Abstract: Embodiments may relate to a circuit for use in an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit. The circuit may include a first residue amplifier stage and a second residue amplifier stage. The circuit may further include a synthesized delay stage with a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) electrically positioned between a signal input and the input of the second residue amplifier stage. The circuit may further include a resistor electrically positioned between the signal input and the input of the second residue amplifier stage. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments may relate to a circuit for use in an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit. The circuit may include a first residue amplifier stage and a second residue amplifier stage. The circuit may further include a synthesized delay stage with a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) electrically positioned between a signal input and the input of the second residue amplifier stage. The circuit may further include a resistor electrically positioned between the signal input and the input of the second residue amplifier stage. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.

Abstract: Continuous-time pipeline analog-to-digital converters can achieve excellent performance, and avoid sampling-related artifacts traditionally associated with discrete-time pipeline ADCs. However, the continuous-time circuitry in the ADCs can pose a challenge for digital signal reconstruction, since the transfer characteristics of the continuous-time circuitry are not as well characterized or as simple as their discrete-time counterparts. To achieve perfect digital signal reconstruction, special techniques are used to implement an effective and efficient digital filter that combines the digital output signals from the stages of the CT ADCs.

Abstract: Residue generation systems for use in continuous-time and hybrid ADCs are disclosed. An example residue generation system includes at least one stub filter, configured to generate a modified analog input based on an analog input, and a quantizer, configured to generate a digital input to a feedforward DAC based on the modified analog input generated by the filter. The feedforward DAC is configured to generate a feedforward path analog output based on the digital input generated by the quantizer, and the system may further be configured to generate a residue signal based on the feedforward path analog output. Providing one or more stub filters that filter the analog input before it is quantized by the quantizer advantageously allows blockers to be attenuated before they are sampled and aliased by the quantizer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for interfacing with a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sensor are provided. In an example, an apparatus can interface circuit including an integrator circuit, a sample switch circuit, a saturation detector and a controller. The saturation detector can be configured to receive a signal indicative of an integration of charge of the sensor, to compare the signal indicative of the integration of charge to an integrator saturation threshold and to modulate a divide parameter using the comparison of the signal indicative of the integration of charge and the integrator saturation threshold. The controller can be configured to receive a clock signal and to control the sample switch circuit based on a phase of the clock signal and the divide parameter.

Abstract: This application discusses simplified interface circuits for a gyroscope. In an example, an interface can include an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit configured to couple to driver for a proof mass of a gyroscope sensor and to drive the proof-mass to oscillate at a predefined oscillation amplitude, and a phase-locked loop (PLL) configured to receive sensed oscillation information from the proof-mass and to provide at least a first phase signal synchronized with a sinusoidal waveform of the sensed oscillation information.

Abstract: This application discusses, among other things, simplified interface circuits for a gyroscope. In an example, a interface can include an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit configured to couple to driver for a proof mass of a gyroscope sensor and to drive the proof-mass to oscillate at a predefined oscillation amplitude, and a phase-locked loop (PLL) configured to receive sensed oscillation information from the proof-mass and to provide at least a first phase signal synchronized with a sinusoidal waveform of the sensed oscillation information.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for interfacing with a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sensor are provided. In an example, an apparatus can interface circuit including an integrator circuit, a sample switch circuit, a saturation detector and a controller. The saturation detector can be configured to receive a signal indicative of an integration of charge of the sensor, to compare the signal indicative of the integration of charge to an integrator saturation threshold and to modulate a divide parameter using the comparison of the signal indicative of the integration of charge and the integrator saturation threshold. The controller can be configured to receive a clock signal and to control the sample switch circuit based on a phase of the clock signal and the divide parameter.

Abstract: An integrated continuous-time active-RC filter comprises a set of opamp integrators with Operational Transconductance Amplifiers (OTAs), and at least one assistant transconductor connected between an input and an output of each of the integrators of the set; wherein the assistant transconductor comprises a plurality of sets of MOSFETS connected in parallel to each other wherein each set of MOSFETS is formed by a pair of MOSFETs connected in series, with one MOSFET of the pair operating in the triode region and the other MOSFET of the pair operating in the saturation region; and wherein the assistant transconductor is configured to inject an assistant current into the output of each of the integrators in the set to enhance the linearity and speed of the opamp integrators of the set.

