At least some embodiments are directed to a flip-flop that comprises a tri-state inverter and a master latch coupled to the tri-state inverter and comprising a first transistor, a first inverter, and a first logic gate. The master latch receives a clock signal. The flop also comprises a slave latch coupled to the master latch and comprising a second transistor and a second inverter. The slave latch receives the clock signal. The flop further comprises an enablement logic coupled to the master latch and comprising multiple, additional logic gates. The tri-state inverter, the master and slave latches, and the enablement logic are configured so that when a flip-flop input signal D and a flip-flop output signal Q are identical and the clock signal is toggled, a state of the master latch and a state of the slave latch remain static.

A tri-state circuit that includes a control circuit coupled to a driver circuit. The driver circuit includes a first type of transistor connected in series with a second type of transistor. The control circuit receives an input data signal at an input data rate and a plurality of clock signals, and supplies a first signal and a second signal to the first type of transistor and the second type of transistor in response to the receipt of the input data signal. The control circuit further controls a tri-state switching operation of the first type of transistor and the second type of transistor such that the input data signal is selected and an output data signal is generated at an output data rate. The tri-state circuit is further utilized in other digital circuits, such as latch circuits, latch-based memory circuits or parallel-to-serial converter circuits to reduce inter symbol interference.

A pulse-width-to-voltage (PWV) converter, comprises: a switch, a capacitor, a current source, and a current sink. The switch is operable by a signal. The current source, the current sink, and the switch are serially connected across a high voltage potential and a low voltage potential. An output node is coupled to a serial connection between the current source and the current sink. An end of the capacitor is coupled to the output node for converting a current into a control voltage indicative of a duty cycle of the signal.

A configurable driver integrated circuit is disclosed having a plurality of input/output terminals for interfacing exterior of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of driver circuits, with each driver circuit including a transistor having a source and a drain, and each of the source and drain thereof connected to a dedicated and respective one of the input/output terminals and further includes a gate driver for driving a gate of the transistor, with supply inputs associated with a floating voltage domain, and each driver circuit also includes a level shift circuit for shifting the level of a logic signal from a fixed voltage domain to the floating voltage domain. A switching circuitry generates switching signals in a fixed voltage domain for controlling the operation of each of the driver circuits in accordance with a predetermined configuration defined by external circuit.

A configurable driver integrated circuit is disclosed having a plurality of input/output terminals for interfacing exterior of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of driver circuits, with each driver circuit including a transistor having a source and a drain, and each of the source and drain thereof connected to a dedicated and respective one of the input/output terminals and further includes a gate driver for driving a gate of the transistor, with supply inputs associated with a floating voltage domain, and each driver circuit also includes a level shift circuit for shifting the level of a logic signal from a fixed voltage domain to the floating voltage domain. A switching circuitry generates switching signals in a fixed voltage domain for controlling the operation of each of the driver circuits in accordance with a predetermined configuration defined by external circuit.

A clamp logic circuit has a logic circuit, a control terminal, a current clamp circuit and an output terminal. The logic circuit has at least a junction field-effect transistor (JFET). The control terminal receives an input signal. The current clamp circuit has a transistor and a resistor. A first end of the transistor is coupled to the control terminal, a second end of the transistor is coupled to a first end of the resistor, a control end of the transistor is coupled to a reference voltage, and a second end of the resistor is coupled to an input end of the logic circuit. The output terminal is coupled to an output end of the logic circuit.

A pulse-width-to-voltage (PWV) converter, comprises: a switch, a capacitor, a current source, and a current sink. The switch is operable by a signal. The current source, the current sink, and the switch are serially connected across a high voltage potential and a low voltage potential. An output node is coupled to a serial connection between the current source and the current sink. An end of the capacitor is coupled to the output node for converting a current into a control voltage indicative of a duty cycle of the signal.

A ternary logic circuit according to the present invention includes a pull-up device (100) and a pull-down device (200) connected in series between power voltage sources (V.sub.DD and GND), and an input voltage (V.sub.IN) source and output voltage (V.sub.OUT) source. When both the pull-up device (100) and the pull-down device (200) are turned off by an input voltage (V.sub.IN), both the pull-up device (100) and the pull-down device (200) operate as simple resistors which are affected only by an output voltage (V.sub.OUT) and form a ternary digit (1 state) through voltage division. When only one of the pull-up device (100) or the pull-down device (200) is turned on to allow a current to flow therethrough, V.sub.DD (2 state) or GND (0 state) is output as the output voltage (V.sub.OUT). Accordingly, a bit density can be remarkably increased.

At least some embodiments are directed to a flip-flop that comprises a tri-state inverter and a master latch coupled to the tri-state inverter and comprising a first transistor, a first inverter, and a first logic gate. The master latch receives a clock signal. The flop also comprises a slave latch coupled to the master latch and comprising a second transistor and a second inverter. The slave latch receives the clock signal. The flop further comprises an enablement logic coupled to the master latch and comprising multiple, additional logic gates. The tri-state inverter, the master and slave latches, and the enablement logic are configured so that when a flip-flop input signal D and a flip-flop output signal Q are identical and the clock signal is toggled, a state of the master latch and a state of the slave latch remain static.

A configurable driver integrated circuit is disclosed having a plurality of input/output terminals for interfacing exterior of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of driver circuits, with each driver circuit including a transistor having a source and a drain, and each of the source and drain thereof connected to a dedicated and respective one of the input/output terminals and further includes a gate driver for driving a gate of the transistor, with supply inputs associated with a floating voltage domain, and each driver circuit also includes a level shift circuit for shifting the level of a logic signal from a fixed voltage domain to the floating voltage domain. A switching circuitry generates switching signals in a fixed voltage domain for controlling the operation of each of the driver circuits in accordance with a predetermined configuration defined by external circuit.