Control circuit for an output driving stage of an integrated circuit

[0002] The present invention relates to integrated circuits, and more particularly, to a control circuit for controlling the impedance of an output driving stage of an integrated circuit.

[0003] In general, integrated circuits such as semiconductor memories, for example, are provided with output driving stages or output buffers which make it possible to obtain output signals (e.g., signals containing the digital data being read by the memory) with voltage or current levels suitable to drive the components which, in the electronic system, follow the integrated circuit.

[0004] In the case of semiconductor memories, the output buffers are typically of the inverting type, and each one comprises a plurality of pull-up transistors and a plurality of pull-down transistors respectively connected in parallel. For example, in the case of CMOS technology integrated circuits, the pull-up and pull-down transistors can be metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) of the P-channel and N-channel type, respectively.

[0005] It is known that data transfer from a first integrated circuit to a second integrated circuit, for example, from a semiconductor memory such as a Flash memory to a receiving device such as a microprocessor, requires an impedance matching between the output buffer and the data line. The data line includes the bus along which data are carried. In fact, in non-matching conditions, reflections along the bus data line delay data transfer to the receiving device.

[0006] For this reason, the number and dimension characteristics of the pull-down and pull-up transistors in the output buffers are chosen in such a way as to satisfy the impedance matching. However, due to the fact that the parameter characteristics of the transistors used in the output buffers depend on temperature, and as this varies, the resistivity of the output buffers may also vary causing the matching conditions to worsen.

[0007] To compensate for these variations in the resistivity, conventional output buffers use pull-up and pull-down transistors which can be enabled selectively by enabling/disabling signals generated by a special control circuit. In this way, the configuration of the transistors enabled inside the output buffer can be modified by the control circuit in such a way as to maintain the impedance matching so that it is unchanged with the temperature.

[0008] Circuits to control impedance of the output buffers which use a group of control transistors connected in parallel, whose impedance is correlated to that of the output buffer and is variable with the temperature in correlation with the variations in the output buffer impedance, are well known. Furthermore, the control circuits use a reference circuit component, such as a resistor, whose impedance is stable with temperature and is proportional to that of the data line to which the output buffer is to be connected. A special control circuit, on the basis of a signal deriving from the control transistors and a signal deriving from the reference element, detects the presence of a non-matching situation and generates the pull-up and pull-down transistor enabling/disabling signals in such a way as to restore the matching condition.

[0009] It should be noted that conventional control circuits may present different implementation characteristics but, in any case, they require the use of a reference circuit component which remains stable in varying temperatures. The circuit component is of the discrete type and, therefore, has the disadvantage that it cannot be integrated onto the same chip as the output buffer.

[0010] In view of the foregoing background, an object of the present invention is to manufacture a circuit to control the impedance of an output driving stage which avoids the use of discrete type circuit components and which can, therefore, be fully integrated onto the same chip that includes the driving circuit.

[0011] This and other objects, advantages and features according to the present invention are provided by an output driving stage impedance control circuit of an integrated circuit which comprises a plurality of driving transistors comprising at least one enabling/disabling transistor.

[0012] The control circuit comprises variable impedance means whose impedance varies with the temperature in correlation with the impedance of the output driving stage, and control means connected to the variable impedance means such as to generate a first signal for enabling/disabling the at least one transistor according to a control signal correlated to the impedance of the variable impedance means.

[0013] The control circuit further comprises current generation means to inject into the variable impedance means a current which is substantially stable with the temperature.

[0014] The characteristics and advantages of this invention will appear evident from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment, given purely as a non-limiting example and made with the help of the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an output driving stage with controlled impedance according to the invention;

[0016] FIG. 2ais a circuit diagram of a first control circuit which can be used in the output driving stage illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 2bshows a circuit diagram of a second control circuit which can be used in the output driving stage illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a particular example of the current generation means which can be used in the output driving stage illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a particular example of an integrated circuit using the output driving stage illustrated in FIG. 1; and

[0020] FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a control circuit that is an alternative to the circuit diagrams illustrated in FIGS. 2a,2b.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a controlled impedance output driving circuit 1 in accordance with the invention, suitable to be used at the output of an integrated circuit. The circuit 1 comprises an input IN for an input signal, a control circuit CC, a logical gate circuit LGC, an output driving stage or output buffer OB, and a terminal or output pad 2 for an output signal.

[0022] For example, the circuit 1 is suitable to be used at the output of a non-volatile memory, such as a Flash memory. In this case the circuit 1 is provided on the output of a non-volatile memory, and the data input IN contains a bit of a data word read in the memory which must be made available at the output.

[0023] For example, a high voltage level signal corresponding to a logic 1 can be fed to the data input IN, or a low voltage level signal corresponding to a logic 0 can be fed to the data input IN. In the example given in FIG. 1, a signal having a logic level equal to the 1 present at the input IN is made available in operating conditions at the terminal 2.

[0024] Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows the supply terminals of the circuit 1 to which a supply voltage V_ddis applied. For example, the supply voltage V_ddcan be equal to approximately 5 V, 3 V or 1.8 V.

