffer circuit system 234.

[0058] Resistor 240 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 240 is coupled to buffer circuitry 214, 220 and voltage divider circuitry 216. The second terminal of resistor 240 is coupled to buffer circuitry 220 and resistor 242. Resistor 242 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 242 is coupled to buffer circuitry 220 and resistor 240. The second terminal of resistor 242 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. Resistors 240, 242 are structured as a voltage divider that sets the input of buffer circuitry 220 to a voltage that is located in the middle between the low-side supply voltage and the auxiliary input voltage.

[0059] Current mirror circuitry 243 is coupled to input stage circuitry 206 and transistors 244, 249. Current mirror circuitry 243 is Figure 1 1. Transistor 244 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 243, transistors 246, 251, capacitor 247, pre-driver circuitry 248, and buffer circuitry 252. Transistor 244 is Figure 1 An example of transistor 156.

[0060] Current mirror circuitry 245 is coupled to input stage circuitry 206 and transistors 246, 254. Current mirror circuitry 245 is Figure 1 1. Transistor 246 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 243, transistors 244, 256, capacitor 247, pre-driver circuitry 248, and buffer circuitry 257. Transistor 246 is Figure 1 An example of transistor 164.

[0061] Capacitor 247 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of capacitor 247 is coupled to transistors 244, 246 and pre-driver circuitry 248. The second terminal of capacitor 247 is coupled to a common terminal that supplies a common potential (eg, ground). Figure 2 In the example of , capacitor 247 is structured as a current-to-voltage converter circuit system that generates a reference voltage in response to the current from transistors 244 , 246 .

[0062] Pre-driver circuitry 248 is coupled to transistors 244, 246, 249, 250, 251, 254, 255, 256 and capacitor 247. In some examples, for example Figure 1 , the pre-driver circuit system 248 is coupled to a load, such as Figure 1 The capacitive load 112. The pre-driver circuit system 248 is Figure 1An example of a pre-driver circuit system 168 is provided below. Figure 4B Another example of pre-driver circuitry 248 is shown and described.

[0063] Transistor 249 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 243, pre-driver circuitry 248, transistor 250, and buffer circuitry 252. Transistor 249 is Figure 1 2 is an example of transistor 170. Transistor 250 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage, pre-driver circuitry 248, transistor 249, and buffer circuitry 252. Transistor 250 is Figure 1 An example of transistor 172.

[0064] Transistor 251 has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 251 is coupled to a supply terminal supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 251 is coupled to pre-driver circuitry 248. The control terminal of transistor 251 is coupled to transistor 244 and buffer circuitry 252.

[0065] Buffer circuitry 252 is coupled to transistors 244, 249, 250, 251, voltage divider circuitry 253, 258, and buffer circuitry 257. Buffer circuitry 252 is Figure 1 1. The voltage divider circuit system 253 is coupled to the buffer circuit systems 252, 257 and the voltage divider circuit system 258. The voltage divider circuit system 253 is Figure 1 An example of a voltage divider circuit system 180.

[0066] Transistor 254 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 245, pre-driver circuitry 248, transistor 255, and buffer circuitry 257. Transistor 254 is Figure 1 255 is an example of transistor 182. Transistor 255 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage, pre-driver circuitry 248, and buffer circuitry 257. Transistor 255 is Figure 1 An example of transistor 182.

[0067] Transistor 256 has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 256 is coupled to pre-driver circuit system 248. The second terminal of transistor 256 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The control terminal of transistor 256 is coupled to transistor 246 and buffer circuit system 257.

[0068] Buffer circuitry 257 is coupled to transistors 246, 254, 256, 255, buffer circuitry 252, and voltage divider circuitry 253, 258. Buffer circuitry 257 is Figure 1 188. Voltage divider circuitry 258 is coupled to buffer circuitry 252, 257 and voltage divider circuitry 253. Voltage divider circuitry 258 is Figure 1 An example of a voltage divider circuit system 192.

[0069] Buffer circuit system 259 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a fourth terminal, and a fifth terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuit system 259 is coupled to transistors 244, 246, and capacitor 247. The second terminal of buffer circuit system 259 is coupled to transistor 249. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 259 is coupled to transistor 254. The fourth terminal of buffer circuit system 259 is coupled to transistor 260. The fifth terminal of buffer circuit system 259 is coupled to transistor 264. Figure 4B An example of buffer circuitry 259 is shown and described.

[0070] Transistor 260 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 260 is coupled to transistor 250. The second terminal of transistor 260 is coupled to transistors 261, 262, 263. The control terminal of transistor 260 is coupled to buffer circuitry 259. Transistor 261 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 261 is coupled to transistor 251. The second terminal of transistor 261 is coupled to transistor 265 and the output terminal of amplifier circuitry 200. The control terminal of transistor 261 is coupled to transistors 260, 262, 263.

[0071] Transistor 262 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 262 is coupled to transistors 260, 261, 263. The second terminal of transistor 262 is coupled to transistors 263, 264, 265. The control terminal of transistor 262 is coupled to transistor 263. Transistor 263 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 263 is coupled to transistors 260, 261, 262. The second terminal of transistor 263 is coupled to transistors 262, 264, 265. The control terminal of transistor 263 is coupled to transistor 262. Transistors 262, 263 are structured as a diode circuit system that adjusts the direction of current.

[0072] Transistor 264 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 264 is coupled to transistors 262, 263, 265. The second terminal of transistor 264 is coupled to transistor 255. The control terminal of transistor 264 is coupled to buffer circuitry 259. Transistor 265 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 265 is coupled to transistor 261 and the output terminal of amplifier circuitry 200. The second terminal of transistor 265 is coupled to transistor 256. The control terminal of transistor 265 is coupled to transistors 262, 263, 264.

[0073] Buffer circuit system 266 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuit system 266 is coupled to voltage divider circuit system 253. The second terminal of buffer circuit system 266 is coupled to resistor 267. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 266 is coupled to resistor 268. The fourth terminal of buffer circuit system 266 is coupled to voltage divider circuit systems 253, 258 and buffer circuit system 257.

[0074] Resistor 267 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 267 is coupled to buffer circuit system 266. The second terminal of resistor 267 is coupled to transistors 244, 251 and capacitor 269. Resistor 268 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 268 is coupled to buffer circuit system 266. The second terminal of resistor 268 is coupled to transistors 249, 250. Capacitor 269 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of capacitor 269 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of capacitor 269 is coupled to transistors 244, 251 and resistor 267. Resistor 267 and capacitor 269 are structured as a timing circuit system that has a timing constant that suppresses relatively high frequency transients to improve the settling time at the output of buffer circuit system 266.

[0075] Resistor 270 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 270 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of resistor 270 is coupled to buffer circuit system 252 and resistor 271. Resistor 271 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 271 is coupled to buffer circuit system 252 and resistor 270. The second terminal of resistor 271 is coupled to buffer circuit system 252, 257 and voltage divider circuit system 258. Resistors 270, 271 are structured to set the input of buffer circuit system 252 to a voltage that is halfway between the auxiliary output voltage and the high-side supply voltage. The auxiliary output voltage is a copy of the output voltage at the output terminal of amplifier circuit system 200. The following is combined with Figure 4B Examples of auxiliary output voltages are further described.

[0076] Buffer circuit system 272 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuit system 272 is coupled to voltage divider circuit system 258. The second terminal of buffer circuit system 272 is coupled to resistor 273. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 272 is coupled to resistor 274. The fourth terminal of buffer circuit system 272 is coupled to buffer circuit system 252 and voltage divider circuit systems 253, 258.

[0077] Resistor 273 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 273 is coupled to buffer circuit system 272. The second terminal of resistor 273 is coupled to transistors 254, 255. Resistor 274 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 274 is coupled to buffer circuit system 272. The second terminal of resistor 274 is coupled to transistors 246, 256 and capacitor 275. Capacitor 275 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of capacitor 275 is coupled to transistors 246, 256 and resistor 274. The second terminal of capacitor 275 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. Resistor 274 and capacitor 275 are structured as a timing circuit system having a timing constant that suppresses relatively high frequency transients to improve the settling time at the output of buffer circuit system 272.

[0078] Resistor 276 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 276 is coupled to buffer circuitry 252, 257 and voltage divider circuitry 253, 258. The second terminal of resistor 276 is coupled to buffer circuitry 257 and resistor 277. Resistor 277 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 277 is coupled to buffer circuitry 257 and resistor 276. The second terminal of resistor 277 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. Resistors 276, 277 are structured to set the input of buffer circuitry 257 to a voltage that is located in the middle between the auxiliary output voltage and the low-side supply voltage.

[0079] exist Figure 2 In the example of , transistors 212, 246, 250, 251, 254, 260, 261, 262 are NPN BJTs. Alternatively, transistors 212, 246, 250, 251, 254, 260, 261, 262 may be n-channel FETs, n-channel IGBTs, n-channel JFETs, n-channel MOSFETs, or, with slight modifications, p-type equivalent devices. Figure 2In the example of FIG. 1 , transistors 218, 244, 249, 255, 256, 263, 264, 265 are PNP BJTs. Alternatively, transistors 218, 244, 249, 255, 256, 263, 264, 265 may be p-channel FETs, p-channel IGBTs, p-channel JFETs, p-channel MOSFETs, or N-type equivalent devices with slight modifications. Transistors 212, 218, 244, 246, 249, 250, 251, 254, 256, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265 may be depletion-mode devices, drain-extended devices, enhancement-mode devices, natural transistors, or other types of device structure transistors. Furthermore, transistors 212 , 218 , 244 , 246 , 249 , 250 , 251 , 254 , 256 , 260 , 261 , 262 , 263 , 264 , 265 may be implemented in / on a silicon substrate (Si), a silicon carbide substrate (SiC), a gallium nitride substrate (GaN), or a gallium arsenide substrate (GaAs).

[0080] Figure 3 As Figure 1 and 2 Schematic diagram of an example input stage circuit system 300 of an example implementation of the input stage circuit system 116, 206 of FIG. Figure 3 In the example, the input stage circuit system 300 includes an input buffer circuit system 302, a first transistor 304, a second transistor 306, a first bootstrap buffer circuit system 308, a first voltage divider circuit system 310, a third transistor 312, a fourth transistor 314, a second bootstrap buffer circuit system 316, a second voltage divider circuit system 318, a fifth transistor 320, a sixth transistor 322, a first current source circuit system 324 and a second current source circuit system 326. Figure 3 The example buffer circuitry 308 includes a first example buffer circuitry 328 , a first example resistor 330 , and a first example capacitor 332 . Figure 3 The example buffer circuitry 328 includes a seventh example transistor 334 , an eighth example transistor 336 , a ninth example transistor 338 , and a tenth example transistor 340 . Figure 3 The example voltage divider circuitry 310 includes a second example resistor 342 , a second example capacitor 344 , a third example resistor 346 , and a third example capacitor 348 . Figure 3 The example buffer circuitry 316 includes a second example buffer circuitry 350 , a fourth example resistor 352 , and a fourth example capacitor 354 . Figure 3 The example buffer circuitry 350 includes an eleventh example transistor 356 , a twelfth example transistor 358 , a thirteenth example transistor 360 , and a fourteenth example transistor 362 . Figure 3 The example voltage divider circuitry 318 includes a sixth example resistor 364 , a sixth example capacitor 366 , a seventh example resistor 368 , and a seventh example capacitor 370 .

[0081] The buffer circuit system 302 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. The first terminal of the buffer circuit system 302 is coupled to supply a first input voltage V IN+ The second terminal of the buffer circuit system 302 is coupled to the supply second input voltage V IN- The inverting input terminal of Figure 3 In the example of Figure 1 and 2 The third terminal of the buffer circuit system 302 is coupled to the transistor 304. The fourth terminal of the buffer circuit system 302 is coupled to the transistor 312. The buffer circuit system 302 is Figure 1 and 2 Another example of a buffer circuit system 124, 210.

[0082] Transistor 304 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 304 is coupled to transistor 306. The second terminal of transistor 304 is coupled to supply an auxiliary input voltage (auxiliary V IN+ ) of an auxiliary input terminal. The auxiliary input voltage is a voltage proportional to the voltage difference between the first input voltage and the second input voltage (also referred to as the input voltage). In example operation, the auxiliary input voltage is approximately equal to the input voltage of the amplifier circuit system 108, 200. The control terminal of transistor 304 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 302. Transistor 306 has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 306 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 306 is coupled to transistor 304. The control terminal of transistor 306 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 308. In Figure 3 In the example of , transistors 304, 306 are structured to source a high-side input current I from a supply terminal INPUT_HI .exist Figure 1 and 2 In the example of , the current mirror circuit system 152, 243 is structured to mirror the high-side input current. In such an example, the current mirror circuit system 152, 243 can be coupled between the transistor 306 and the supply terminal.

