Abstract: An n-bit quantizer of a downstream modulator stage is configured to produce an n-bit quantized signal from an analog signal having a range. The n-bit quantizer divides the range into 2n subranges. A first subrange of the 2n subranges is bounded by a lowest value of the range, a second subrange of the 2n subranges is bounded by a highest value of the range, and at least one remaining subrange of the 2n subranges is positioned between the first and the second subranges. The first and the second subranges each measure greater than {1/[2(2n−1)]} of the total range. Each of the at least one remaining subrange measures less than [1/(2n−1)] of the total range. A first gain of an integrator of the downstream modulator stage is set so that the downstream modulator stage is stable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a replica network for linearizing switched capacitor circuits. A bridge circuit with a MOSFET resistor disposed in a resistor branch of the bridge circuit is provided. A noninverting terminal of an operational amplifier is connected to a first node of the bridge circuit and an inverting terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to a second node of the bridge circuit. The second node is separated from the first node by another node of the bridge circuit. An output of the operational amplifier is provided to a gate terminal of the MOSFET resistor and to the gate terminal of the MOSFET switch in a switched capacitor circuit, thereby controlling the resistance of the MOSFET switch so that it is independent of the signal voltage. In this manner, the replica network of the present invention linearizes the switched capacitor circuit. In this manner, the replica network of the present invention linearizes the switched capacitor circuit.

Abstract: Gain scaling of multistage, multi-bit delta sigma modulators for higher signal-to-noise ratios. In a multistage delta sigma modulator having a modulator stage with an integrator, a multi-bit quantizer, and a multi-bit digital-to-analog converter, the multi-bit quantizer is companded to cause a feedback signal, produced by the multi-bit digital-to-analog converter, to have a first gain, with respect to an integrated signal received by the multi-bit quantizer, set greater than one. A second gain, of the integrator, is reduced so that an overall gain of the modulator stage remains equal to one. A third gain, of a stability correction gain element connected to an input of the modulator stage, is increased so that a swing of the integrated signal remains within a dynamic range of an operational amplifier used to implement the integrator, and the multistage delta sigma modulator can realize the higher signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a replica network for linearizing switched capacitor circuits. A bridge circuit with a MOSFET resistor disposed in a resistor branch of the bridge circuit is provided. A noninverting terminal of an operational amplifier is connected to a first node of the bridge circuit and an inverting terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to a second node of the bridge circuit. The second node is separated from the first node by another node of the bridge circuit. An output of the operational amplifier is provided to a gate terminal of the MOSFET resistor and to the gate terminal of the MOSFET switch in a switched capacitor circuit, thereby controlling the resistance of the MOSFET switch so that it is independent of the signal voltage. In this manner, the replica network of the present invention linearizes the switched capacitor circuit. In this manner, the replica network of the present invention linearizes the switched capacitor circuit.

Abstract: A system reduces unwanted oscillations in a multiple gigabit per second, high gain amplifier portion. The system includes a power source portion having a plurality of power sources and a bias current portion having a plurality of bias current devices. The system also includes an amplification portion having a plurality of amplifiers. A first group of the plurality of amplifiers is coupled to the power source portion and the bias current portion, such that feedback voltage is substantially eliminated to substantially eliminate oscillations in the amplification portion.

Abstract: A system for receiving signals (e.g., optical signals) includes an input device, an amplification device, and a feedback device. The amplification device receives a signal from the input device and includes a transimpedance portion. The transimpedance portion includes a first section having a plurality of elements (e.g., resistors and transistors) and a second section having a plurality of elements (e.g., resistors and transistors). One or more of the elements (e.g. transistors or resistors) in the first and second sections are mismatched to introduce a systematic offset in the transimpedance stage, to make the net input referred offset of the amplification device unidirectional. The feedback device (e.g. an integrator) is coupled to an output of the amplification device and an input of the transimpedance portion to provide a unidirectional offset correction to the amplification device for reduced noise enhancement.

Abstract: A biasing scheme for a MOSFET that mitigates the MOSFET body effect. The biasing scheme can be realized replicating the voltage at the source terminal of a MOSFET and applying this replicated voltage to the body terminal. In this manner, the effect of the body transconductance, at high frequencies, becomes a function of the ratio of the well-to-substrate capacitance of the MOSFET to the sum of the well-to-substrate capacitance and the source-to-body capacitance of the transistor. At high frequencies, the biasing scheme mitigates the reduction in gain of a source follower caused by the body effect of a driven MOSFET within the source follower, improves the stability of a feedback network established by a gain boosting amplifier and the driven MOSFET by contributing a negative half plane zero to the transfer function of the feedback network, and reduces the power consumed by the gain boosting amplifier.

Abstract: In a high order delta sigma modulator stage having integrators with pipelined cross coupled input circuits, the processing delay between an upstream integrator and a downstream integrator is decreased from a full cycle of a clock used to control the high order delta sigma modulator stage to a half cycle of the clock, while the processing delay between a quantizer and a portion of a digital-to-analog converter that provides feedback to the upstream integrator is increased by a half cycle of the clock.