[0025] Terminal 2 of the circuit 1 is connected by a data line 3, having a characteristic impedance Z_c, to a receiving device 4 as shown in FIG. 1, with an impedance load Z_Lconnected to the data line 3 and to a ground terminal or ground GND. In particular, the data line 3 is a schematic representation of a strip on a printed circuit board to connect the output buffer OB to the receiving device 4. Typically, the characteristic impedance Z_cof the data line 3 is equal to about 50 ohms.

[0026] The receiving device 4 can, for example, be a microprocessor input circuit or another integrated circuit (not shown). Since MOS technology integrated circuits are involved, the behavior in static conditions of the receiving device 4 is such that it can be assimilated to an open circuit.

[0027] The circuit 1 according to the invention, during the switching stage from one level to another of the output signal at terminal 2, enables generation of a voltage edge V_iincident to the data line 3 with an amplitude substantially equal to V_dd/2. As will be evident to those skilled in the art, to the incident voltage edge V_icorresponds a switching edge on the receiving device 4 with amplitude V_Lsubstantially equal to the following:

[0028] V_L=2V_i=V_dd  (1)

[0029] This insures that switching of the receiving device 4 takes place in only one passage.

[0030] The above mentioned relation between the incident voltage V_iand the voltage V_Lpresent on the receiving device 4 is equivalent to an impedance matching of the circuit with distributed parameters comprising the output buffer OB, the data line 3 and the impedance load Z_L.

[0031] The impedance matching corresponds to rendering, in the desired operating point of the circuit, the resistance R₀of the output buffer OB and the characteristic impedance Z_cof the line substantially coincident, i.e., R_o=Z_c. Representing graphically the characteristic current-voltage curve I-V, which describes the behavior of the output buffer OB and the load line corresponding to the impedance Zc of the data line 3, the matching condition corresponds to sizing the output buffer OB in such a way that the characteristic curve intersects the load line at a point of voltage V_dd/2 and of current I_Mequal to I_M=V_dd/2Z_C.

[0032] It should be noted that in conditions of non-matching, the propagation of a signal output by the circuit 1 along the data line 3 is delayed and, in particular, if the resistance of the output buffer R₀is lower than the characteristic impedance of the line Z_c, excessive delays are produced. However, if R₀is greater than Z_c, the signal setting in steady conditions takes place in several passages.

[0033] In greater detail, the output buffer OB comprises a pull-up circuit PU and a pull-down circuit PD, coupled to the terminal 2 of the driving circuit 1. The pull-up circuit PU comprises a plurality of pull-up transistors or pull-up drivers. In the example, three P-channel MOSFETs p₁, p₂, p₃, for example, are coupled in parallel and are supplied with the voltage V_dd. The voltage V_ddis applied to the source terminal of each pull-up driver p₁-p₃while the respective drain terminals are connected to the terminal 2 of the circuit 1.

[0034] In the example given in FIG. 1, the pull-up drivers p₁-p₃present the same aspect ratio value, in other words, the ratio between the width W_pand the length L_pof their respective conduction channels. In particular, the pull-up drivers p₁-p₃present the same resistivity value.

[0035] In the same way, the pull-down circuit PD comprises a plurality of pull-down driving transistors or pull-down drivers. In the example, there are three N-channel MOSFETs n₁, n₂, n₃, for example, coupled in parallel. The drain terminals of the pull-down drivers n₁-n₃are coupled to the drain terminals of the pull-up drivers p₁-p₃, and therefore to terminal 2, while the source terminals of the drivers n₁-n₃are coupled to GND ground.

[0036] Analogous to the pull-up drivers p₁-p₃, the pull-down drivers n₁-n₃present the same aspect ratio value, in other words the ratio between the width W_pand the length L_pof their respective conduction channels and, in particular, the pull-down drivers present the same resistivity value.

[0037] Preferably, each pull-down driver n₁-n₃has a resistivity value substantially equal to that of a similar pull-up driver p₁-p₃. The pull-up drivers p₁-p₃and the pull-down drivers n₁-n₃are enabled for operation, in other words for conduction, from enabling/disabling signals ab_p1-ab_p3and ab_n1-ab_n3respectively, applied to the respective gate terminals.

[0038] The control circuit CC comprises a first control circuit CC1 to control the pull-up circuit PU, and a second control circuit CC2 to control the pull-down circuit PD.

[0039] The first (second) control circuit CC1 (CC2) is fed, in addition to the voltage V_dd, a reference voltage V_REFand a reference current I_REFsubstantially stable as the temperature T varies and as the supply voltage V_ddvaries.

[0040] For example, the voltage V_REFis generated by a circuit of the bandgap type produced with well-known techniques and thus will not be described. Furthermore, the reference current I_REFcan be obtained by using any conventional technique, such as a technique which uses a bandgap type source. For example, a source of current which remains stable as the temperature and the supply voltage varies and is suitable to be used in this invention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,159.

[0041] It should be observed that the circuit for generation of the reference voltage V_REFand the circuit for generation of the reference current I_REFcan be integrated onto the same chip that includes the output buffer OB. Furthermore, a conventional chip comprising a non-volatile memory, such as a Flash memory, normally comprises a circuit for the generation of a reference voltage and current which remains stable as the temperature and supply voltage varies and are used, for example, to supply loading pump booster circuits. In this case, the current I_REFand the voltage V_REFcan be advantageously derived from the circuit present in the chip.