[0083] The buffer circuit system 308 is coupled to the transistors 306, 320, 322, the current source circuit system 324, a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage, and an auxiliary input terminal for supplying an auxiliary input voltage. Figure 1 and 2 1 , 214. The voltage divider circuit system 310 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 308, the supply terminal for supplying the high-side supply voltage, and the auxiliary input terminal for supplying the auxiliary input voltage. The voltage divider circuit system 310 is Figure 1 and 2 Another example of a voltage divider circuit system 136, 216.

[0084] Transistor 312 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 312 is coupled to an auxiliary input terminal for supplying an auxiliary input voltage. The second terminal of transistor 312 is coupled to transistor 314. The control terminal of transistor 312 is coupled to buffer circuit system 302. Transistor 314 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 314 is coupled to transistor 312. The second terminal of transistor 314 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The control terminal of transistor 314 is coupled to buffer circuit system 316. Figure 3 In the example of , transistors 312, 314 are structured to convert the low-side input current I INPUT_LOW supplied to the common terminal. Figure 1 and 2 In the example of , the current mirror circuit system 160, 245 is structured to mirror the low-side input current. In such an example, the current mirror circuit system 160, 245 is coupled between the transistor 314 and the common potential.

[0085] The buffer circuit system 316 is coupled to the transistors 314, 320, 322, the current source circuit system 326, a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage, and an auxiliary input terminal for supplying an auxiliary input voltage. Figure 1 and 2 The voltage divider circuit system 318 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 316, the common terminal for supplying the low-side supply voltage, and the auxiliary input terminal for supplying the auxiliary input voltage. The voltage divider circuit system 318 is Figure 1 and 2 Another example of a voltage divider circuit system 148, 222.

[0086] Transistor 320 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 320 is coupled to buffer circuitry 308. The second terminal of transistor 320 is coupled to buffer circuitry 316. The control terminal of transistor 320 is coupled to an auxiliary input terminal for supplying an auxiliary input voltage. Transistor 322 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 322 is coupled to buffer circuitry 308. The second terminal of transistor 322 is coupled to buffer circuitry 316. The control terminal of transistor 322 is coupled to an auxiliary input terminal for supplying an auxiliary input voltage. Figure 3 In the example of FIG. 1 , transistors 320, 322 are structured to implement cascode control of current between buffer circuit systems 308, 316. In such an example, the control terminals of coupling transistors 320, 322 are selected to form a current path between buffer circuit systems 308, 316 using one of transistors 320 or transistors 322 to implement cascode control.

[0087] Current source circuit system 324 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of current source circuit system 324 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of current source circuit system 324 is coupled to buffer circuit system 308. Current source circuit system 326 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of current source circuit system 326 is coupled to buffer circuit system 316. The second terminal of current source circuit system 326 is coupled to a common terminal that supplies a low-side supply voltage. Figure 3 In the example of , the current source circuit system 324, 326 is structured as a bias circuit system that uses a bias current to promote the buffer circuit system 308, 316 to be in an operating state. For example, in response to the input voltage causing the auxiliary voltage to approach the high-side supply voltage, the current source circuit system 324, 326 supplies current to drive the buffer circuit system 308, 316.

[0088] The buffer circuit system 328 is coupled to the voltage divider circuit system 310, the transistors 320, 322, the current source circuit system 324, the resistor 330, the supply terminal for supplying the high-side supply voltage, and the auxiliary input terminal for supplying the auxiliary input voltage. Figure 2 306, the buffer circuit system 328 and the capacitor 332. The resistor 330 is Figure 2 306, resistor 330, and a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. Capacitor 332 is Figure 2 An example of capacitor 228.

[0089] Transistor 334 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 334 is coupled to current source circuitry 324 and transistor 338. The second terminal of transistor 334 is coupled to transistor 322. The control terminal of transistor 334 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 310 and transistor 336. Transistor 336 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 336 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 336 is coupled to transistors 320, 340. The control terminal of transistor 336 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 310 and transistor 334.

[0090] Transistor 338 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 338 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 338 is coupled to resistor 330 and transistor 340. The control terminal of transistor 338 is coupled to current source circuitry 324 and transistor 334. Transistor 340 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 340 is coupled to resistor 330 and transistor 338. The second terminal of transistor 340 is coupled to an auxiliary input terminal for supplying an auxiliary input voltage. The control terminal of transistor 340 is coupled to transistors 320, 336. Figure 3 In the example of FIG. 4 , transistors 338 , 340 are structured as emitter followers, which allows transistors 338 , 340 to generate a voltage between the high-side supply voltage and the auxiliary voltage.

[0091] Resistor 342 is coupled to buffer circuitry 308, capacitors 344, 348, resistor 346, and a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. Resistor 342 is Figure 2 344 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of capacitor 344 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of capacitor 344 is coupled to buffer circuitry 308, resistors 342, 346, and capacitor 348. Resistor 346 is coupled to buffer circuitry 308, resistor 342, capacitors 344, 348, and an auxiliary input terminal that supplies an auxiliary input voltage. Resistor 346 is Figure 2 344. The capacitor 348 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the capacitor 348 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 308, the resistors 342, 346 and the capacitor 344. The second terminal of the capacitor 348 is coupled to the auxiliary input terminal supplying the auxiliary input voltage.

[0092] exist Figure 3In the example of , resistors 342, 346 and capacitors 344, 348 are structured as a voltage divider circuit system that divides the voltage between the high-side supply voltage and the auxiliary input voltage. In addition, resistors 342, 346 and capacitors 344, 348 are structured as a timing circuit system that has a time constant that suppresses relatively high frequency transients to improve stability at the input of the buffer circuit system 308.

[0093] Buffer circuit system 350 is coupled to voltage divider circuit system 318, transistors 320, 322, current source circuit system 326, resistor 352, a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage, and an auxiliary input terminal for supplying an auxiliary input voltage. Buffer circuit system 350 is Figure 2 350 and capacitor 354. Resistor 352 is coupled to transistor 314, buffer circuitry 350, and capacitor 354. Resistor 352 is Figure 2 354 is an example of a resistor 236 of FIG. Capacitor 354 is coupled to transistor 314, resistor 352, and a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. Capacitor 354 is Figure 2 An example of capacitor 238.

[0094] Transistor 356 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 356 is coupled to transistors 322, 360. The second terminal of transistor 356 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The control terminal of transistor 356 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 318 and transistor 358. Transistor 358 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 358 is coupled to transistor 320. The second terminal of transistor 358 is coupled to current source circuitry 326 and transistor 362. The control terminal of transistor 358 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 318 and transistor 356.

[0095] Transistor 360 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 360 is coupled to an auxiliary input terminal for supplying an auxiliary input voltage. The second terminal of transistor 360 is coupled to resistor 352 and transistor 362. The control terminal of transistor 360 is coupled to transistors 322, 356. Transistor 362 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 362 is coupled to resistor 352 and transistor 360. The second terminal of transistor 362 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The control terminal of transistor 362 is coupled to current source circuit system 326 and transistor 358. Figure 3 In the example of , transistors 360 , 362 are structured as emitter followers, which allows transistors 360 , 362 to generate a voltage between the auxiliary voltage and the low-side supply voltage.

[0096] Resistor 364 is coupled to buffer circuitry 316, capacitors 366, 370, resistor 368, and an auxiliary input terminal that supplies an auxiliary input voltage. Figure 2 360 is an example of a resistor 240 of FIG. Capacitor 366 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of capacitor 366 is coupled to resistor 364 and an auxiliary input terminal for supplying an auxiliary input voltage. The second terminal of capacitor 366 is coupled to buffer circuit system 316, resistors 364, 368, and capacitor 370. Resistor 368 is coupled to buffer circuit system 316, resistor 364, capacitor 366, 370, and a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. Capacitor 370 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of capacitor 370 is coupled to buffer circuit system 316, resistors 364, 368, and capacitor 366. The second terminal of capacitor 370 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage.

[0097] exist Figure 3 In the example of , resistors 364, 368 and capacitors 366, 370 are structured as a voltage divider circuit system that divides the voltage between the auxiliary input voltage and the low-side supply voltage. In addition, resistors 364, 368 and capacitors 366, 370 are structured as a timing circuit system that has a time constant that suppresses relatively high frequency transients to improve stability at the input of the buffer circuit system 316.

[0098] exist Figure 3 In the example of , transistors 304, 306, 320, 336, 338, 358, 360 are NPN BJTs. Alternatively, transistors 304, 306, 320, 336 338, 358, 360 may be n-channel FETs, n-channel IGBTs, n-channel JFETs, n-channel MOSFETs, or p-type equivalent devices with slight modifications. Figure 3In the example of FIG. 1 , transistors 312, 314, 322, 334, 340, 356, 362 are PNP BJTs. Alternatively, transistors 312, 314, 322, 334, 340, 356, 362 may be p-channel FETs, p-channel IGBTs, p-channel JFETs, p-channel MOSFETs, or N-type equivalent devices with slight modifications. Transistors 304, 306, 312, 314, 320, 322, 334, 336, 338, 340, 356, 358, 360, 362 may be depletion-mode devices, drain-extended devices, enhancement-mode devices, natural transistors, or other types of device structure transistors. Furthermore, transistors 304 , 306 , 312 , 314 , 320 , 322 , 334 , 336 , 338 , 340 , 356 , 358 , 360 , 362 may be implemented in / on a silicon substrate (Si), a silicon carbide substrate (SiC), a gallium nitride substrate (GaN), or a gallium arsenide substrate (GaAs).

[0099] Figure 4A and 4B As Figure 1 and 2 Schematic diagram of an example output stage circuit system 400 of an example implementation of the output stage circuit system 120, 208. Figure 4A and 4B In the example of the output stage circuit system 400, the output stage circuit system 400 includes a first current mirror circuit system 402, a first transistor 403, a second current mirror circuit system 404, a second transistor 405, a pre-driver circuit system 406, a third transistor 407, a fourth transistor 408, a fifth transistor 409, a sixth transistor 410, a third current mirror circuit system 412, a seventh transistor 413, a first bootstrap buffer circuit system 414, a first current source circuit system 415, a fourth current mirror circuit system 416, a first voltage divider circuit system 418, an eighth transistor 419, a ninth transistor 420, a tenth transistor 421, an eleventh transistor 422, a third A fifth current mirror circuit system 424, a twelfth transistor 425, a second bootstrap buffer circuit system 426, a second current source circuit system 427, a sixth current mirror circuit system 428, a second voltage divider circuit system 430, a thirteenth transistor 431, a first resistor 432, a second resistor 433, a fourteenth transistor 434, a third resistor 435, a fifteenth transistor 436, a fourth resistor 437, a first buffer circuit system 438, a fifth resistor 439, a sixteenth transistor 440, a sixth resistor 441, a seventeenth transistor 442, an eighteenth transistor 443, a nineteenth transistor 444 and a twentieth transistor 445.

[0100] Figure 4AThe example pre-driver circuit system 406 includes a first example transistor 446, a second example transistor 447, a third example transistor 448, a fourth example transistor 449, a fifth example transistor 450, a sixth example transistor 451, a seventh example transistor 452, a first example capacitor 453, an eighth example transistor 454, a ninth example transistor 455, a tenth example transistor 456, a second example capacitor 457, an eleventh example transistor 458, a twelfth example transistor 459, a thirteenth example transistor 460, a first example resistor 461, a second example resistor 462 and a fourteenth example transistor 463. Figure 4B The example buffer circuitry 414 includes an example buffer circuitry 464 , a first example resistor 465 , a second example resistor 466 , and an example capacitor 467 . Figure 4B The example voltage divider circuitry 418 includes a first example resistor 468 and a second example resistor 469 . Figure 4B The example buffer circuitry 426 includes an example buffer circuitry 472 , a first example resistor 473 , a second example resistor 474 , and an example capacitor 475 . Figure 4B The example voltage divider circuitry 430 includes a first example resistor 476 and a second example resistor 478 .

