ML65541/ML65L541
line drivers, but it is not true for the ML65541 and
ML65L541. This is because their sink and source current
capability depends on the voltage difference between the
output and the input. The ML65541 can sink or source
more than 100mA to a load when the load is switching
due to the fact that during the transition, the difference
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
The ML65541 and ML65L541 are very high speed non-
inverting buffer/line drivers with three-state outputs which
are ideally suited for bus-oriented applications. They
provide a low propagation delay by using an analog
design approach (a high speed unity gain buffer), as
compared to conventional digital approaches. The
ML65541 and ML65L541 follow the pinout and
functionality of the industry standard FCT541 series of
buffer/line drivers and are intended to replace them in
designs where the propagation delay is a critical part of
the system design considerations. The ML65541 and
ML65L541 are capable of driving load capacitances
several times larger than their input capacitance. They are
configured so that the Ai inputs go to the Bi outputs when
enabled by OE1/OE2.
between the input and output is large. I is only
OL
significant as a DC specification, and is 25mA.
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION
Until now, buffer/line drivers have been implemented in
CMOS logic and made to be TTL compatible by sizing the
input devices appropriately. In order to buffer large
capacitances with CMOS logic, it is necessary to cascade
an even number of inverters, each successive inverter
larger than the preceding, eventually leading to an inverter
that will drive the required load capacitance at the
required frequency. Each inverter stage represents an
additional delay in the gating process because in order for
a single gate to switch, the input must slew more than half
of the supply voltage. The best of these CMOS buffers has
managed to drive a 50pF load capacitance with a delay of
3.2ns. Micro Linear has produced an octal buffer/line
driver with a delay less than 1.7ns by using a unique
circuit architecture that does not require cascaded logic
gates. The ML65541 uses a feedback technique to
produce an output that follows the input. If the output
voltage is not close to the input, then the feedback
circuitry will source or sink enough current to the load
capacitance to correct the discrepancy.
These unity gain analog buffers achieve low propagation
delays by having the output follow the input with a small
offset. The output rise and fall times will closely match
those of the input waveform. All inputs and outputs have
Schottky clamp diodes to handle undershoot or overshoot
noise suppression in unterminated applications. All
outputs have ground bounce suppression (typically
< 400mV), high drive output capability with almost
immediate response to the input signal, and low
output skew.
The I current drive capability of a buffer/line driver is
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often interpreted as a measure of its ability to sink current
in a dynamic sense. This may be true for CMOS buffer/
VCC
R8
Q1
Q2
R7
R3
R4
R2
R1
IN
OUT
Q4
Q6
Q5
Q7
Q3
R5
R6
GND
Figure 5. One buffer cell of the ML65541
5
MICRO-LINEAR [ MICRO LINEAR CORPORATION ]