[0042] The first (second) control circuit CC1 (CC2), on the basis of the temperature T and the voltage V_dd, is suited to supply three output signals AB_p1, AB_p2, AB_p3, (AB_n1, AB_n2, AB_n3). The signals AB_p1, AB_p2, AB_p3, (AB_n1, AB_n2, AB_n3) are used to generate the above mentioned enabling/disabling signals ab_p1-ab_p3(ab_n1-ab_n3) of the pull-up drivers p₁-p₃(pull-down drivers n₁-n₃).

[0043] Output of the first control circuit CC1 and output of the second control circuit CC2 are connected to a logic gate circuit LGC. In particular, the logic gate circuit LGC comprises three logic gates 6 of the OR type. The first inputs are connected by the inverters 5 to the output signals AB_p1, AB_p2, AB_p3of the first control circuit CC1, and second inputs are connected to the input IN by an inverter 5′. An output of the logic gates 6 are connected to the terminals of the gates of the pull-up drivers p₁-p₃to supply the enabling/disabling signals ab_p1-ab_p3to the terminals.

[0044] Moreover, the logic gate circuit LGC comprises three logic gates 7 of the AND type. A first input is connected to the output of the second control circuit CC2 relative to signals AB_n1, AB_n2, AB_n3, and a second input is connected by an inverter 5′ to the input IN. At the output, the logic gates 7 are respectively connected to the terminals of the gates of the pull-down drivers n₁-n₃to supply the enabling/disabling signals ab_n1-ab_n3to the terminals.

[0045] FIGS. 2aand 2brespectively show the first and second control circuits CC1 and CC2. The first control circuit CC1 comprises variable impedance means which present a variable impedance correlated to the impedance of the output buffer OB. In particular, the variable impedance means present an impedance variable with the temperature correlated to the variation in the impedance of the output buffer OB.

[0046] In the particular example given in FIG. 2a,the variable impedance means comprise three control transistors p′₁, p′₂, p′₃, formed by P-channel MOSFET transistors. Each of the control transistors p′₁, p′₂, p′₃has a resistivity proportional to the equivalent resistivity of a pre-established working configuration of the pull-up circuit PU.

[0047] In particular, the control transistor p₁′ has a resistivity proportional to the resistivity of the pull-up driver p1 while the control transistors p₂′ and p₃′ have a resistivity proportional to the equivalent resistivity of the two pull-up drivers p₁and p₂provided in parallel and of the three pull-up drivers p₁, p₂, p₃provided in parallel respectively. For example, the control transistor p′₁has an aspect ratio W_p1′/L_p1′ equal to the above-described aspect ratio W_p/L_pof the pull-up driver p₁multiplied by a suitable scale factor α: W_p1′/L_p1′=αW_p/L_p.

[0048] Moreover, the control transistors p′₂and p′₃have aspect ratios W_p2′/L_p2′, W_p3′/L_p3′ respectively, proportional, according to factor α, to double and triple of the aspect ratio W_p/L_pof the pull-up transistor p₁, i.e., equal, respectively, to the double and the triple of the aspect ratio W_p1′/L_p1′ of the control transistor p₁′: W_p2′/L_p2′=2(αW_p/L_p); W_p3′/L_p3′=3(αW_p/L_p).

[0049] Advantageously, the factor α is less than 1 so that the size of the control transistors is less than those of the pull-up drivers so as to obtain a smaller first control circuit CC1 and to ensure that the current flowing therein is not too high.

[0050] Each control transistor p′₁-p′₃is fed at the source terminal with a voltage V_ddand has the drain terminal connected to the current generation means 8. The current generation means 8 are suitable to generate a current equal to αI_M, where α is the above-defined scale factor and I_M, equal to V_dd/2Z_c, is the amplitude of the output current at the output buffer OB in matching conditions. Furthermore, the current generation means 8 generate a current which remains substantially stable with temperature. A particular example of the means 8 to generate current αI_M, remaining stable with the temperature, shall be described more in detail below.

[0051] Moreover, the size of the conduction channels of the control transistors p′₁-p′₃described above and the choice of the current value αI_Mmake it possible to obtain, across each control transistor p′₁-p′₃, a potential drop substantially equal to the potential drop which would take place across the pull-up driver p₁, across the pull-up drivers in parallel p₁and p₂and across the pull-up drivers in parallel p₁, p₂and p₃respectively, in impedance matching conditions.

[0052] The drain terminals of the control transistors p′₁, p′₃are connected, respectively, at the nodes A₁, A₂and A₃, to three inverting inputs, of three comparators 9, for example, supplied with the voltage V_dd. Each comparator 9 is provided with a non-inverting input to which is applied a voltage V_dd/2 equal to half of the supply voltage V_dd. The voltage V_dd/2 applied to each comparator 9 is substantially equal to the value V_iof the amplitude of the voltage edge incident on the data line 3 during switching of the output signal from the buffer OB, and when impedance matching conditions are established.

[0053] The comparators 9 compare the voltages V_A1, V_A2, V_A3of the nodes A₁, A₂, A₃with the voltage V_dd/2 to provide the signals AB_p1, AB_p2, AB_p3at the respective outputs. The comparators 9 are a particular example of control means which can be used to generate the signals AB_p1, AB_p2, AB_p3based on the voltages V_A1, V_A2, V_A3.