[0101] Current mirror circuitry 402 is coupled to Figure 1 , 2 The input stage circuit systems 116, 206, 300, transistors 403, 407, 408, current mirror circuit system 412 and supply terminals for supplying high-side supply voltage. The current mirror circuit system 402 is Figure 1 and 2 Another example of current mirror circuitry 152, 243. Transistor 403 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 402, pre-driver circuitry 406, transistors 407, 410, 413, and buffer circuitry 414. Transistor 403 is Figure 1 and 2 156, 244. Current mirror circuitry 404 is coupled to input stage circuitry 116, 206, transistors 405, 419, 420, current mirror circuitry 424, and a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. Transistor 405 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 404, pre-driver circuitry 406, transistors 419, 420, 422, 425, and buffer circuitry 426. Transistor 405 is Figure 1 and 2 Another example of transistors 164, 246.

[0102] Pre-driver circuitry 406 is coupled to transistors 403, 405, 407, 408, 409, 410, 419, 420, 421, 422, 431, 434 and an output terminal that supplies an output voltage to a load. Pre-driver circuitry 406 is Figure 1 and 2 4, the pre-driver circuit system 406 is structured as a three-rank pre-driver that uses three groups of transistors to produce relatively high output current, relatively low quiescent current, and relatively high linearity.

[0103] Transistor 407 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 407 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 402. The second terminal of transistor 407 is coupled to pre-driver circuitry 406. The control terminal of transistor 407 is coupled to transistors 403, 410, 413, and buffer circuitry 414. Transistor 408 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 402, 412, pre-driver circuitry 406, transistor 409, and buffer circuitry 414. Transistor 408 is Figure 1 and 2 409 is another example of transistor 170, 249. Transistor 409 is coupled to pre-driver circuit system 406, transistor 408, buffer circuit system 414 and a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. Transistor 409 is Figure 1 and 2 Another example of transistors 172, 250.

[0104] Transistor 410 has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 410 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 412. The second terminal of transistor 410 is coupled to pre-driver circuitry 406. The control terminal of transistor 410 is coupled to transistors 403, 407, 413 and buffer circuitry 414.

[0105] Current mirror circuit system 412 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a fourth terminal, and a fifth terminal. The first terminal of current mirror circuit system 412 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of current mirror circuit system 412 is coupled to current mirror circuit system 402 and transistor 408. The third terminal of current mirror circuit system 412 is coupled to transistor 410. The fourth terminal of current mirror circuit system 412 is coupled to buffer circuit system 414 and current mirror circuit system 416. The fifth terminal of current mirror circuit system 412 is coupled to buffer circuit system 426. Figure 4A and 4BIn the example of , the current mirror circuit system 412 is structured as a feedback circuit system that uses a feedback current I proportional to the output current at the output terminal. OUT / 256 and dynamic bias current IB dynamic to bias the output stage circuit system 400. Advantageously, the current mirror circuit system 412 uses the feedback current to dynamically boost the output stage circuit system 400. Advantageously, the current mirror circuit system 412 reduces the response time of the output voltage by dynamically adjusting the current at the output of the output stage circuit system 400.

[0106] Transistor 413 has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 413 is coupled to a supply terminal supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 413 is coupled to transistor 431. The control terminal of transistor 413 is coupled to transistors 403, 407, 410 and buffer circuit system 414.

[0107] Buffer circuitry 414 is coupled to transistors 403, 407, 408, 409, 410, 413, 442, 443, current mirror circuitry 412, 424, voltage divider circuitry 418, a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage, and a supply auxiliary output voltage (auxiliary V OUT ) of the auxiliary output terminal. The auxiliary output voltage is proportional to the output voltage at the output terminal of the pre-driver circuit system 406. The buffer circuit system 414 is Figure 1 and 2 Another example of a buffer circuit system 176, 252.

[0108] The current source circuit system 415 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is coupled to the current mirror circuit system 416. The second terminal of the current source circuit system 415 is coupled to a common terminal that supplies a common potential. The current mirror circuit system 416 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of the current mirror circuit system 416 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a low-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the current mirror circuit system 416 is coupled to the current source circuit system 415. The third terminal of the current mirror circuit system 416 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 414. In the example of Figure 4, the current source circuit system 415 and the current mirror circuit system 416 are structured as bias circuit systems that supply bias current to promote the buffer circuit system 414 to be in an operating state. Alternatively, the output stage circuit system 400 can be modified to use a current source circuit system (e.g., Figure 3 The current source circuit system 324) is used to replace the current source circuit system 415 and the current mirror circuit system 416.

[0109] The voltage divider circuit system 418 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 414, the transistors 442, 443, the supply terminal for supplying the high-side supply voltage, and the auxiliary output terminal for supplying the auxiliary output voltage. Figure 1 and 2 Another example of a voltage divider circuit system 180, 253.

[0110] Transistor 419 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 419 is coupled to pre-driver circuitry 406. The second terminal of transistor 419 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 404. The control terminal of transistor 419 is coupled to transistors 405, 422, 425, and buffer circuitry 426. Transistor 420 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 404, 424, pre-driver circuitry 406, transistor 421, and buffer circuitry 426. Transistor 420 is Figure 1 and 2 Another example of transistors 182, 254. Transistor 421 is coupled to pre-driver circuit system 406, transistor 420, buffer circuit system 426 and a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. Transistor 421 is Figure 1 and 2 4. Another example of transistors 184, 255. Transistor 422 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 422 is coupled to pre-driver circuitry 406. The second terminal of transistor 422 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 424. The control terminal of transistor 422 is coupled to transistors 405, 419, 425 and buffer circuitry 426.

[0111] The current mirror circuit system 424 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a fourth terminal, and a fifth terminal. The first terminal of the current mirror circuit system 424 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the current mirror circuit system 424 is coupled to the current mirror circuit system 404 and the transistor 420. The third terminal of the current mirror circuit system 424 is coupled to the transistor 422. The fourth terminal of the current mirror circuit system 424 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 414. The fifth terminal of the current mirror circuit system 424 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 426 and the current mirror circuit system 428. In the example of FIG. 4 , the current mirror circuit system 428 is structured as a feedback circuit system that uses a feedback current I proportional to the output current at the output terminal. OUT / 256 and dynamic bias current IB dynamic to bias the output stage circuitry 400. Advantageously, the current mirror circuitry 428 reduces the response time of the output voltage by dynamically biasing the output stage circuitry 400.

[0112] Transistor 425 has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 425 is coupled to transistor 434. The second terminal of transistor 425 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The control terminal of transistor 425 is coupled to transistors 405, 419, 422 and buffer circuit system 426.

[0113] Buffer circuit system 426 is coupled to transistors 405, 419, 420, 421, 422, 425, 444, 445, current mirror circuit system 412, 424, voltage divider circuit system 430, a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage, and an auxiliary output terminal for supplying an auxiliary output voltage. Buffer circuit system 426 is Figure 1 and 2 Another example of buffer circuit system 188, 257.

[0114] The current source circuit system 427 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the current source circuit system 427 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a supply voltage. The second terminal of the current source circuit system 427 is coupled to the current mirror circuit system 428. The current mirror circuit system 428 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of the current mirror circuit system 428 is coupled to a common terminal that supplies a low-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the current mirror circuit system 428 is coupled to the current source circuit system 427. The third terminal of the current mirror circuit system 428 is coupled to the current mirror circuit system 424 and the buffer circuit system 426. In the example of Figure 4, the current source circuit system 427 and the current mirror circuit system 428 are structured as bias circuit systems that absorb bias current to promote the buffer circuit system 426 to be in an operating state. Alternatively, the output stage circuit system 400 can be modified to use a current source circuit system (e.g., Figure 3 The current source circuit system 326) is used to replace the current source circuit system 427 and the current mirror circuit system 428.

[0115] The voltage divider circuit system 430 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 426, the transistors 444, 445, the common terminal for supplying the low-side supply voltage, and the auxiliary output terminal for supplying the auxiliary output voltage. Figure 1 and 2 Another example of a voltage divider circuit system 192, 258.

[0116] Transistor 431 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 431 is coupled to transistor 413. The second terminal of transistor 431 is coupled to resistor 432. The control terminal of transistor 431 is coupled to pre-driver circuitry 406. Resistor 432 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 432 is coupled to transistor 431. The second terminal of resistor 432 is coupled to the auxiliary output terminal.

[0117] Resistor 433 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 433 is coupled to the auxiliary output terminal. The second terminal of resistor 433 is coupled to transistor 434. Transistor 434 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 434 is coupled to resistor 433. The second terminal of transistor 434 is coupled to transistor 425. The control terminal of transistor 434 is coupled to pre-driver circuit system 406. Figure 4A and 4B In the example of , transistors 413 , 425 , 431 , 434 and resistors 432 , 433 are structured to set an auxiliary output voltage proportional to the output voltage at the output terminal.

[0118] Resistor 435 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 435 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of resistor 435 is coupled to transistor 436 and resistor 437. Transistor 436 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 436 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 436 is coupled to buffer circuitry 438. The control terminal of transistor 436 is coupled to resistors 435, 437. Resistor 437 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 437 is coupled to resistor 435 and transistor 436. The second terminal of resistor 437 is coupled to buffer circuitry 438 and resistor 439.

[0119] Buffer circuit system 438 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuit system 438 is coupled to transistor 436. The second terminal of buffer circuit system 438 is coupled to resistors 437, 439. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 438 is coupled to transistor 440. The fourth terminal of buffer circuit system 438 is coupled to transistors 443, 444.

[0120] Resistor 439 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 439 is coupled to resistor 437 and buffer circuit system 438. The second terminal of resistor 439 is coupled to transistor 440 and resistor 441. Transistor 440 has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 440 is coupled to buffer circuit system 438. The second terminal of transistor 440 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The control terminal of transistor 440 is coupled to resistors 439, 441. Resistor 441 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 441 is coupled to resistor 439 and transistor 440. The second terminal of resistor 441 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage.

[0121] Transistor 442 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 442 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 442 is coupled to buffer circuitry 414, voltage divider circuitry 418, and transistor 443. Transistor 443 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 443 is coupled to buffer circuitry 414, voltage divider circuitry 418, and transistor 442. The second terminal of transistor 443 is coupled to buffer circuitry 438 and transistor 444. The control terminals of transistors 442, 443 are coupled to buffer circuitry 414.

[0122] Transistor 444 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 444 is coupled to buffer circuitry 438 and transistor 443. The second terminal of transistor 444 is coupled to buffer circuitry 426, voltage divider circuitry 430, and transistor 445. Transistor 445 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 445 is coupled to buffer circuitry 426, voltage divider circuitry 430, and transistor 444. The second terminal of transistor 444 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The control terminals of transistors 444, 445 are coupled to buffer circuitry 426.

[0123] In the example of FIG. 4 , resistors 435, 437, 439, 441 are structured as a voltage divider circuit system that distributes a voltage difference between a high-side supply voltage and a low-side supply voltage. Resistors 435, 437, 439, 441 are structured to generate an operating point that controls transistors 436, 440 relative to the high-side supply voltage and the low-side supply voltage. Transistors 436, 440 are structured to adjust the output current of buffer circuit system 438. Such adjustments may be referred to as adjusting the common-mode voltage. In the example of FIG. 4 , transistors 442, 443, 444, 445 are structured to set the common-mode voltage of buffer circuit systems 414, 426 based on buffer circuit system 438.

[0124] Transistor 446 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 446 is coupled to transistors 403, 448, and capacitor 453. Transistor 447 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The second terminal of transistor 446, the first terminal of transistor 447, and the control terminals of transistors 446 and 447 are coupled together. The second terminal of transistor 447 is coupled to transistors 405, 449, and capacitor 457.

[0125] Transistor 448 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 448 is coupled to transistor 407. The second terminal of transistor 448 is coupled to transistors 454, 455. The control terminal of transistor 448 is coupled to transistors 403, 446 and capacitor 453. Transistor 449 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 449 is coupled to transistors 450, 451. The second terminal of transistor 449 is coupled to transistor 419. The control terminal of transistor 449 is coupled to transistors 405, 447 and capacitor 457.

[0126] Transistor 450 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 450 is coupled to transistors 408, 451, 452. The second terminal of transistor 450 is coupled to transistors 449, 451. The control terminal of transistor 450 is coupled to transistor 451. Transistor 451 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 451 is coupled to transistors 408, 450, 452. The second terminal of transistor 451 is coupled to transistors 449, 450. The control terminal of transistor 451 is coupled to transistor 450. Transistor 452 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 452 is coupled to transistor 409. The second terminal of transistor 452 is coupled to capacitor 453 and transistors 431, 458, 459, 460. Capacitor 453 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of capacitor 453 is coupled to transistors 403, 446, 448. A second terminal of capacitor 453 is coupled to transistors 431 , 452 , 458 , 459 , 460 .

