Load-adaptive, low switching-noise output buffer

An output buffer is described which employs built-in load monitoring in order to bound the transition time over a wide range of load conditions. The adaptive control of driving current enables the switching-noise to be kept to a minimum value. The experimental chip, which was designed to bound the fall time within 6 ns for loading capacitance up to 100 pF, revealed a reduced switching-noise level, 15-35% of a conventional buffer