[0054] Each signal AB_p1, AB_p2, AB_p3has a voltage level corresponding to a high logic level (e.g., equal to voltage V_dd) or to a low logic level (e.g., equal to ground voltage GND) if each voltage V_A1, V_A2, V_A3is lower or greater than the voltage V_dd/2 respectively.

[0055] FIG. 2bshows the second control circuit CC2 which is similar to the first control circuit CC1 described above. The second control circuit CC2 comprises variable impedance means of the same type as those described above with reference to FIG. 2a.

[0056] In the example given in FIG. 2b,the variable impedance means comprise three control transistors n′₁, n′₂, n′₃, composed of N-channel MOSFET transistors. Each of the control transistors n′₁, n′₂, n′₃has a resistivity proportional to the resistivity of a pre-established working configuration of the pull-down circuit PD. In particular, the resistivity and characteristic size, i.e., the size of the conduction channels, of the control transistors n′₁-n′₃are correlated to those of the pull-down drivers n₁-n₃in the same way as that described with reference to the first control circuit CC1. For example, the characteristic size of the control transistors n′₁-n′₃and that of the pull-down drivers n₁-n₃are correlated by a scale factor, which is advantageously the above-described factor α.

[0057] The source terminals of the control transistors n′₁-n′₃are connected to the ground terminal GND, and the drain terminals are connected to the current generation means 18, similar to the means 8 mentioned above and suitable to generate a current αI_M. The drain terminals of the control transistors n′₁-n′₃are connected, respectively, at nodes A₁, A₂and A₃, with three non-inverting inputs of three differential comparators 19, for example, supplied with the voltage V_dd. Each comparator 19 has an inverting input to which is applied a voltage V_dd/2.

[0058] The comparator 19 compares the voltages V_A1, V_A2, V_A3, with the voltage V_dd/2 to generate the enabling signals AB_n1, AB_n2, AB_n3on the respective outputs. Each signal AB_n1, AB_n2, AB_n3has a voltage level corresponding to a high logic level (e.g., equal to the voltage V_dd) or to a low logic level (e.g., equal to the ground voltage GND) if each voltage V_A1, V_A2, V_A3is greater or lower than the voltage V_dd/2 respectively.

[0059] A particular example of the operation of the controlled impedance output driving circuit 1 is given below. Suppose that a high logic level signal (bit 1) is applied at the data input IN. In this case, the output signals ab_n1-ab_n3at the logic gates 7 of the AND type have a low logic level, independently of the logic level of the signals AB_n1-AB_n3. Thus, the pull-down drivers n₁-n₃, composed in the example of FIG. 1 by N-channel MOSFETs, are disabled.

[0060] Furthermore, consider an initial state where, at a pre-established temperature T, the output buffer OB is in an impedance matching configuration. For example, the impedance matching is obtained by enabling only the pull-up drivers p₁and p₂of the output buffer OB. The pull-up drivers p₁and p₂are enabled for conduction of the low logic level signals ab_p1and ab_p2. The pull-up driver p₃is kept disabled by the high logic level signal ab_p3.

[0061] In this initial working condition, a potential drop takes place on the control transistors p₁′ and p₂′, through which a temperature stable current αI_Mis flowing, which drives the nodes A₁and A₂with voltages V_A1and V_A2to a voltage lower than the voltage V_dd/2 in such a way that the high logic level signals AB_p1and AB_p2are present at the output on the corresponding comparators 9. The potential drop on the control transistor p′₃takes the node A₃to a voltage V_A3greater than the voltage V_dd/2 in such a way that the low logic level signal AB_p3is present at the output on the corresponding comparator 9.

[0062] The signals AB_p1, AB_p2, AB_p3inverted by the inverters 5 combine inside the logic gates of the OR type 6 with the signal applied to the data input IN and inverted by the inverter 5′. Thus, the low logic level signals ab_p1and ab_p2and the high logic level signal ab_p3are obtained at the output on the logic gates 6. In this way, the output terminal 2 of the integrated circuit, presumed initially at a low logic level, is driven towards the voltage V_ddby the two pull-up drivers p₁and p₂. As a result of the matching condition in the switching transient of the transistors p₁and p₂, the incident edge V_ihas an amplitude equal to V_dd/2, and reflected waves are not generated on the line.

[0063] When the temperature T increases compared to the value T, the resistivity of the drivers used in the output buffer OB, and in particular, of the drivers p₁and p₂si, also increases. Increase in the resistivity values can lead the output buffer OB to a condition of non-matching, and induce an increase in the potential drop on the parallel pull-up drivers p₁and p₂, which corresponds to a decrease in voltage V_iincident on the data line 3 as compared to the value V_dd/2.

[0064] To restore the matching condition of the new temperature value T, it is necessary to reduce the impedance of the output buffer OB. For example, this can be obtained by also enabling for conduction the pull-up driver p₃in such a way as to obtain an overall impedance of the drivers p₁,p₂,p₃which satisfies the matching condition.

[0065] With reference to the control resistors p′₁, p′₂, p′₃, the increase in temperature to which they are also subjected causes an increase in their respective resistivity values by an amount correlated to the increase sustained by the pull-up drivers p₁, p₂and p₃.