[0127] Transistor 454 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of transistor 454 is coupled to transistors 448, 455. The second terminal of transistor 454 is coupled to transistors 420, 455, 456. The control terminal of transistor 454 is coupled to transistor 455. Transistor 455 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 455 is coupled to transistors 448, 454. The second terminal of transistor 455 is coupled to transistors 420, 454, 456. The control terminal of transistor 455 is coupled to transistor 454. Transistor 456 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 456 is coupled to transistors 434, 458, 459, 463 and capacitor 457. The second terminal of transistor 456 is coupled to transistor 421. The control terminal of transistor 456 is coupled to transistors 420, 454, 455. Capacitor 457 has a first terminal and a second terminal. A first terminal of capacitor 457 is coupled to transistors 405, 447, 449. A second terminal of capacitor 457 is coupled to transistors 434, 456, 458, 459, 463. In the example of FIG. 4, capacitors 453, 457 are structured as capacitor circuitry that generates a reference voltage in response to a current. In some examples, pre-driver circuitry 406 may be modified so that capacitors 453, 457 form capacitor circuitry external to pre-driver circuitry 406, such as in Figure 2 and 6 middle.

[0128] Transistor 458 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 458 is coupled to transistors 431, 452, 459, 460, and capacitor 453. The second terminal of transistor 458 is coupled to transistors 434, 456, 459, 463, and capacitor 457. The control terminal of transistor 458 is coupled to transistor 459. Transistor 459 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 459 is coupled to transistors 431, 452, 458, 460, and capacitor 453. The second terminal of transistor 459 is coupled to transistors 434, 456, 458, 463, and capacitor 457. The control terminal of transistor 459 is coupled to transistor 458.

[0129] Transistor 460 has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 460 is coupled to transistor 410. The second terminal of transistor 460 is coupled to resistor 461. The control terminal of transistor 460 is coupled to transistors 431, 452, 458, 459 and capacitor 453. Resistor 461 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 461 is coupled to transistor 431. The second terminal of resistor 461 is coupled to resistor 433 and an output terminal, which can be coupled to a load.

[0130] Resistor 462 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 462 is coupled to resistor 432 and the output terminal. The second terminal of resistor 462 is coupled to transistor 434. Transistor 463 has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 463 is coupled to resistor 433. The second terminal of transistor 463 is coupled to transistor 422. The control terminal of transistor 463 is coupled to transistors 434, 456, 458, 459 and capacitor 457.

[0131] exist Figure 4A and 4B In the example of , transistors 410, 422, 460, 463 and resistors 461, 462 are structured to set the output voltage at the output terminal. Figure 4A In the example of , transistors 460, 463 and resistors 461, 462 are structured as emitter followers, which allows transistors 460, 463 to generate a voltage between the high-side supply voltage and the low-side supply voltage. Advantageously, pre-driver circuit system 406 supports an output voltage between the high-side supply voltage and the low-side supply voltage.

[0132] Buffer circuit system 464 is coupled to current mirror circuit system 412, 416, 424, voltage divider circuit system 418, transistors 442, 443, resistors 465, 466, a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage, and an auxiliary output terminal for supplying an auxiliary output voltage. Buffer circuit system 464 is Figure 2 4. Resistor 465 is coupled to transistors 403, 407, 410, 413, 442, 443, buffer circuitry 464, and capacitor 467. Resistor 465 is Figure 2 408, 409 and buffer circuitry 464. Resistor 466 is Figure 2 Capacitor 467 is coupled to transistors 403, 407, 410, resistor 465 and a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. Capacitor 467 is Figure 2 An example of capacitor 269.

[0133] Resistor 468 is coupled to buffer circuitry 414, resistor 469, and a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. Figure 2 4. Resistor 469 is coupled to buffer circuitry 414, resistor 468, and an auxiliary output terminal for supplying an auxiliary output voltage. Resistor 469 is Figure 2 An example of resistor 271.

[0134] The buffer circuit system 472 is coupled to the current mirror circuit system 412, 424, 428, the transistors 444, 445, the resistor 473, the common terminal for supplying the low-side supply voltage, and the auxiliary output terminal for supplying the auxiliary output voltage. Figure 2 4. Resistor 473 is coupled to transistors 405, 419, 422, 425, 444, 445, buffer circuitry 472, and capacitor 475. Resistor 473 is Figure 2 4. Resistor 474 is coupled to transistors 420, 421 and buffer circuitry 472. Resistor 474 is Figure 2 Capacitor 475 is coupled to transistors 405, 419, 425, resistor 473 and a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. Capacitor 475 is Figure 2 An example of capacitor 275.

[0135] Resistor 476 is coupled to buffer circuitry 426, resistor 478, and an auxiliary output terminal that supplies an auxiliary output voltage. Figure 24. Resistor 478 is coupled to buffer circuit system 426, resistor 476, and a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. Resistor 478 is Figure 2 An example of resistor 277.

[0136] exist Figure 4A and 4B In the example of , transistors 405, 407, 409, 410, 413, 420, 431, 436, 442, 444, 447, 448, 450, 452, 454, 458, 460 are NPN BJTs. Alternatively, transistors 405, 407, 409, 410, 413, 420, 431, 436, 442, 444, 447, 448, 450, 452, 454, 458, 460 may be n-channel FETs, n-channel IGBTs, n-channel JFETs, n-channel MOSFETs, or, with slight modifications, p-type equivalent devices. Figure 4A and 4B In the example of FIG. 4 , transistors 403 , 408 , 419 , 421 , 422 , 425 , 434 , 440 , 443 , 445 , 446 , 449 , 451 , 454 , 456 , 459 , 463 are PNP BJTs. Alternatively, transistors 403 , 408 , 419 , 421 , 422 , 425 , 434 , 440 , 443 , 445 , 446 , 449 , 451 , 454 , 456 , 459 , 463 may be p-channel FETs, p-channel IGBTs, p-channel JFETs, p-channel MOSFETs, or N-type equivalent devices with slight modifications. Transistors 403, 405, 407, 408, 409, 410, 413, 419, 420, 421, 422, 425, 431, 434, 436, 440, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 450, 451, 452, 454, 456, 458, 459, 460, 463 may be depletion mode devices, drain extension devices, enhancement mode devices, native transistors, or other types of device structure transistors. In addition, transistors 403, 405, 407, 408, 409, 410, 413, 419, 420, 421, 422, 425, 431, 434, 436, 440, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 450, 451, 452, 454, 456, 458, 459, 460, 463 can be implemented in / on a silicon substrate (Si), a silicon carbide substrate (SiC), a gallium nitride substrate (GaN), or a gallium arsenide substrate (GaAs).

[0137] Figure 5 As Figure 2 and 4B Schematic diagram of an example buffer circuit system 500 of an example implementation of the buffer circuit systems 266, 272, 464, 472 of FIG. Figure 5 In the example of the buffer circuit system 500, the buffer circuit system 500 includes a first example buffer circuit system 502 and a second example buffer circuit system 504. Figure 5 The example buffer circuit system 502 includes a first example current source circuit system 506, a first example transistor 508, a second example transistor 510, a third example transistor 512, a fourth example transistor 514, a second example current source circuit system 516, a first example capacitor 518, a second example capacitor 520, a fifth example transistor 522, a sixth example transistor 524, a seventh example transistor 526, an eighth example transistor 528, a ninth example transistor 530, and a tenth example transistor 532. As an example of the buffer circuit system 272, 472 Figure 5 The example buffer circuit system 504 includes a first example current source circuit system 534, a first example transistor 536, a second example transistor 538, a third example transistor 540, a fourth example transistor 542, a second example current source circuit system 544, a first example capacitor 546, a second example capacitor 548, a fifth example transistor 550, a sixth example transistor 552, a seventh example transistor 554, an eighth example transistor 556, a ninth example transistor 558 and a tenth example transistor 560.

[0138] The buffer circuit system 502 has a first terminal, a second terminal, an input terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The first terminal of the buffer circuit system 502 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the buffer circuit system 502 is coupled to an auxiliary output terminal for supplying an auxiliary output voltage. The input terminal of the buffer circuit system 502 is structured to be coupled to a supply high-side operating voltage V IN+ of Figure 1 , 2 and 4B of the voltage divider circuit system 180, 253, 418. The first output terminal of the buffer circuit system 502 is structured to be coupled to Figure 1 , 2 and 4A transistors 170, 172, 249, 250, 408, 409. The second output terminal of the buffer circuit system 502 is structured to be coupled to Figure 1 , 2, 4A and 4B of transistors 156, 244, 251, 403, 407, 410, 413. The buffer circuit system 502 is structured as a buffer that generates a first output voltage V by buffering a high-side operating voltage at an input terminal. OUT1 and the second output voltage V OUT2 The first output voltage is substantially equal to the high-side operating voltage at the input terminal of the buffer circuit system 502. The second output voltage is substantially greater than the high-side operating voltage at the input terminal of the buffer circuit system 502 by a base-emitter voltage V BE .

[0139] The buffer circuit system 504 has a first terminal, a second terminal, an input terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The first terminal of the buffer circuit system 504 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the buffer circuit system 504 is coupled to an auxiliary output terminal for supplying an auxiliary output voltage. The input terminal of the buffer circuit system 504 is structured to be coupled to a common terminal for supplying a low-side operating voltage V IN- of Figure 1 , 2 and 4B of the voltage divider circuit system 192, 258, 430. The first output terminal of the buffer circuit system 504 is structured to be coupled to Figure 1 , 2 , 4A and 4B of transistors 164, 246, 256, 405, 419, 422, 425. The second output terminal of the buffer circuit system 504 is structured to be coupled to Figure 1 , 2 and 4A transistors 182, 184, 254, 255, 420, 421. The buffer circuit system 504 is structured as a buffer that generates a third output voltage V by buffering a low-side operating voltage at an input terminal. OUT3 and the fourth output voltage V OUT4 The third output voltage is substantially equal to the low-side operating voltage at the input terminal of the buffer circuit system 504. The fourth output voltage is substantially less than the low-side operating voltage at the input terminal of the buffer circuit system 504 by a base-emitter voltage V BE .

[0140] The current source circuit system 506 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the current source circuit system 506 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the current source circuit system 506 is coupled to transistors 508, 522. Figure 5 In the example of Figure 4A and 4BIn addition, the current source circuit system 506 is structured as a bias circuit system, which uses the bias current to promote the buffer circuit system 502 to be in an operating state. Alternatively, as Figure 4A and 4B As shown in , the current source circuit system 506 can be external to the buffer circuit system 502.

[0141] Buffer circuit 502 includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first and control terminals of transistor 508 are coupled to current source circuit 506 and transistor 522. The second terminal of transistor 508 is coupled to transistor 510. Transistor 510 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 510 is coupled to transistor 508. The second terminal of transistor 510 is coupled to an auxiliary output terminal for supplying an auxiliary output voltage. The control terminal of transistor 510 is coupled to an input terminal of buffer circuit 502, transistor 512, and capacitors 518, 520.

[0142] 5. Transistor 512 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 512 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 512 is coupled to transistor 514. The control terminal of transistor 512 is coupled to the input terminal of buffer circuit system 502, transistor 510, and capacitors 518, 520. Transistor 514 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 514 is coupled to transistor 512. The second and control terminals of transistor 514 are coupled to current source circuit system 516 and transistor 526.

[0143] The current source circuit system 516 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the current source circuit system 516 is coupled to the transistors 514, 526. The second terminal of the current source circuit system 516 is coupled to a common terminal that supplies a common emitter voltage. Figure 5 In the example of Figure 4A and 4B In addition, the current source circuit system 516 is structured as a bias circuit system, which uses the bias current to promote the buffer circuit system 502 to be in an operating state. Alternatively, as Figure 4A and 4B As shown in , the current source circuit system 516 can be external to the buffer circuit system 502.

[0144] Capacitor 518 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of capacitor 518 is coupled to the input terminal of buffer circuitry 502, transistors 510, 512, and capacitor 520. The second terminal of capacitor 518 is coupled to transistors 528, 530, and a first output terminal of buffer circuitry 502. Capacitor 520 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of capacitor 520 is coupled to the input terminal of buffer circuitry 502, transistors 510, 512, and capacitor 518. The second terminal of capacitor 520 is coupled to transistors 528, 532.

