Patent attributes
A differential amplifying circuit that includes a differential pair and a cascode current mirror circuit that forms the load circuit of this differential pair. The cascode current mirror circuit includes a control-terminal-coupled first transistor pair, and second and third transistor pairs that receive first and second bias signals at coupled control terminals, respectively. The second transistor pair is straight-connected between the first transistor pair and the input end and the output end of the cascode current mirror circuit, and the third transistor pair is cross-connected between the first transistor pair and the input end and the output end of the cascode current mirror circuit. The second and third transistor pairs are controlled so as to each be placed in active and inactive states by changing over voltage values of the first and second bias signals, with control being exercised in such a manner that when one of these transistor pairs is in an active state, the other is in an inactive state.