[0066] In greater detail, an increase in the resistance of the control transistors p′₁and p′₂affected by the current αI_M, stable with the temperature, corresponds to an increase in the potential drop on the transistors and, therefore, a decrease in the voltages V_A1and V_A2. Thus, the voltages V_A1and V_A2remain less than the voltage V_dd/2 and the output signals AB_p1and AB_p2on the corresponding comparators 9 remain at low logic levels keeping the pull-up drivers p₁and p₂enabled for conduction.

[0067] The increase in resistivity of the control transistor p′₃, also affected by the current αI_M, induces an increase in the potential drop on the transistor. If the increase takes the voltage V_A3to a value less than V_dd/2, switching of the corresponding comparator 9 takes place which will generate a high logic level output signal AB_p3. The signal AB_p3, suitably inverted by the inverter 5 and when applied to the corresponding logic gate 6, causes switching of the signal ab_p3towards a low logic level. This enables the pull-up driver p₃to restore the impedance matching condition.

[0068] Now consider the case where, starting from the above-defined initial condition, a decrease in temperature compared to temperature T occurs, leading to a non-matching condition due to the reduction in the resistivity of the parallel pull-up drivers p₁and p₂. Matching can be restored by increasing the impedance of the output buffer OB, for example, by disabling the pull-up driver p₂.

[0069] Reduction in resistivity of the control transistor p₂′, caused by the decrease in temperature, corresponds to a reduction in the potential drop on the transistor p₂′ itself, and therefore, to an increase in the voltage V_A2. In particular, if the voltage V_A2has a value greater than the voltage V_dd/2, the output signal AB_p2from the corresponding comparator 9 switches from a high logic level to a low logic level. The signal AB_p2, applied to the logic gate circuit LGC, causes switching of the signal ab_p3from a low logic level to a high logic level which disables the pull-up driver p₂. In the example described, the variations in voltages V_A1and V_A3, induced by reductions in temperature, do not cause variations in the logic levels of the signals AB_p1and AB_p2as compared to the initial condition. In this way, the impedance matching condition for the new temperature value is reached.

[0070] Operation of the output driving stage 1 when a low logic level signal (bit 0 is applied at the data input IN,) disables the pull-up circuit PU and enables the pull-down circuit PD is evident to those skilled in the art based upon the previous description and corresponding figures.

[0071] FIG. 3 schematically shows a preferred embodiment of the means 8 to generate the current αI_M. The means 8 comprise a current source 60 suitable to generate the reference current I_REF. As stated previously, the source 60 is of a well-known type and, for example, can comprise a voltage generator of the bandgap type. The current source 60 is coupled to current mirror CM comprising a transistor Q₁and a transistor Q₂, composed for example, of an N-type MOSFET.

[0072] The transistor Q₁has a drain terminal connected to the current source 60 and to its own gate terminal, while a source terminal is connected to ground. The gate terminal of the transistor Q₁is connected to a gate terminal of the transistor Q₂. The current mirror CM is suitable to provide at the drain terminal of the transistor Q₂a current I₁proportional to the current I_REF. Preferably, the transistors Q₁and Q₂have identical aspect ratios, for example, equal to 4 μm/2 μm, in such a way so that the current mirror CM absorbs at the drain terminal of the transistor Q₂a current I₁equal to the current I_REF.

[0073] Furthermore, the means 8 comprise a multiplication stage with a first current mirror CM1 and a second current mirror CM2. The first current mirror CM1 comprises two transistors Q_p1and Q_p2, both of the P-channel MOSFET type.

[0074] A drain terminal of the transistor Q_p1is connected to the drain terminal of the transistor Q₂. The transistors Q_p1and Q_p2are provided with source terminals connected to the supply V_ddand with gate terminals connected to each other and to the drain terminal of the transistor Q_p1. The current mirror CM1 makes it possible to obtain, at the drain terminal of the transistor Q_p2, a current I₂substantially proportional to the current I₁according to a multiplication factor k₁dependent on the aspect ratios of the transistors Q_p1and Q₂: I₂=k₁I₁.

[0075] The first current mirror CM1 is connected to the second current mirror CM2 comprising two transistors Q_n1and Q_n2, both of the N-channel MOSFET type. In particular, a drain terminal of the transistor Q_p2is connected to a drain terminal of the transistor Q_n1in such a way as to supply the current I₂to the transistor Q_n1. The transistors Q_n1and Q_n2have source terminals connected to ground and gate terminals connected to each other, and to the drain terminal of the transistor Q_n1.

[0076] The second current mirror CM2 makes it possible to obtain, at the drain terminal of the transistor Q_n2, a current I₃entering the drain terminal and proportional to the current I₂according to the multiplication factor k₂. In particular, by suitably sizing the first and second current mirrors CM1 and CM2, a current I₂equal to the current αI_Msuitable to be used in the first control circuit CC1, is obtained.

[0077] Preferably, the current generation means 8 generate a current αI_Mwhich varies in accordance with the supply voltage V_dd. More preferably, the current αI_Mcan vary proportionally to the supply voltage V_dd. In the latter case, the second current mirror CM2 comprises one or more multiplying branches connected in parallel to the transistor Q_n2which can be selectively activated by an enabling circuit 30.