[0145] Transistor 522 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 522 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 522 is coupled to transistor 524. The control terminal of transistor 522 is coupled to current source circuitry 506 and transistor 508. Figure 5 In the example of , transistors 508, 522 form a current mirror circuit system, which is structured to make transistor 522 mirror the current flowing through transistor 508. In other examples, Figure 2 The current mirror circuit systems 243 , 245 may be implemented using multiple transistors having a structure similar to that of transistors 508 , 522 .

[0146] Transistor 524 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 524 is coupled to transistor 522. The second terminal of transistor 524 is coupled to transistor 526. The control terminal of transistor 524 is coupled to transistor 528. Transistor 526 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 526 is coupled to transistor 524. The second terminal of transistor 526 is coupled to an auxiliary output terminal for supplying an auxiliary output voltage. The control terminal of transistor 526 is coupled to transistor 514 and current source circuit system 516. Transistor 528 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 528 has a first terminal coupled to capacitor 518, transistor 530, and a first output terminal of buffer circuit system 502. The second terminal of transistor 528 is coupled to capacitor 520 and transistor 532. The control terminal of transistor 528 is coupled to transistor 524.

[0147] Transistor 530 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 530 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 530 is coupled to transistor 532 and a second output terminal of buffer circuit system 502. The control terminal of transistor 530 is coupled to capacitor 518, transistor 528, and a second output terminal of buffer circuit system 502. Transistor 532 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 532 is coupled to transistor 530 and a first output terminal of buffer circuit system 502. The second terminal of transistor 532 is coupled to an auxiliary output terminal for supplying an auxiliary output voltage. The control terminal of transistor 532 is coupled to capacitor 520 and transistor 528.

[0148] The current source circuit system 534 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the current source circuit system 534 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the current source circuit system 534 is coupled to transistors 536, 550. Figure 5 In the example of , the current source circuit system 534 is structured to represent the bias current from the current mirror circuit systems 412, 416. In addition, the current source circuit system 534 is structured as a bias circuit system that uses the bias current to promote the buffer circuit system 504 to be in an operating state. Alternatively, as Figure 4A and 4B As shown in , the current source circuit system 534 can be external to the buffer circuit system 504.

[0149] Transistor 536 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first and control terminals of transistor 536 are coupled to current source circuitry 534 and transistor 550. The second terminal of transistor 536 is coupled to transistor 538. Transistor 538 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 538 is coupled to transistor 536. The second terminal of transistor 538 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. The control terminal of transistor 538 is coupled to an input terminal of buffer circuitry 504, transistor 540, and capacitors 546, 548.

[0150] Transistor 540 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 540 is coupled to an auxiliary output terminal for supplying an auxiliary output voltage. The second terminal of transistor 540 is coupled to transistor 542. The control terminal of transistor 540 is coupled to the input terminal of buffer circuit system 504, transistor 538, and capacitors 546, 548. Transistor 542 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 542 is coupled to transistor 540. The second and control terminals of transistor 542 are coupled to current source circuit system 544 and transistor 554.

[0151] The current source circuit system 544 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the current source circuit system 544 is coupled to the transistors 542, 554. The second terminal of the current source circuit system 544 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. Figure 5 In the example of , the current source circuit system 544 is structured to represent the bias current from the current mirror circuit systems 424, 428. In addition, the current source circuit system 544 is structured as a bias circuit system that uses the bias current to promote the buffer circuit system 504 to be in an operating state. Figure 4A and 4B As shown in , the current source circuit system 544 can be external to the buffer circuit system 504.

[0152] Capacitor 546 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of capacitor 546 is coupled to the input terminal of buffer circuitry 504, transistors 538, 540, and capacitor 548. The second terminal of capacitor 546 is coupled to transistors 556, 558, and a first output terminal of buffer circuitry 504. Capacitor 548 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of capacitor 548 is coupled to the input terminal of buffer circuitry 504, transistors 538, 540, and capacitor 546. The second terminal of capacitor 548 is coupled to transistors 556, 560.

[0153] Transistor 550 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 550 is coupled to an auxiliary output terminal for supplying an auxiliary output voltage. The second terminal of transistor 550 is coupled to transistor 552. The control terminal of transistor 550 is coupled to current source circuitry 534 and transistor 536. Transistor 552 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 552 is coupled to transistor 550. The second terminal of transistor 552 is coupled to transistor 554. The control terminal of transistor 552 is coupled to transistor 556. Transistor 554 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 554 is coupled to transistor 552. The second terminal of transistor 554 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. The control terminal of transistor 554 is coupled to transistor 542 and current source circuitry 544. Transistor 556 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 556 is coupled to capacitor 546, transistor 558, and a first output terminal of buffer circuitry 504. A second terminal of transistor 556 is coupled to capacitor 548 and transistor 560. A control terminal of transistor 556 is coupled to transistor 552.

[0154] Transistor 558 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 558 is coupled to an auxiliary output terminal for supplying an auxiliary output voltage. The second terminal of transistor 558 is coupled to transistor 560 and the second output terminal of buffer circuit system 504. The control terminal of transistor 558 is coupled to capacitor 546, transistor 556, and the second output terminal of buffer circuit system 504. Transistor 560 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 560 is coupled to transistor 558 and the first output terminal of buffer circuit system 504. The second terminal of transistor 560 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. The control terminal of transistor 560 is coupled to capacitor 548 and transistor 556.

[0155] exist Figure 5 In the example of , transistors 508, 512, 522, 528, 530, 536, 540, 550, 556, 558 are NPN BJTs. Alternatively, transistors 508, 512, 522, 528, 530, 536, 540, 550, 556, 558 may be n-channel FETs, n-channel IGBTs, n-channel JFETs, n-channel MOSFETs, or, with slight modifications, p-type equivalent devices. Figure 5 In the example of FIG. 5 , transistors 510 , 514 , 524 , 526 , 532 , 538 , 542 , 552 , 554 , 560 are PNP BJTs. Alternatively, transistors 510 , 514 , 524 , 526 , 532 , 538 , 542 , 552 , 554 , 560 may be p-channel FETs, p-channel IGBTs, p-channel JFETs, p-channel MOSFETs, or N-type equivalent devices with slight modifications. Transistors 508 , 510 , 512 , 514 , 522 , 524 , 526 , 528 , 530 , 532 , 536 , 538 , 540 , 542 , 550 , 552 , 554 , 556 , 558 , 560 may be depletion mode devices, drain extension devices, enhancement mode devices, natural transistors, or other types of device structure transistors. Furthermore, transistors 508 , 510 , 512 , 514 , 522 , 524 , 526 , 528 , 530 , 532 , 536 , 538 , 540 , 542 , 550 , 552 , 554 , 556 , 558 , 560 may be implemented in / on a silicon substrate (Si), a silicon carbide substrate (SiC), a gallium nitride substrate (GaN) or a gallium arsenide substrate (GaAs).

[0156] Figure 6 As Figure 1 and 2 A schematic diagram of an example amplifier circuit system 600 is shown as another example of the amplifier circuit system 108, 200. Figure 6In the example of , amplifier circuitry 600 includes input stage circuitry 602 and output stage circuitry 604 . Figure 6 The example input stage circuit system 602 includes an example input buffer circuit system 606, a first example transistor 608, a first example bootstrap buffer circuit system 610, a first example voltage divider circuit system 612, a second example transistor 614, a second example bootstrap buffer circuit system 616, a second example voltage divider circuit system 618, a third example transistor 620, a third example bootstrap buffer circuit system 622, a third example voltage divider circuit system 624, a fourth example transistor 626, a fourth example bootstrap buffer circuit system 628 and a fourth example voltage divider circuit system 630. Figure 6 The example buffer circuitry 606 includes a first example buffer circuitry 632 , an example resistor 634 , and a second example buffer circuitry 636 . Figure 6 The example voltage divider circuitry 612 includes a first example resistor 638 and a second example resistor 640 . Figure 6 The example voltage divider circuitry 618 includes a first example resistor 642 and a second example resistor 644 . Figure 6 The example voltage divider circuit system 624 includes a first example resistor 646 and a second example resistor 647 . Figure 6 The example voltage divider circuit system 630 includes a first example resistor 648 and a second example resistor 649 .

[0157] Figure 6 The example output stage circuit system 604 includes a first example current mirror circuit system 650, a first example transistor 652, a second example current mirror circuit system 654, a second example transistor 656, an example capacitor 658, an example pre-driver circuit system 660, a third example transistor 662, a fourth example transistor 664, a first example bootstrap buffer circuit system 668, a first example voltage divider circuit system 670, a fifth example transistor 672, a sixth example transistor 674, a second example bootstrap buffer circuit system 676 and a second example voltage divider circuit system 678. Figure 6 The example pre-driver circuitry 660 includes an example buffer circuitry 680 , a first example transistor 682 , and a second example transistor 684 . Figure 6 The example voltage divider circuit system 670 includes a first example resistor 686 and a second example resistor 688 . Figure 6 The example voltage divider circuitry 678 includes a first example resistor 690 and a second example resistor 692 .

[0158] The input stage circuit system 602 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The first terminal of the input stage circuit system 602 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the input stage circuit system 602 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The first input terminal (also referred to as a non-inverting input terminal) of the input stage circuit system 602 is structured to be coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a first input voltage V IN+ The second input terminal (also referred to as the inverting input terminal) of the input stage circuit system 602 is structured to be coupled to a supply second input voltage V IN- The first and second output terminals of the input stage circuit system 602 are coupled to the output stage circuit system 604. The input stage circuit system 602 is Figure 1 , 2 3. However, input stage circuitry 602 includes additional circuitry to structure both the first and second input terminals as high impedance terminals.

[0159] The output stage circuit system 604 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The first terminal of the output stage circuit system 604 is coupled to a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of the output stage circuit system 604 is coupled to a common terminal that supplies power to a common emitter terminal. The first and second input terminals of the output stage circuit system 604 are coupled to the input stage circuit system 602. The output terminal of the output stage circuit system 604 is structured to be coupled to a load, such as Figure 1 The capacitive load 112. The output stage circuit system 604 is Figure 1 , 2 4A and 4B are another example of output stage circuit systems 120, 208, 400.

[0160] Buffer circuit system 606 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a fourth terminal, a fifth terminal, and a sixth terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuit system 606 is coupled to a first input terminal of input stage circuit system 602 that supplies a first voltage. The second terminal of buffer circuit system 606 is coupled to a second input terminal of input stage circuit system 602 that supplies a second voltage. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 606 is coupled to transistor 608. The fourth terminal of buffer circuit system 606 is coupled to transistor 614. The fifth terminal of buffer circuit system 606 is coupled to transistor 620. The sixth terminal of buffer circuit system 606 is coupled to transistor 626. Figure 6 In the example of Figure 1An example of buffer circuitry 124, 210 in which both terminals of buffer circuitry 606 coupled to input terminals of input stage circuitry 602 are high impedance terminals.

[0161] Transistor 608 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 608 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of transistor 608 is coupled to buffer circuitry 606. The control terminal of transistor 608 is coupled to buffer circuitry 610. Buffer circuitry 610 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuitry 610 is coupled to transistor 608. The second terminal of buffer circuitry 610 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 612. Voltage divider circuitry 612 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of voltage divider circuitry 612 is coupled to a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. The second terminal of voltage divider circuitry 612 is coupled to buffer circuitry 610. The third terminal of voltage divider circuitry 612 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 618.

[0162] Transistor 614 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first terminal of transistor 614 is coupled to buffer circuitry 606. The second terminal of transistor 614 is coupled to a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. The control terminal of transistor 614 is coupled to buffer circuitry 616. Buffer circuitry 616 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuitry 616 is coupled to transistor 614. The second terminal of buffer circuitry 616 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 618. Voltage divider circuitry 618 has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of voltage divider circuitry 618 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 612. The second terminal of voltage divider circuitry 618 is coupled to buffer circuitry 616. The third terminal of voltage divider circuitry 618 is coupled to the common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage.

[0163] Transistor 620 is coupled to output stage circuitry 604, buffer circuitry 606, and buffer circuitry 622. Transistor 620 is Figure 1 and 2 Buffer circuit system 622 is coupled to transistor 620 and voltage divider circuit system 624. Buffer circuit system 622 is another example of transistor 128, 212. Figure 1 , 2 1 and 3. The voltage divider circuit system 624 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 622, the voltage divider circuit system 630 and the supply terminal for supplying the high-side supply voltage. The voltage divider circuit system 624 is Figure 1 ,2 Another example of a voltage divider circuit system 136, 216, 310 of and 3.