Abstract: An integrated continuous-time active-RC filter comprises a set of opamp integrators with Operational Transconductance Amplifiers (OTAs). The filter further includes at least one assistant connected between the input and output of each of the integrators of the set to enhance the linearity and speed of the opamp integrators of the set. The assistant comprises a plurality of sets of transconductors connected in parallel to each other wherein each set of transconductors is formed by a pair of MOSFETs connected in series, with one MOSFET operating in the triode region and the other MOSFET operating in the saturation region. The assistant is configured to provide an assistant current to be injected into the source of each of the integrators in the set to enhance the linearity and speed of the opamp integrators of the set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved high-speed adaptive equalization that may operate effectively even in systems experiencing severe interference by using one or more error generators and taking multiple samples across a bit interval. Advantageously, a preferred embodiment of the current invention may be deployed in a clockless configuration. Preferably, one or more controllable analog filters may be controlled by one or more microprocessors used to assess the error data from the error generators and to calculate the appropriate coefficients for the filters according to one or more error minimization algorithms. Preferably, the steps of sampling, assessment, calculation and coefficient setting may be done iteratively to converge to an optimum set of filter values and/or respond dynamically to signals with time-varying noise and interference characteristics.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for performing channel equalization comprising receiving a signal from a channel associated with inter-symbol interference, processing the received signal to effectively apply a plurality of linearly independent impulse responses to the received signal to produce a plurality of intermediate signals, scaling each of the intermediate signals by each of a plurality of multiplier factors to produce a plurality of scaled signals, and combining the scaled signals to produce a resulting signal corresponding to an equalized version of the received signal in order to reduce effects of inter-symbol interference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved high-speed adaptive equalization that may operate effectively even in systems experiencing severe interference by using one or more error generators and taking multiple samples across a bit interval. Advantageously, a preferred embodiment of the current invention may be deployed in a clockless configuration. Preferably, one or more controllable analog filters may be controlled by one or more microprocessors used to assess the error data from the error generators and to calculate the appropriate coefficients for the filters according to one or more error minimization algorithms. Preferably, the steps of sampling, assessment, calculation and coefficient setting may be done iteratively to converge to an optimum set of filter values and/or respond dynamically to signals with time-varying noise and interference characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved high-speed adaptive equalization that may operate effectively even in systems experiencing severe interference by using one or more error generators and taking multiple samples across a bit interval. Advantageously, a preferred embodiment of the current invention may be deployed in a clockless configuration. Preferably, one or more controllable analog filters may be controlled by one or more microprocessors used to assess the error data from the error generators and to calculate the appropriate coefficients for the filters according to one or more error minimization algorithms. Preferably, the steps of sampling, assessment, calculation and coefficient setting may be done iteratively to converge to an optimum set of filter values and/or respond dynamically to signals with time-varying noise and interference characteristics.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for performing channel equalization involving receiving a signal from a channel associated with inter-s interference (ISI), providing the received signal to an inductor, capacitor, resistance (LCR) network comprising a plurality of inductors and a plurality of capacitors, generating in the LCR network a first plurality of intermediate signals representing voltages associated with capacitors in the LCR network and a second plurality of intermediate signals representing currents associated with inductors in the LCR network, wherein the first plurality and second plurality of intermediate signals correspond to application of linearly independent impulse responses to the received signal, applying a corresponding one of a plurality of multiplier factors to each of the first plurality and second plurality of intermediate signals, and generating from the LCR network a resulting signal corresponding to an equalized version of the received signal.

Abstract: Improved high-speed adaptive equalization is presented that may involve converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and performing equalization by (i) filtering the electrical signal with an analog filter according to at least one filter coefficient to produce a filtered output, (ii) generating an error signal from the filtered output according to an error function, (iii) providing at least one control signal to the analog filter for adjusting the at least one filter coefficient, (iv) detecting a relationship between a change in the at least one filter coefficient and a change in the error signal, and (v) adjusting the at least one filter coefficient according to the relationship to minimize the error signal. The least one coefficient may comprise a plurality of coefficients, and the relationship may be a gradient estimate having multiple components, each determined by varying only one of the coefficients and detecting a resulting change in the error signal.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for performing channel equalization comprising receiving a signal from a channel associated with inter-symbol interference, processing the received signal to effectively apply a plurality of linearly independent impulse responses to the received signal to produce a plurality of intermediate signals, scaling each of the intermediate signals by each of a plurality of multiplier factors to produce a plurality of scaled signals, and combining the scaled signals to produce a resulting signal corresponding to an equalized version of the received signal in order to reduce effects of inter-symbol interference.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for performing channel equalization involving receiving a signal from a channel associated with inter-symbol interference (ISI), providing the received signal to an LCR network comprising a plurality of inductors and a plurality of capacitors, generating in the LCR network a first plurality of intermediate signals representing voltages associated with capacitors in the LCR network and a second plurality of intermediate signals representing currents associated with inductors in the LCR network, wherein the first plurality and second plurality of intermediate signals correspond to application of linearly independent impulse responses to the received signal, applying a corresponding one of a plurality of multiplier factors to each of the first plurality and second plurality of intermediate signals, and generating from the LCR network a resulting signal corresponding to an equalized version of the received signal.

Abstract: Improved high-speed adaptive equalization is presented that may involve converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and performing equalization by (i) filtering the electrical signal with an analog filter according to at least one filter coefficient to produce a filtered output, (ii) generating an error signal from the filtered output according to an error function, (iii) providing at least one control signal to the analog filter for adjusting the at least one filter coefficient, (iv) detecting a relationship between a change in the at least one filter coefficient and a change in the error signal, and (v) adjusting the at least one filter coefficient according to the relationship to minimize the error signal. The least one coefficient may comprise a plurality of coefficients, and the relationship may be a gradient estimate having multiple components, each determined by varying only one of the coefficients and detecting a resulting change in the error signal.

Abstract: A method and system to compensate for DC and low frequency current produced by a photodiode that is illuminated with an optical data stream is described. An optical data stream ideally produces no current from a photodiode when the bit is a 0 and produces a current proportional to the optical power when the bit is a 1. Thus, the current produced from the photodiode consists of a DC component, which is typically half the current of a 1 bit (if there is an equal number of 1s and 0s in the data), and a high frequency component that carries the data. The DC component can interfere with the signal path's ability to process the information carrying component of the photodiode current, by causing a fixed offset to propagate and be amplified through it. This offset distorts the voltage signal at the output of the signal path, and must therefore be cancelled early in the path; usually in the first transimpedance stage or just after it.