[0078] In the example given in FIG. 3, three multiplying branches are illustrated, comprising respectively the multiplication transistors of the N-channel MOSFET type Q_n3, Q_n4, Q_n5and respective branch enabling transistors Q_a3, Q_a4, Q_a5connected in series to the multiplication transistors. The branch enabling transistors Q_a3, Q_a4, Q_a5are enabled to conduction by the signals ab_q3, ab_q4, ab_q5, applied respectively to each gate terminal. Enabling of one of the branches makes it possible to modify the current αI_Mgenerated by the means 8. In particular, enabling of a branch causes an increase in the current αI_M.

[0079] The multiplying branches of the second current mirror CM2 can be enabled by an enabling circuit 30 comprising a resistive divider 31 to which the voltage V_ddis applied, and comprising resistances R₁-R₄arranged in series. Furthermore, the enabling circuit 30 comprises three comparators C₃-C₅having inverting terminals connected to a generator 70 suitable to generate the reference voltage V_REFand non-inverting terminals connected to the nodes B, C, D, respectively, of the resistive divider 31. The generator 70 is, for example, a conventional generator of the bandgap type.

[0080] The enabling circuit 30 can be manufactured by known integration techniques and, advantageously, it can be entirely provided on the same chip as the output buffer OB. Output of the comparators C₃-C₅are connected to the gate terminals of the enabling transistors Q_a3, Q_a4, Q_a5and they supply the output enabling signals ab_q3, ab_q4, ab_q5dependent respectively on the difference between the voltages at the points B, C, D and the voltage V_REF.

[0081] For example, consider the particular case in which sizing of the generation means 8 provides that, for a pre-established value of the voltage V_dd, only the multiplying branch containing the transistor Q_n3is activated. In this case, the comparator C₃provides an output signal ab_q3with a high logic level and is suitable for enabling the transistor Q_a3while the comparators C₄, C₅provide the respective output signals ab_q4, ab_q5having a low level so as not to activate the enabling transistors Q_a4, Q_a5.

[0082] In case of an increase in the voltage V_ddcompared to the pre-established value for which the entire control circuit CC is sized, an increase in the voltage drop on the resistances R₁-R₄is induced. This increase causes the switching of one or both of the comparators C₄, C₅in such a way that only the signal ab_q4or both signals ab_q4and ab_q5are of a value sufficiently high to activate either only the transistor Q_a4or both transistors Q_a4and Q_a5.

[0083] Following enabling of one or more multiplying branches, an increase in the output current αI_Mfrom the means 8 is caused. In the same way, a reduction in the voltage V_ddcauses disabling of one or more multiplying branches of the second current mirror CM2 and, thus, a reduction in the current αI_M.

[0084] In particular, suitable sizing of the components of the enabling circuit 30, easily established by those skilled in the art, makes it possible to obtain a current αI_Mwhich varies proportionally to variations in the V_dd. Preferably, indicating with V_dd-actthe value effectively reached by the supply voltage V_dd, the current αI_Mcan be made variable as the voltage V_dd-actvaries, according to the relation αI_M=αV_dd-act/2Z_c.

[0085] The possibility of varying the current αI_Maccording to the voltage V_dd, and in particular, proportionally to the voltage provided by the multiplying branches and by the enabling circuit 30, makes it possible to render the first control circuit CC1 independent of fluctuations in the voltage V_dd.

[0086] In fact, fluctuation in the voltage V_ddcompared to the pre-established value, causes the pull-up drivers p₁-p₃to be biased in operation points where the output buffer OB is not able to satisfy a matching condition. Therefore, the intersection between the characteristic curve I-V of the output buffer OB and the load line corresponding to the impedance Z_cof the data line 3 determines an operation point with voltage and current values different from the above-mentioned values V_dd/2, V_dd/2Z corresponding to the impedance matching.

[0087] To restore the matching condition, it is necessary to modify the configuration of the drivers enabled inside the output buffer OB. By allowing the current αI_Mto vary proportionally to the voltage V_dd, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the drop in potential on the control transistors p′₁-p′₃and the voltages V_A1, V_A2, V_A3are modified in such a way that the comparators 9 provide output enabling signals AB_p1, AB_p2, AB_p3which change the configuration of the output buffer OB for restoring the matching condition.

[0088] For example, with reference to the first control circuit CC1, following an increase in the voltage V_dd, the circuit 30 suitably increases the output current αI_Mfor causing an increase in at least one of the voltages VI_A1, V_A2, V_A3to such a degree as to cause switching of at least one of the comparators 9 resulting in a configuration of the pull-up drivers p′₁-p′₃to which an increase in the resistance of the output buffer OB corresponds, such as to restore the buffer to matching conditions. In other words, an increase in the voltage V_ddcauses a reduction in the resistivity of a control transistor which is compensated by a suitable increase in the current αI_M.

[0089] With reference to the second control circuit CC2, the means 18 to generate current αI_Mto be fed to the drain terminals of the control transistors n′₁-n′₃are the same as the above-described generation means 8 used in the control circuit CC1. In particular, to generate a current αI_M, a first current mirror can be used, similar to the mirror CM1, including P-channel MOSFET transistors, as well as a second current mirror which, unlike the current mirror CM2, uses P-channel MOSFET transistors. The P-channel MOSFET transistors can be enabled by an enabling circuit similar to the one described above.