[0164] Transistor 626 is coupled to output stage circuitry 604, buffer circuitry 606, and buffer circuitry 628. Transistor 626 is Figure 1 and 2 Buffer circuitry 628 is coupled to transistor 626 and voltage divider circuitry 630. Buffer circuitry 628 is Figure 1 , 2 624, buffer circuitry 628, and a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. Voltage divider circuitry 630 is another example of buffer circuitry 144, 220, 308 of FIG. 624. Voltage divider circuitry 630 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 624, buffer circuitry 628, and a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. Voltage divider circuitry 630 is Figure 1 , 2 Another example of a voltage divider circuit system 148, 222, 318 of and 3.

[0165] Buffer circuit system 632 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuit system 632 is coupled to the first input terminal of input stage circuit system 602. The second terminal of buffer circuit system 632 is coupled to resistor 634. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 632 is coupled to transistor 608. The fourth terminal of buffer circuit system 632 is coupled to transistor 614. Resistor 634 has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of resistor 634 is coupled to buffer circuit system 632. The second terminal of resistor 634 is coupled to buffer circuit system 636. Buffer circuit system 636 has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. The first terminal of buffer circuit system 636 is coupled to resistor 634. The second terminal of buffer circuit system 636 is coupled to the second input terminal of input stage circuit system 602. The third terminal of buffer circuit system 636 is coupled to transistor 620. The fourth terminal of buffer circuit system 636 is coupled to transistor 626.

[0166] Resistor 638 is coupled to buffer circuitry 610, voltage divider circuitry 618, and a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. Figure 2 and 3 640 is another example of resistors 230, 342. Resistor 640 is coupled to buffer circuitry 610, voltage divider circuitry 618, and resistor 638. Resistor 640 is Figure 2 and 3 Another example of resistors 232, 346.

[0167] Resistor 642 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 612, buffer circuitry 616, and resistor 644. Resistor 642 is Figure 2 and 3 644 is another example of resistors 240, 364. Resistor 644 is coupled to buffer circuitry 616, resistor 642, and a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. Resistor 644 is Figure 2 and 3 Another example of resistor 242, 368.

[0168] Resistor 646 is coupled to buffer circuitry 622, voltage divider circuitry 630, and a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. Figure 2 and 3 647 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 622, the voltage divider circuit system 630 and the resistor 646. The resistor 647 is Figure 2 and 3 Another example of resistors 232, 346.

[0169] Resistor 648 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 624, buffer circuitry 628, and resistor 649. Resistor 648 is Figure 2 and 3 649 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 628, the resistor 648 and the common terminal for supplying the common emitter voltage. The resistor 649 is Figure 2 and 3 Another example of resistor 242, 368.

[0170] Current mirror circuitry 650 is coupled to input stage circuitry 602, transistors 652, 662, and a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. Current mirror circuitry 650 is Figure 1 , 2 6 and 4. Transistor 652 is coupled to current mirror circuit system 650, transistors 656, 662, 664, capacitor 658, pre-driver circuit system 660 and buffer circuit system 668. Transistor 652 is Figure 1 and 2 Another example of transistors 156, 244.

[0171] Current mirror circuitry 654 is coupled to input stage circuitry 602, transistors 656, 672, and a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. Current mirror circuitry 654 is Figure 1 , 260, 245, 404 of 160 and 4A. Transistor 656 is coupled to current mirror circuit system 654, transistors 652, 672, 674, capacitor 658, pre-driver circuit system 660 and buffer circuit system 676. Transistor 656 is Figure 1 and 2 Another example of transistors 164, 246.

[0172] Capacitor 658 is coupled to transistors 652, 656, pre-driver circuitry 660, and a common terminal that supplies a common potential. Capacitor 658 is Figure 2 The pre-driver circuit system 660 is coupled to the transistors 652, 656, 662, 664, 672, 674, the capacitor 658 and the output terminal of the output stage circuit system 604. The pre-driver circuit system 660 is Figure 1 , 2 and another example of pre-driver circuitry 168, 248, 406 of 4A.

[0173] Transistor 662 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 650, transistors 652, 664, pre-driver circuitry 660, and buffer circuitry 668. Transistor 662 is Figure 4A 4. Transistor 664 is coupled to transistors 652, 662, pre-driver circuitry 660, buffer circuitry 668, and a supply terminal for supplying a high-side supply voltage. Transistor 664 is Figure 2 and 4A Buffer circuit system 668 is coupled to transistors 652, 662, 664 and voltage divider circuit system 670. Buffer circuit system 668 is Figure 1 , 2 , 4B and 5. The voltage divider circuit system 670 is coupled to the buffer circuit system 668, the voltage divider circuit system 678 and the supply terminal for supplying the high-side supply voltage. The voltage divider circuit system 678 is Figure 1 , 2 and 4B are another example of voltage divider circuit systems 180, 253, 418.

[0174] Transistor 672 is coupled to current mirror circuitry 654, transistors 656, 674, pre-driver circuitry 660, and buffer circuitry 676. Transistor 672 is Figure 4A4. Transistor 674 is coupled to transistors 656, 672, pre-driver circuitry 660, buffer circuitry 676, and a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. Transistor 674 is Figure 2 and 4A Buffer circuit system 676 is coupled to transistors 656, 672, 674 and voltage divider circuit system 678. Buffer circuit system 676 is Figure 1 , 2 , 4B and 5. Voltage divider circuit system 678 is coupled to voltage divider circuit system 670, buffer circuit system 676 and a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. Voltage divider circuit system 678 is Figure 1 , 2 4B and 4B are another examples of voltage divider circuit systems 192, 258, 430.

[0175] Buffer circuitry 680 is coupled to transistors 652, 656, 662, 672, 682, 684 and capacitor 658. Buffer circuitry 680 is Figure 2 680 and the output terminal of the output stage circuit system 604. Transistor 682 is coupled to transistors 664, 684, buffer circuit system 680 and the output terminal of output stage circuit system 604. Transistor 682 is Figure 2 and 4A 684 is coupled to the output terminal of transistors 674, 682, buffer circuitry 680, and output stage circuitry 604. Transistor 684 is Figure 2 and 4A Another example of transistors 265, 463.

[0176] Resistor 686 is coupled to buffer circuitry 668, voltage divider circuitry 678, resistor 688, and a supply terminal that supplies a high-side supply voltage. Figure 2 and 4B 688 is another example of a resistor 270, 468. Resistor 688 is coupled to buffer circuitry 668, voltage divider circuitry 678, and resistor 686. Resistor 688 is Figure 2 and 4B Another example of resistors 271, 469.

[0177] Resistor 690 is coupled to voltage divider circuitry 670, buffer circuitry 676, and resistor 692. Resistor 690 is Figure 2 and 4B6. Resistor 692 is coupled to buffer circuitry 676, resistor 690, and a common terminal for supplying a common emitter voltage. Resistor 692 is Figure 2 and 4B Another example of resistors 277, 478.

[0178] exist Figure 6 In the example of , transistors 608, 620, 656, 664, 672, 682 are NPN BJTs. Alternatively, transistors 608, 620, 656, 664, 672, 682 may be n-channel FETs, n-channel IGBTs, n-channel JFETs, n-channel MOSFETs, or, with slight modifications, p-type equivalent devices. Figure 6 In the example of FIG. 1 , transistors 614, 626, 652, 662, 674, 684 are PNPBJTs. Alternatively, transistors 614, 626, 652, 662, 674, 684 may be p-channel FETs, p-channel IGBTs, p-channel JFETs, p-channel MOSFETs, or N-type equivalent devices with slight modifications. Transistors 608, 614, 620, 626, 652, 656, 662, 664, 672, 674, 682, 684 may be depletion-mode devices, drain-extended devices, enhancement-mode devices, natural transistors, or other types of device structure transistors. Furthermore, transistors 608 , 614 , 620 , 626 , 652 , 656 , 662 , 664 , 672 , 674 , 682 , 684 may be implemented in / on a silicon substrate (Si), a silicon carbide substrate (SiC), a gallium nitride substrate (GaN), or a gallium arsenide substrate (GaAs).

[0179] Figure 7 is a flowchart representing an example operation 700 that may be performed, instantiated, or executed to implement at least one of Figure 1 , 2 , 3 and 6 of the input stage circuit system 116, 206, 300, 602, Figure 1 , 2 , 4A, 4B and 6 output stage circuit systems 120, 208, 400, 604, or more generally, Figure 1 , 2 and amplifier circuit systems 108, 200, 600 of 6. Figure 7 The example operation 700 of FIG. 704 begins at block 705 where the amplifier circuit system 108 , 200 , 600 receives an input voltage. In some examples, the amplifier circuit system 108 , 200 , 600 receives the input voltage as Figure 1 , 2, 3, and 6. In example operation, the input voltage causes the buffer circuit system 124, 210, 302, 606 to source and sink a current proportional to the input voltage.

[0180] The input stage circuit system 116, 206, 300, 602 generates an auxiliary input voltage in response to the input voltage. (Block 710). In some examples, the buffer circuit system 124, 210, 302, 606 generates the auxiliary input voltage as a replica of the input voltage using a current proportional to the input voltage. For example, the buffer circuit system 302 controls Figure 3 The transistors 304, 312 are used to set the auxiliary voltage. In such examples, the auxiliary voltage is substantially equal to the input voltage.

[0181] Figure 1 , 2 , 3 and 6, the voltage divider circuit system 136, 148, 216, 222, 310, 318, 612, 618, 624, 630 generates an input operating point of the auxiliary input voltage. (Block 715). In some examples, the voltage divider circuit system 136, 148, 216, 222, 310, 318, 612, 618, 624, 630 generates the input operating point as an input operating voltage between the auxiliary input voltage and one of the high-side supply voltage or the low-side supply voltage. In such examples, the voltage divider circuit system 136, 148, 216, 222, 310, 318, 612, 618, 624, 630 supplies the input operating voltage to Figure 1 , 2 , 3 and 6 of buffer circuit systems 132, 144, 214, 220, 308, 316, 610, 616, 622, 628, which buffer circuit systems buffer input operating voltages.

[0182] In example operation, the voltage divider circuit system 136, 216, 310, 612, 624 generates a high-side input operating point as a first operating voltage that is approximately, preferably exactly, halfway between the auxiliary voltage and the high-side supply voltage. For example, in response to the high-side supply voltage being thirty volts and the input voltage being twenty-five volts, the voltage divider circuit system 136, 216, 310, 612, 624 sets the first operating voltage to twenty-seven and a half volts (V). In another example, in response to the high-side supply voltage being thirty volts and the input voltage being negative two volts, the voltage divider circuit system 136, 216, 310, 612, 624 sets the first operating voltage to fourteen volts.

[0183] In example operation, the voltage divider circuit system 148, 222, 318, 618, 630 generates a low-side operating point as a second operating voltage that is approximately, preferably exactly, halfway between the auxiliary voltage and the common emitter voltage. For example, in response to the low-side supply voltage being negative thirty volts and the input voltage being twenty-five volts, the voltage divider circuit system 148, 222, 318, 618, 630 sets the second operating voltage to negative two and a half volts. In another example, in response to the low-side supply voltage being negative thirty volts and the input voltage being negative twenty-five volts, the voltage divider circuit system 148, 222, 318, 618, 630 sets the second operating voltage to negative twenty-seven and a half volts.

[0184] Figure 1 , 2 , 3, and 6 transistors 128, 140, 212, 218, 306, 314, 620, 626 use the input operating point to generate an input current. (Block 720). In some examples, buffer circuitry 132, 144, 214, 220, 308, 316, 610, 616, 622, 628 controls transistors 128, 140, 212, 218, 306, 314, 620, 626 by buffering the input operating voltage from voltage divider circuitry 136, 148, 216, 222, 310, 318, 612, 618, 624, 630. In such examples, transistors 128 , 140 , 212 , 218 , 306 , 314 , 620 , 626 generate one of a high-side input current or a low-side input current in response to an operating voltage from buffer circuitry 132 , 144 , 214 , 220 , 308 , 316 , 610 , 616 , 622 , 628 .

