A memory device includes a data receiver, a latch driver, and a voltage level shifter. The data receiver works in a first voltage, receives an enable signal, a reference signal, and an input data signal, and outputs an internal data signal by the first voltage. The latch driver receives a write select signal and the internal data signal, latches the internal data signal by the first voltage, and outputs at least one latch data signal by a second voltage. The voltage level shifter receives the at least one latch data signal by the second voltage and generates at least one output data signal by the at least one latch data signal. The voltage level shifter sets a voltage value of the at least one output data signal by the first voltage. The voltage value of the first voltage is greater than the voltage value of the second voltage.

Provided herein are apparatus and methods for a multi-stage signal-processing circuit. The signal-processing circuit can include multiple configurable stages that can be cascaded and configured to process an input signal. Control circuitry can be used to select an output of the configurable stages. Serial data can be recovered with good signal integrity using a signal monitor with the configurable stages by virtually placing the signal monitor on a buffered output node.

Power consumption of a signal processing circuit is reduced. Further, power consumption of a semiconductor device including the signal processing circuit is reduced. The signal processing circuit includes a reference voltage generation circuit, a voltage divider circuit, an operational amplifier, a bias circuit for supplying bias current to the operational amplifier, and first and second holding circuits. The first holding circuit is connected between the reference voltage generation circuit and the bias circuit. The second holding circuit is connected between the voltage divider circuit and a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier. Reference voltage from the reference voltage generation circuit and reference voltage from the voltage divider circuit can be held in the first and second holding circuits, respectively, so that the reference voltage generation circuit can stop operating. Thus, power consumption of the reference voltage generation circuit can be reduced.

A dynamic amplifier with a bypass design. An input pair of transistors receives a pair of differential inputs Vip and Vin and further provides first, second and third terminals. A load circuit provides a pair of differential outputs Vop and Von with the load circuit connected at a common mode terminal. In an amplification phase, a driver for amplification is coupled to the first terminal and the load circuit is coupled to the second and third terminals. A bypassing circuit is specifically provided. The bypassing circuit is coupled to the second and third terminals during a bypass period within the amplification phase.

A transconductance amplifier is provided with: a cross-coupled differential pair (31) having one set of differential pair transistors in which signals whose polarities are opposite to each other are inputted to gates thereof, drains of one of the differential pair transistors being connected to drains of another one of the differential pair transistors, and a control circuit (32) comprised of logical circuits, for outputting a binary signal to the common source of each of the differential pair transistors on the basis of an output-level control signal and a polarity control signal which are inputted thereto.

According to one embodiment, the amplifier circuit includes a first and second differential amplifier. The first differential amplifier includes first and second transistors, a first current source, and a second current source that is configured to supply a current to the first and second transistors via a first switch element. The second differential amplifier includes third and fourth transistors, a third current source, and a fourth current source that is configured to supply a current to the third and fourth transistors via a second switch element. A first signal is input to the first and third transistors. The first switch elements are controlled by third and fourth signals, respectively. The third signal and the fourth signal are complementary.

An optical modulator driver circuit (1) includes an amplifier (50, Q10, Q11, R10-R13), and a current amount adjustment circuit (51) capable of adjusting a current amount of the amplifier (50) in accordance with a desired operation mode. The current amount adjustment circuit (51) includes at least two current sources (IS10) that are individually ON/OFF-controllable in accordance with a binary control signal representing the desired operation mode.

A fully balanced differential difference amplifier includes a first differential input stage that receives an input voltage and a second differential input stage that receives a common-mode voltage. A first resistive-degeneration group is coupled to the first differential input and a second resistive-degeneration group is coupled to the second differential input. A differential output stage generates an output voltage. A first switch is coupled in parallel to the first resistive-degeneration group and a second switch is coupled in parallel with the second resistive-degeneration group. The first and second switches are driven into the closed state when the voltage input assumes a first value such that said first input stage operates in the linear region, and are driven into the open state when the voltage input assumes a second value, higher than the first value, such that the first input stage operates in a non-linear region.

According to one embodiment, the amplifier circuit includes a first and second differential amplifier. The first differential amplifier includes first and second transistors, a first current source, and a second current source that is configured to supply a current to the first and second transistors via a first switch element. The second differential amplifier includes third and fourth transistors, a third current source, and a fourth current source that is configured to supply a current to the third and fourth transistors via a second switch element. A first signal is input to the first and third transistors. The first switch elements are controlled by third and fourth signals, respectively. The third signal and the fourth signal are complementary.

A transconductance amplifier is provided with: a cross-coupled differential pair (31) having one set of differential pair transistors in which signals whose polarities are opposite to each other are inputted to gates thereof, drains of one of the differential pair transistors being connected to drains of another one of the differential pair transistors, and a control circuit (32) comprised of logical circuits, for outputting a binary signal to the common source of each of the differential pair transistors on the basis of an output-level control signal and a polarity control signal which are inputted thereto.