[0090] The output driving stage 1, and in particular, the control circuit CC, makes it possible to control the impedance of the output buffer OB. This avoids the use of discrete reference circuit components reproducing electrical characteristics of the data line to which the output driving stage is connected, such as temperature stable resistors having a resistance correlated to that of the data line, used according to the known art. The control circuit CC according to the invention has the advantage that it can be integrated onto the same chip as the output buffer OB.

[0091] Advantageously, circuit 1 may include additional components, such as auxiliary transistors which can be enabled selectively and set in parallel to the pull-up p₁-p_nand pull-down n₁-n_ndrivers and to the control transistors p′₁-p′_nand n′₁-n′_nwhich make it possible to compensate variations, linked to the manufacturing process, in the nominal values and the effective values of the characteristic parameters of the components of circuit 1.

[0092] Furthermore, for the same reason, the second current mirror CM2 can include, besides the multiplying branches described above, one or more additional components such as, for example, one or more multiplying branches which can be enabled selectively, of the type similar to those illustrated in FIG. 3. To compensate for variations in the nominal values of the resistors R₁-R₄, the resistive divider 30 can be provided with additional components, such as, for example, resistances which can be enabled or disabled by controlling suitable transistors set in parallel to the resistances.

[0093] By carrying out tests on the circuit 1, it is possible to identify those components, such as the control transistors, output buffer drivers, multiplying branches or resistors, which have characteristics different from the nominal ones. Following the testing stage, optimal configuration of the additional components, which makes it possible to compensate the above-described variations, can be established.

[0094] Information relative to the configuration can be stored in suitable non-volatile memory cells, such as CAM (content addressable memory) cells provided for this purpose. Moreover, the presence of additional components makes it possible to obtain impedance matching of the circuit shown in FIG. 1 for different impedance values of the data line 3.

[0095] The output driving circuit with controlled impedance according to the invention may have a configuration different to that of the circuit 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. For example, the output buffer OB of the inverting type may include pull-up and pull-down drivers with aspect ratios correlated to each other in a different way from that described as an example previously.

[0096] In this regard, consider an output buffer OB of a type alternative to the buffer described previously and including a pull-up circuit provided with a plurality of pull-up drivers, for example, four drivers P₀, P₁, P₂, P₃, (not shown) having respective aspect ratios that are multiples of a reference aspect ratio W_u/L_uaccording to factors in geometric progression of 2: W_u/L_u, 2W_u/L_u, 4W_u/L_u, 8W_u/L_u.

[0097] The output buffer further comprises a pull-down circuit including a plurality of drivers, for example, four drivers N₀, N₁, N₂, N₃, (not shown) having respective aspect ratios that are multiples of a reference aspect ratio W_u′/L_u′ according to a relation similar to that described above for the pull-up drivers.

[0098] The pull-up drivers P₀-P₃and the pull-down drivers N₀-N₃can, for example, be composed of P-channel and N-channel MOSFETs respectively, and enabled by respective enabling/disabling signals applied to their respective gate terminals. FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a control circuit CC1′ suitable to control the pull-up circuit of the output buffer alternative to the buffer described with reference to FIGS. 1-3.

[0099] Similarly, to control circuits CC1 and CC2, the control circuit CC1′ comprises variable impedance means which have an impedance variable with temperature correlated to the variation in the temperature of the output buffer impedance. In the particular example given in FIG. 5, the variable impedance means comprise four control transistors P₀′, P₁′, P₂′, P₃′ composed of P-channel MOSFETs, connected in parallel and supplied with the voltage V_dd. Each control transistor P₀′-P₃′ has an aspect ratio equal, respectively, to the aspect ratio of each pull-up driver P₀-P₃multiplied by a scale factor α′, which is preferably less than 1.

[0100] The parallel circuit formed by the control transistors P₀′-P₃′ is connected to the means 8 to generate current equal to α′I_M, where α′ is the above-defined scale factor, and I_M, equal to V_dd/2Z_c, is the amplitude of current provided by the output buffer in matching conditions. The means 8 in FIG. 5 are similar to the means 8 described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0101] Each control transistor P₀′-P₃′ is enabled by respective enabling/disabling signals s₀, s₁, s₂, s₃applied to the respective gate terminals. The control circuit CC1′ further comprises control means, such as a control circuit 50 suitable to generate signals s_0L, s_1L, s_2L, s_3Lfrom which the enabling/disabling signals of the pull-up drivers P₀-P₃can be obtained. Furthermore, the control circuit 50 generates the enabling/disabling signals s₀, s₁, s₂, s₃of the control transistors P₀′-P₃′.

[0102] In greater detail, the control circuit 50 comprises a comparator 51, similar to the comparators 9 described previously, having a first input connected to a node A (which is connected to the drain terminals of the control transistors P₀′-P₃′), a second input to which the voltage V_dd/2 can be applied, and an output for a signal s_dhaving a voltage level of a logic level depending on the difference between the signals applied to the first and second inputs.

[0103] The output providing the signal s_dis connected to the input of a synchronous counter 52 module 16, of the bi-directional or up/down type, to which a timing or clock pulse sequence CLK can be fed. This counter 52, based on the logic level of the signal s_d, increases or decreases a unit with each clock pulse. The signal s_dhas the role of a counter direction signal for the counter 52.

[0104] Corresponding to each counter state in which it operates, the counter 52 outputs the four enabling/disabling signals s₀, s₁, s₂, s₃of the control transistors P₀′-P₃′. Each output s_iof the counter 52 corresponds to a bit of the binary digit which increases or decreases during the count.