[0185] Advantageously, transistors 128, 140, 212, 218, 306, 314, 620, 626 generate a high-side input current and a low-side input current using an input operating voltage that depends on the relationship of the input voltage to the high-side supply voltage and the common emitter voltage. Advantageously, buffer circuitry 132, 144, 214, 220, 308, 316, 610, 616, 622, 628 is driven by an auxiliary input voltage and one of the high-side supply voltage or the low-side supply voltage, which reduces the response time of bootstrapping the base voltage for stacked cascode transistors.

[0186] Figure 1 , 2, 4A and 6. (Block 725). In some examples, the current mirror circuit system 152, 160, 243, 245, 402, 404, 650 mirrors the high-side input current from the transistor 128, 212, 306, 620, and the current mirror circuit system 160, 245, 404, 654 mirrors the low-side input current from the transistor 140, 218, 314, 626. In such examples, the current mirror circuit system 152, 160, 243, 245, 402, 404, 650, 654 supplies the input current to Figure 1 , 2 , 4A and 6 of transistors 156, 164, 170, 182, 244, 246, 249, 254, 403, 405, 407, 408, 419, 420, 652, 656.

[0187] The output stage circuit system 120, 208, 400, 604 generates a reference input voltage using the input current. (Block 730). In some examples, Figure 2 , 4A Capacitors 247, 453, 457, 658 of and 6 generate a reference input voltage in response to an input current. For example, capacitors 247, 658 generate a reference input voltage in response to an input current from transistors 244, 246, 652, 656. In another example, transistors 403, 405, 446, 447 generate a reference input voltage by controlling a current path that supplies current to capacitors 453, 457. Such control of a current path may be referred to as common source and common gate control. In this example, transistors 403, 405, 446, 447 control transistors 448, 449, which generate a current path that controls transistors 452, 456, which sets a reference input voltage across capacitors 453, 457. In addition, output stage circuit systems 120, 208, 400, 604 may be depicted as having a plurality of components as separate components (e.g., in Figure 2 and 6 ) or as part of another component (e.g. Figure 4A Capacitors 247, 453, 457, 658 in the middle.

[0188] Figure 1 , 2, 4A and 6 produce an output voltage proportional to the reference input voltage. (Block 735). In some examples, the buffer circuit system 259 controls the transistors 260, 264 based on the reference input voltage. In such examples, the transistors 260, 264 further control the transistors 261, 265 that set the output voltage. In other examples, the reference input voltage across the capacitors 453, 457 is set by the current path of the pre-driver circuit system 406. In such examples, the voltage of the capacitors 453, 457 controls the transistors 460, 463, which produce the output voltage by supplying current to the resistors 461, 462.

[0189] The output stage circuitry 120, 208, 400, 604 generates an auxiliary output voltage in response to the output voltage. (Block 740). In some examples, the output stage circuitry 120, 208, 400, 604 generates the auxiliary output voltage using a reference input voltage and a transistor by mirroring a current through a transistor controlled in response to a gate voltage generated by the pre-driver circuitry 168, 248, 406, 660. For example, the reference input voltage controls the Figure 4A The transistors 448 and 449 drive the current through Figure 4A The transistors 450, 451, 452, 454, 455, 456 are used to control Figure 4B The transistors 431, 434 and Figure 4B In this example, transistors 431, 434 and resistors 432, 433 generate an auxiliary output voltage by using the voltage at the control terminal of transistors 460, 463 that control the output voltage to mirror the current of transistors 460, 463 and resistors 461, 462. In addition, Figure 4A Capacitors 453 , 457 form a feed-forward current path to the output of the output stage circuitry 400 , which compensates for phase loss caused by delay at high frequencies.

[0190] Figure 1 , 2 , 4B and 6 generate an output operating point for the auxiliary output voltage. (Block 745). In some examples, the voltage divider circuit system 180, 192, 253, 258, 418, 430, 670, 678 generates the output operating point as an output operating voltage between the auxiliary output voltage and one of the high-side supply voltage or the low-side supply voltage. In such examples, the voltage divider circuit system 180, 192, 253, 258, 418, 430, 670, 678 supplies the output operating voltage to Figure 1 ,2 , 4B, 5 and 6 of the buffer circuit system 176, 188, 252, 257, 414, 426, 502, 504, 668, 676, the buffer circuit system buffering the output operating voltage.

[0191] In example operation, the voltage divider circuit system 180, 253, 418, 670 generates a first output operating point as a first output operating voltage that is approximately midway between the auxiliary voltage and the high-side supply voltage. For example, in response to the high-side supply voltage being thirty volts and the output voltage being twenty-five volts, the voltage divider circuit system 180, 253, 418, 670 sets the first output operating voltage to twenty-seven and one-half volts (V). In another example, in response to the high-side supply voltage being thirty volts and the output voltage being negative twenty-five volts, the voltage divider circuit system 180, 253, 418, 670 sets the first output operating voltage to two and one-half volts.

[0192] In example operation, the voltage divider circuit system 192, 258, 430, 678 generates a second output operating point as a second output operating voltage, which is approximately in the middle between the auxiliary voltage and the low-side supply voltage. For example, in response to the low-side supply voltage being negative thirty volts and the output voltage being twenty-five volts, the voltage divider circuit system 192, 258, 430, 678 sets the second output operating voltage to negative two and a half volts. In another example, in response to the low-side supply voltage being negative thirty volts and the output voltage being negative twenty-five volts, the voltage divider circuit system 192, 258, 430, 678 sets the second output operating voltage to negative twenty-seven and a half volts.

[0193] Figure 1 , 2, 4A and 6A of transistors 172, 184, 251, 256, 261, 265, 410, 422, 460, 463, 664, 674, 682, 684 use the output operating point to generate an output current. (Block 750). In some examples, buffer circuitry 176, 188, 252, 257, 414, 426, 502, 504, 668, 676 controls transistors 172, 184, 251, 256, 261, 265, 410, 422, 460, 463, 664, 674, 682, 684 by buffering the output operating voltage from voltage divider circuitry 180, 192, 253, 258, 418, 430, 670, 678. In such instances, transistors 172 , 184 , 251 , 256 , 261 , 265 , 410 , 422 , 460 , 463 , 664 , 674 , 682 , 684 generate one of a high-side output current or a low-side output current in response to an output operating voltage from buffer circuitry 176 , 188 , 252 , 257 , 414 , 426 , 502 , 504 , 668 , 676 .

[0194] Advantageously, transistors 172, 184, 251, 256, 261, 265, 410, 422, 460, 463, 664, 674, 682, 684 generate a high-side output current and a low-side output current using an output operating voltage that depends on the relationship of the output voltage to the high-side supply voltage and the low-side supply voltage. Advantageously, buffer circuit systems 176, 188, 252, 257, 414, 426, 502, 504, 668, 676 are driven by the auxiliary output voltage and one of the high-side supply voltage or the low-side supply voltage, which reduces the response time for generating the output current.

[0195] The pre-driver circuit system 168, 248, 406, 660 supplies the output voltage and output current to the load. (Block 755). In some examples, the pre-driver circuit system 168, 248, 406, 660 supplies the output voltage and output current to the load. Figure 1 The capacitive load 112. Advantageously, the buffer circuitry 176, 188, 252, 257, 414, 426, 502, 504, 668, 676 increases output current, increases slew rate, and supports higher and higher output voltages of the amplifier circuitry 108, 200, 600.

[0196] Although reference Figure 7 The flowchart shown in FIG. 1 describes an example method, but implementations may also be used in this specification. Figure 1 , 2 , 3 and 6 of the input stage circuit system 116, 206, 300, 602, Figure 1 , 2 , 4A, 4B and 6 output stage circuit systems 120, 208, 400, 604, or more generally, Figure 1 , 2 Many other methods of the amplifier circuit systems 108, 200, 600 of the present invention and 6 are also disclosed. For example, the order in which the blocks are performed may be changed, or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, or combined. Similarly, additional operations may be included in the manufacturing process before, between, or after the blocks shown in the illustrated examples.

[0197] "Include" and "comprising" (and all forms and tenses thereof) are used herein as open-ended terms. Thus, whenever a solution uses any form of "include" or "comprising" (e.g., comprises, includes, comprising, including, having, etc.) as a leading phrase or employed within any type of solution quotation, additional elements, terms, etc. may be present without exceeding the scope of the corresponding solution or quotation. As used herein, when the phrase "at least" is used as a transitional term, such as in the leading phrase of a solution, it is open-ended in the same manner as the terms "include" and "comprising". The term "and / or" when used, for example, in the form of A, B, and / or C, refers to any combination or subset of A, B, C, such as (1) only A, (2) only B, (3) only C, (4) A and B, (5) A and C, (6) B and C, or (7) A and B and C. As used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects, and things, the phrase "at least one of A and B" refers to embodiments that include any of the following: (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects, and things, the phrase "at least one of A or B" refers to embodiments that include any of the following: (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) at least one A and at least one B. As used herein in the context of describing the execution or performance of a process, instruction, action, activity, etc., the phrase "at least one of A and B" refers to embodiments that include any of the following: (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing the execution or performance of a process, instruction, action, activity, etc., the phrase "at least one of A or B" refers to embodiments that include any of the following: (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) at least one A and at least one B.

[0198] As used herein, singular references (e.g., "a", "an", "first", "second", etc.) do not exclude the plural. As used herein, the term "a" or "an" object refers to one or more of the objects. The terms "a" (or "an"), "one or more", and "at least one" are used interchangeably herein. In addition, although listed separately, multiple components, elements, or actions may be implemented by, for example, the same entity or object. In addition, although individual features may be included in different examples or technical solutions, these features may be combined, and the inclusion in different examples or technical solutions does not imply that the combination of features is not feasible or at least one of disadvantages.

[0199] As used in this patent, stating that any part (e.g., a layer, film, region, area, or plate) is in any way on another part (e.g., positioned on, located on, disposed on, or formed on, etc.) indicates that the referenced part is in contact with the other part, or that the referenced part is above the other part with one or more intermediate parts located therebetween.

[0200] As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and joined) may include intermediate components between elements referenced by at least one of the connection reference or relative movement between those elements. Thus, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected or in fixed relation to each other. As used herein, stating that any part is "in contact with" another part is defined to mean that there are no intermediate parts between the two parts.

[0201] Unless otherwise specifically stated, descriptors such as "first", "second", "third", etc. are used herein without importing or otherwise indicating a priority in a list, a physical order, a meaning of arrangement, or ordering in any way, but are used only as at least one of a label or arbitrary name to distinguish elements to facilitate understanding of the described examples. In some examples, the descriptor "first" may be used to refer to an element in a specific embodiment, while the same element may be referred to in the technical solution by a different descriptor such as "second" or "third". In such cases, such descriptors are used only to clearly identify those elements within the context of the discussion (e.g., within the technical solution), where the elements may, for example, otherwise share the same name.

[0202] As used herein, "substantially" and "approximately" modify the subject matter / values ​​thereof to recognize the potential for variations that occur in real-world applications. For example, "substantially" and "approximately" may modify dimensions that may not be exact due to at least one of manufacturing tolerances or other real-world imperfections. For example, unless otherwise specified herein, "substantially" and "approximately" may indicate that such dimensions may be within a tolerance range of + / - 10%.

[0203] As used herein, "substantially real time" means occurring in a near instantaneous manner, recognizing that there may be real-world delays of computation time, transmission, etc. Thus, unless otherwise specified, "substantially real time" means real time + 1 second.

[0204] As used herein, the phrase "communication," including variations thereof, encompasses one or a combination of direct communication or indirect communication through one or more intermediate components, and does not require direct physical (e.g., wired) communication or constant communication, but also includes selective communication at at least one of periodic intervals, predetermined intervals, non-periodic intervals, or one-time events.

