Slew Rate Enhancement Technique for CMOS Output Buffers

A novel technique for enhancing the slew rate in CMOS amplifiers is described. This is useful in implementing buffer amplifiers for driving very large capacitive loads. The slew enhancement is provided by an auxiliary which is activated only during transients. This minimizes power dissipation and also ensures that the desirable properties of the core amplifier are all conserved. A buffer amplifier using this technique has been implemented in a standard CMOS technology.