[0105] The output of the comparator 51 is also connected to a sequence identifier 53 provided with an input for the pulse train of the clock CLK. The sequence identifier 53 provides, at one of its outputs, an identifying signal with a high logic level when the signal s_dapplied to one of its inputs is given by a suitable bit sequence, for example, a sequence of the type 10101010 . . . and of the type 11001100 . . . . These two sequences correspond to two possible stable states in which the voltage VA oscillates around the value V_dd/2.

[0106] The outputs of the counter 52 with the enabling/disabling signals s₀, s₁, s₂, s₃are connected to a register 54. The register 54 is also connected to the output of the sequence identifier 53 whose identifying signal acts as a sync signal for the register. The register 54 keeps outputting the signals s_0L, s_1L, s_2L, s_3Land samples the input signals s₀, s₁, s₂, s₃supplying them at the output at a rising edge of the sync signal coming from the sequence identifier 53.

[0107] During operation, when the voltage V_Aof point A is less than the voltage V_dd/2, the signal s_doutput by the comparator 9 is at a high logic level, in such a way as to set the counter 52 in a particular clock pulse counting direction, for example, forward or up counting. At the output of the counter 52, the signals s₀, s₁, s₂, s₃take on logic levels to enable and/or disable at least one of the control transistors P₀′-P₃′ to increase the voltage V_A. If the voltage remains at a value less than the voltage V_dd/2, counting continues in the same direction, while if the voltage V_Ais greater than the voltage V_dd/2, the signal s_dswitches which inverts the count direction.

[0108] When a state is reached in which the voltage V_Ais adequately near the voltage V_dd/2, the signal s_dtakes the course of one of the sequences identifiable by the sequence identifier 53. After a pre-established number of clock pulses, the sequence identifier 53 switches, providing at the output a high logic level signal. The switching ensures that the register 54 provides the output signals s_0L, s_1L, s_2L, s_3Lat logic levels equal to those of the signals s₀, s₁, s₂, s₃at the output from the counter 52. The signals s_0L, s_1L, s_2L, s_3Lso obtained make it possible to impose a configuration of the output buffer corresponding to the matching.

[0109] FIG. 4 illustrates an integrated circuit or chip 40 supplied with a voltage V_ddand comprising a memory array 41, such as a non-volatile memory of the Flash type, including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns suitable for storing bits. The memory array 41 is provided with a row decoder 42 and a column decoder 43 suitable to receive, through suitable buses, a row address signal RADD and a column address signal CADD respectively, both fed at an ADD input of the chip 40.

[0110] Based on the address signals RADD and CADD, the row and column decoders 42 and 43 make it possible to select one or more rows and one or more columns respectively of the memory array 41 to select a number n of cells of the memory array 41. Furthermore, the chip 40 is provided with an input CS for the application of control signals of the memory array 41. For example, the control signals may comprise a read enabling signal OE, a write enabling signal WE and a circuit enabling signal CE.

[0111] The memory array 41 is connected to n output lines L₁-L_non which, during a reading operation of the array itself, n data bits are made available, and stored in the selected memory cells. These output lines 44 are connected to n sense amplifiers 45 of a conventional type, for example. The sense amplifiers 45 are connected to n output driving circuits with controlled impedance ODC1-ODCn, each of a type similar to circuit 1 described above.

[0112] The circuits ODC1-ODCn are connected by terminals 2, which are typically pads, to respective data lines T_L1-T_Ln, with characteristic impedance Z_c1-Z_cn, each closed on an impedance load Z_L1-Z_Lnsuch as to operate as an open circuit. The data lines T_L1-T_Lnform a bus for the transmission of data output from the memory array 41, produced for example on a printed circuit on which the chip 40 is applied. The impedance loads Z_L1-Z_Lncan, for example, together represent a microprocessor input circuit.

[0113] Similar to circuit 1, the circuits ODC1-ODCn comprise output buffers of a type similar to the above-described output buffer OB and respective control circuits similar to the above-described circuit CC. Preferably, a single control circuit, similar to circuit CC can be used to control all the output buffers of the ODC1-ODCn circuits.

[0114] Each circuit ODC1-ODCn is such as to control the impedance matching of the respective output buffers. In other words, each circuit ODC1-ODCn makes it possible to control the impedance of the output buffer contained therein in such a way as to maintain it substantially equal to the impedance of the respective data lines T_L1-T_Ln.

[0115] A reduction in the power used to manage the matching impedance control can be obtained by activating the control circuit present in each circuit ODC1-ODCn only in some stages of the operation of the integrated circuit. For example, the control circuits can be activated before each reading step of the data stored in the memory 41 in such a way as to modify or leave unchanged the configuration of the pull-up and pull-down drivers enabled inside the output buffers with the aim to reach or maintain the matching state. Similar to circuit 1, each circuit ODC1-ODCn is sized in such a way as to obtain matching with reference to a pre-established impedance Z_c1-Z_cnof the data line T_L1-T_Ln.

[0116] Obviously, those skilled in the art, with the aim of satisfying contingent and specific requirements, can make numerous modifications and variations to the control circuit and to the output driving circuit described herein, all of which are within the protective scope of the invention as defined in the claims below.