[0205] As used herein, "programmable circuitry" is defined as including at least one of: (i) one or more special-purpose circuits (e.g., an application-specific circuit (ASIC)) that are structured to perform one or more specific operations and include one or more semiconductor-based logic devices (e.g., electrical hardware implemented by one or more transistors), or (ii) one or more general-purpose semiconductor-based circuits that can be programmed with instructions to perform one or more specific functions or operations and include one or more semiconductor-based logic devices (e.g., electrical hardware implemented by one or more transistors). Examples of programmable circuit systems include a programmable microprocessor, such as: a central processing unit (CPU), which can execute a first instruction to perform one or more operations or functions; a field programmable gate array (FPGA), which can be programmed with a second instruction to configure or structure the FPGA to at least one of instantiate one or more operations or functions corresponding to the first instruction; a graphics processor unit (GPU), which can execute a first instruction to perform one or more operations or functions; a digital signal processor (DSP), which can execute a first instruction to perform one or more operations or functions; an XPU; a network processing unit (NPU); one or more microcontrollers, which can execute a first instruction to perform one or more operations or functions; or an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). For example, the XPU may be implemented by a heterogeneous computing system that includes multiple types of programmable circuit systems (e.g., one or more FPGAs, one or more CPUs, one or more GPUs, one or more NPUs, one or more DSPs, etc., and any combination thereof) and orchestration technology (e.g., one or more application programming interfaces (APIs)) that can distribute one or more computing tasks to any one or more of the multiple types of programmable circuit systems that are suitable and available to perform the computing tasks.

[0206] As used herein, an integrated circuit / circuitry is defined as one or more semiconductor packages containing one or more circuit elements, such as transistors, capacitors, inductors, resistors, current paths, diodes, etc. For example, an integrated circuit may be implemented as one or more of an ASIC, an FPGA, a chip, a microchip, a programmable circuitry, a semiconductor substrate coupling multiple circuit elements, a system-on-chip (SoC), etc.

[0207] In this description, the term "coupled" may encompass connections, communications, or signal paths that enable a functional relationship consistent with this specification. For example, if device A generates a signal to control device B to perform an action, then: (a) in a first instance, device A is coupled to device B through a direct connection; or (b) in a second instance, device A is coupled to device B through an intermediate component C, provided that the intermediate component C does not change the functional relationship between device A and device B, so that device B is controlled by device A via the control signal generated by device A.

[0208] A device "configured to" perform a task or function may be configured (e.g., at least one of programmed or hardwired) to perform the function when manufactured by a manufacturer, or may be configured (or reconfigurable) by a user after manufacture to perform at least one of the function and / or other additional or alternative functions. The configuration may be performed by at least one of firmware or software programming of the device, by at least one of the construction or layout of the hardware components and interconnections of the device, or a combination thereof.

[0209] As used herein, the terms "terminal", "node", "interconnect", "pin" and "lead" are used interchangeably. Unless specifically stated to the contrary, these terms are generally used to refer to the interconnections between device elements, circuit elements, integrated circuits, devices or other electronic devices or semiconductor components or their ends.

[0210] In this specification and claims, a "circuitry" described may include one or more circuits. A circuit or device described herein as including certain components may actually be adapted to be coupled to those components to form the described circuitry or device. For example, a structure described as including one or more semiconductor elements (e.g., transistors), one or more passive elements (e.g., one or a combination of resistors, capacitors, or inductors), or one or more sources (e.g., voltage sources and / or current sources) may actually include only semiconductor elements within a single physical device (e.g., at least one of a semiconductor die or an integrated circuit (IC) package), and may be adapted to be coupled to at least some of the passive elements or sources to form the described structure, for example, by at least one of an end user or a third party, at or after manufacturing.

[0211] The circuits described herein can be reconfigured to include replacement components to provide functionality that is at least partially similar to the functionality available before the component replacement. Unless otherwise stated, a component shown as a resistor generally represents any one or more elements coupled in at least one manner in series or parallel to provide the impedance amount represented by the resistor shown. For example, a resistor or capacitor shown and described as a single component herein may actually be a plurality of resistors or capacitors coupled in parallel between the same nodes, respectively. For example, a resistor or capacitor shown and described as a single component herein may actually be a plurality of resistors or capacitors coupled in series between the same two nodes as a single resistor or capacitor, respectively. Although some elements of the described examples are included in the integrated circuit and other elements are outside the integrated circuit, in other example embodiments, additional or fewer features may be incorporated into the integrated circuit. In addition, some or all of the features described as being outside the integrated circuit may be included in the integrated circuit, and some features described as being inside the integrated circuit may be incorporated outside the integrated circuit. As used herein, the term "integrated circuit" means one or more circuits that are at least one of: (i) incorporated in / on a semiconductor substrate; (ii) incorporated in a single semiconductor package; (iii) incorporated into the same module; or (iv) incorporated in / on the same printed circuit board.

[0212] The use of the phrase "ground" in the foregoing description includes at least one of chassis ground, ground wire ground, floating ground, virtual ground, digital ground, common ground, or any other form of ground connection that is suitable or appropriate for the teachings of this specification. Unless otherwise stated, "about," "approximately," or "substantially" preceding a value means + / - 10% of the stated value, or if the value is zero, then represents a reasonable range of values ​​around zero.

[0213] Modifications may be made in the described embodiments, and other embodiments are possible, within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An amplifier, comprising: The first level circuit system comprises: a first buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal; a second buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal; a third buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the third buffer circuit system being coupled to the first terminal of the second buffer circuit system; a first transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the first transistor being coupled to the first terminal of the first buffer circuitry, the control terminal of the first transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the second buffer circuitry; a second transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the second transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the first buffer circuitry, the control terminal of the second transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the third buffer circuitry; and A second stage circuit system has a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the second stage circuit system is coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor, and the second terminal of the second stage circuit system is coupled to the second terminal of the second transistor.

2. The amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the second stage circuitry comprises: a current mirror circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the current mirror circuit system being coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor; a pre-driver circuit system having terminals; a fourth buffer circuit system having a terminal; and a third transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, the first terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the current mirror circuit system, the second terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the terminal of the pre-driver circuit system, and the control terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the terminal of the fourth buffer circuit system.

3. The amplifier of claim 2, wherein the terminal of the fourth buffer circuit system is a first terminal, the fourth buffer circuit system further has a second terminal and a third terminal, the amplifier further comprises a voltage divider circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the voltage divider circuit system is coupled to the second terminal of the fourth buffer circuit system, and the second terminal of the voltage divider circuit system is coupled to the third terminal of the fourth buffer circuit system.

4. The amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the second buffer circuitry further has a third terminal, the third buffer circuitry further has a third terminal, and the amplifier further comprises: a first voltage divider circuitry having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first voltage divider circuitry being coupled to the third terminal of the second buffer circuitry; and A second voltage divider circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the second voltage divider circuit system is coupled to the third terminal of the third buffer circuit system, and the second terminal of the second voltage divider circuit system is coupled to the first terminal of the second buffer circuit system, the first terminal of the third buffer circuit system, and the second terminal of the first voltage divider circuit system.

5. The amplifier of claim 1, further comprising: a third transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the first terminal of the first transistor, the control terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the first terminal of the first buffer circuitry; and a fourth transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, the first terminal of the fourth transistor being coupled to the first terminal of the second transistor, the second terminal of the fourth transistor being coupled to the first terminal of the second buffer circuit system, the first terminal of the third buffer circuit system and the second terminal of the third transistor, the control terminal of the fourth transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the first buffer circuit system.

6. The amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the second buffer circuitry further has a third terminal and a fourth terminal, the third buffer circuitry further has a third terminal and a fourth terminal, and the amplifier further comprises: a third transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the third terminal of the second buffer circuitry, the second terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the third terminal of the third buffer circuitry; and a fourth transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, the first terminal of the fourth transistor being coupled to the fourth terminal of the second buffer circuit system, the second terminal of the fourth transistor being coupled to the fourth terminal of the third buffer circuit system, and the control terminal of the fourth transistor being coupled to the first terminal of the second buffer circuit system, the first terminal of the third buffer circuit system and the control terminal of the third transistor.

7. The amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the first buffer circuitry further has a third terminal, and the amplifier further comprises: a fourth buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the fourth buffer circuit system being coupled to the third terminal of the first buffer circuit system; a fifth buffer circuit system having a terminal; and A third transistor has a first terminal and a control terminal, the first terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the fourth buffer circuitry and the control terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the terminal of the fifth buffer circuitry.

8. An amplifier, comprising: A first-stage circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal; and The second level circuit system comprises: a first current mirror circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first current mirror circuit system being coupled to the first terminal of the first stage circuit system; a second current mirror circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the second current mirror circuit system being coupled to the second terminal of the first stage circuit system; a pre-driver circuit system having terminals; a first buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal; and a second buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the second buffer circuit system being coupled to the first terminal of the first buffer circuit system; a first transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the first transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the first current mirror circuitry, the control terminal of the first transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the first buffer circuitry; and a second transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the The first terminal is coupled to the second terminal of the second current mirror circuitry, the second terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the terminal of the pre-driver circuitry and the first terminal of the first transistor. A second terminal, the control terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the second buffer circuitry.

9. The amplifier of claim 8, wherein the first stage circuitry comprises: a third buffer circuit system having a terminal; a fourth buffer circuit system having a terminal; and a third transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, the first terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the first terminal of the first current mirror circuit system, the second terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the terminal of the third buffer circuit system, and the control terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the terminal of the fourth buffer circuit system.

10. The amplifier of claim 9, wherein the terminal of the fourth buffer circuit system is a first terminal, the fourth buffer circuit system further has a second terminal and a third terminal, the amplifier further comprises a voltage divider circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the voltage divider circuit system is coupled to the second terminal of the fourth buffer circuit system, and the second terminal of the voltage divider circuit system is coupled to the third terminal of the fourth buffer circuit system.

11. The amplifier of claim 9, wherein the terminal of the third buffer circuitry is a first terminal, the third buffer circuitry further has a second terminal, and the amplifier further comprises: a fifth buffer circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the fifth buffer circuit system being coupled to the second terminal of the third buffer circuit system; a sixth buffer circuit system having a terminal; and A fourth transistor has a first terminal and a control terminal, the first terminal of the fourth transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the fifth buffer circuitry and the control terminal of the fourth transistor being coupled to the terminal of the sixth buffer circuitry.

12. The amplifier of claim 8, wherein the first buffer circuitry further has a third terminal, the second buffer circuitry further has a third terminal, and the amplifier further comprises: a first voltage divider circuitry having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first voltage divider circuitry being coupled to the third terminal of the first buffer circuitry; and A second voltage divider circuit system having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the second voltage divider circuit system is coupled to the third terminal of the second buffer circuit system, and the second terminal of the second voltage divider circuit system is coupled to the first terminal of the first buffer circuit system, the first terminal of the second buffer circuit system, and the second terminal of the first voltage divider circuit system.

13. The amplifier of claim 8, wherein the terminal of the pre-driver circuitry is a first terminal, the pre-driver circuitry further having a second terminal and a third terminal, the amplifier further comprising: a third transistor having a first terminal and a control terminal, the control terminal of the third transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the first buffer circuitry and the control terminal of the first transistor; a fourth transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the fourth transistor being coupled to the first terminal of the third transistor, the control terminal of the fourth transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the pre-driver circuitry; a fifth transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal of the fifth transistor being coupled to the first terminal of the first buffer circuitry, the first terminal of the second buffer circuitry, and the second terminal of the fourth transistor, the control terminal of the fifth transistor being coupled to the third terminal of the pre-driver circuitry; and a sixth transistor having a first terminal and a control terminal, the first terminal of the sixth transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the fifth transistor, the control terminal of the sixth transistor being coupled to the second terminal of the second buffer circuitry and the control terminal of the second transistor.

14. The amplifier of claim 8, further comprising capacitor circuitry having a terminal coupled to the terminal of the pre-driver circuitry, the second terminal of the first transistor, and the second terminal of the second transistor.

15. An apparatus comprising: An input stage circuit system configured to: The input operating point at which the input voltage is generated; and generating a reference current based on the input operating point; and an output stage circuit system coupled to the input stage circuit system, the output stage circuit system being configured to: generating a reference voltage based on the reference current; generating an output voltage based on the reference voltage; an output operating point producing said output voltage; and An output current of the output voltage is increased in response to the output operating point.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the input stage circuitry is further configured to: receiving the input voltage; generating an auxiliary input voltage in response to receiving the input voltage; and The input operating point is generated as half the difference between the auxiliary input voltage and the supply voltage.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the output stage circuitry is further configured to: mirroring the reference current to generate a replica of the reference current; and The replica of the reference current is converted to generate the reference voltage.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the output stage circuitry is further configured to: generating an auxiliary output voltage in response to generating the output voltage; and The output operating point is generated as half the difference between the auxiliary output voltage and the supply voltage.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the output stage circuitry is further configured to: mirroring the output current to generate a feedback current; and The output current is dynamically boosted using the feedback current.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the device is an amplifier.

Images