A self-biased feedback-controlled pull-down emitter follower for high-speed low-power bipolar logic circuits

A feedback-controlled active-pull-down emitter follower that is self-biased at a low steady-state current and allows the collector dotting and emitter dotting is proposed for high-speed low-power bipolar/BiCMOS digital logic circuits. The push-pull operation of this emitter follower is precisely controlled by a feedback mechanism and does not require any extra out-of-phase signal other than the emitter-follower input from the logic stage. Simulation results based on a 0.5-/spl mu/m advanced Si-bipolar technology show that the pull-down delay and drive capability of a loaded 1-mW feedback-controlled pull-down ECL gate are improved to the pull-up levels, 2.7 and 10 times better than those of the conventional resistor-pull-down ECL circuit, respectively.<
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