Abstract: An n-bit quantizer of a downstream modulator stage is configured to produce an n-bit quantized signal from an analog signal having a range. The n-bit quantizer divides the range into 2n subranges. A first subrange of the 2n subranges is bounded by a lowest value of the range, a second subrange of the 2n subranges is bounded by a highest value of the range, and at least one remaining subrange of the 2n subranges is positioned between the first and the second subranges. The first and the second subranges each measure greater than {1/[2(2n−1)]} of the total range. Each of the at least one remaining subrange measures less than [1/(2n−1)] of the total range. A first gain of an integrator of the downstream modulator stage is set so that the downstream modulator stage is stable.

Abstract: Gain scaling of multistage, multi-bit delta sigma modulators for higher signal-to-noise ratios. In a multistage delta sigma modulator having a modulator stage with an integrator, a multi-bit quantizer, and a multi-bit digital-to-analog converter, the multi-bit quantizer is companded to cause a feedback signal, produced by the multi-bit digital-to-analog converter, to have a first gain, with respect to an integrated signal received by the multi-bit quantizer, set greater than one. A second gain, of the integrator, is reduced so that an overall gain of the modulator stage remains equal to one. A third gain, of a stability correction gain element connected to an input of the modulator stage, is increased so that a swing of the integrated signal remains within a dynamic range of an operational amplifier used to implement the integrator, and the multistage delta sigma modulator can realize the higher signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A biasing scheme for a MOSFET that mitigates the MOSFET body effect. The biasing scheme can be realized replicating the voltage at the source terminal of a MOSFET and applying this replicated voltage to the body terminal. In this manner, the effect of the body transconductance, at high frequencies, becomes a function of the ratio of the well-to-substrate capacitance of the MOSFET to the sum of the well-to-substrate capacitance and the source-to-body capacitance of the transistor. At high frequencies, the biasing scheme mitigates the reduction in gain of a source follower caused by the body effect of a driven MOSFET within the source follower, improves the stability of a feedback network established by a gain boosting amplifier and the driven MOSFET by contributing a negative half plane zero to the transfer function of the feedback network, and reduces the power consumed by the gain boosting amplifier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a replica network for linearizing switched capacitor circuits. A bridge circuit with a MOSFET resistor disposed in a resistor branch of the bridge circuit is provided. A noninverting terminal of an operational amplifier is connected to a first node of the bridge circuit and an inverting terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to a second node of the bridge circuit. The second node is separated from the first node by another node of the bridge circuit. An output of the operational amplifier is provided to a gate terminal of the MOSFET resistor and to the gate terminal of the MOSFET switch in a switched capacitor circuit, thereby controlling the resistance of the MOSFET switch so that it is independent of the signal voltage. In this manner, the replica network of the present invention linearizes the switched capacitor circuit. In this manner, the replica network of the present invention linearizes the switched capacitor circuit.

Abstract: A circuit and method for obtaining a stable delay for a clock signal comprises a current source to generate a constant current having a first value; first and second current over capacitance (I/C) stages coupled to the current source and between a supply voltage and ground; and a capacitor, having a second value and coupled to a node formed by an output of the first I/C stage and an input of the second I/C stage. Application of a clock signal to an input of the first I/C stage produces an output at a logic gate coupled to an output of the second I/C stage. The output has a stable delay based on the first and second values. Additionally, the first and second values (i.e., the value of the current or capacitance) can be changed to achieve a desired amount of the delay applied to the input clock signal.

Abstract: A cross coupled output stage for a transmitter. It is desirable to have high impedance for a differential cascode output stage of an externally terminated transmitter in order to improve return loss. However, at high frequencies, parasitic capacitances cause shunts at the output nodes due to drain to bulk capacitances and negative feedback loops due to gate-to-drain capacitance. In order to counteract this, cross coupled capacitors are connected to the circuit to cause a positive feedback loop. This counteracts the reduction in impedance causing the impedance to remain high over all frequencies and to improve the return loss.

Abstract: A circuit for conditioning an input control voltage signal that is used to drive an LC tank oscillator in a phase locked loop (PLL). The conditioning circuit includes a two-stage amplifier including a first stage amplifier connected to a second stage comprising an active cascode circuit, a diode-connected transistor and a resistor tied to a reference voltage (e.g. ground). The first stage amplifier receives a control voltage input signal, which would typically be produced at the output of a loop filter in a PLL, and produces a conditioned control voltage output signal at its output, which is connected to the drain of the diode-connected transistor. The purpose of the amplifier is to lower the impedance of the conditioned output signal, which is then used to drive the LC tank oscillator, wherein the series resistor acts both to lower the impedance and to act as the degenerating resistor for the diode-connected transistor.