Generating Sawtooth Or Triangular Output Patents (Class 327/131)
  • Patent number: 7800419
    Abstract: A dual differential sawtooth signal generator includes a first sawtooth voltage generator that has a first capacitor and a second capacitor that are alternately charged with a feedback control source current from a low voltage reference voltage level. A second sawtooth voltage generator has a first discharge capacitor and a second discharge capacitor that are alternately discharged with a feedback control sink current from a high voltage reference voltage level. The output signals of the two sawtooth voltage generators are compared to control a phase frequency comparator that provides signals to control a dual charge pump that provides the feedback control source current and that provides the feedback control sink current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca, Eric Brunet
  • Patent number: 7791426
    Abstract: A clock frequency modulator for an oscillator having a digital circuit for the generation of a signal modulating the clock frequency, the digital circuit adapted to obtain, from the signal generated by the oscillator, a first pulse signal having a lower frequency than the clock frequency of the oscillator, a digital counter adapted to count the pulses of the first signal and to produce a digital signal and a digital-to-analog converter adapted to convert the digital signal in the signal for modulating the clock frequency of the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrea Rapisarda, Filippo Marino, Angelo Maria D'Arrigo
  • Patent number: 7786768
    Abstract: A spread spectrum clock generator is provided which improves the spread spectrum effect with little increasing the circuit cost by modifying the shape of a triangular wave used for frequency modulation by a simple method. The output signal of the modulation waveform generating circuit has such a modulation waveform as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 2A. The modulation waveform is input to a VCO (voltage-controlled oscillator). In response to the modulation waveform, the oscillation frequency of the VCO is modulated, and the output clock that varies its frequency as illustrated in FIG. 2B is obtained. The frequency transition of the output clock involves such temporal variations as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 2C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microsystems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Nagashima, Koji Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20100182054
    Abstract: A triangle wave generating circuit comprising: a pulse generating circuit configured to generate a plurality of pulse signals with the same period and with phases different from one another; and a plurality of charge/discharge circuits configured to be supplied with the plurality of pulse signals, respectively, the plurality of charge/discharge circuits each including: a current supply circuit configured to supply to a capacitor a first current for charging at a predetermined current value or a second current for discharging at a predetermined current value; and a charge/discharge control circuit configured to switch between the first current and the second current when the pulse signals are supplied thereto and when a voltage across the capacitor reaches a predetermined reference voltage, the first current and the second current supplied from the current supply circuit to the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Ooyagi, Tomoaki Nishi
  • Patent number: 7746263
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the digital transmission of an analogue measuring signal (M), comprising the following steps: comparing momentary values of a triangular signal (D) with a value of the measuring signal (M) for generating a binary measurement pulse (PM); comparing momentary values of the triangular signal (D) with a predeterminable first reference variable (R1) for generating a binary reference pulse (PR) that corresponds to the measurement pulse (PM) and transmitting the measurement pulse (PM) and reference pulse (PR) at a constant phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Jasmin Simon, Andreas Greif, Karl-Heinz Winkler
  • Patent number: 7746129
    Abstract: A low power servo-controlled single clock ramp generator (100) includes a fast switched comparator (102), charge pump (110) and voltage-to-current converter (120) connected to provide a feedback control mechanism under control of a pulse comparison clock signal (pulse_comp) and a reset pulse clock signal (rst_pulse) that are generated from a single input clock signal (clkin) so that there are well defined time intervals between pulses in the pulse comparison clock signal and the reset pulse clock signal, thereby providing a ramp signal (Vramp_out) having a stable, frequency-independent amplitude that is not limited by the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Hyun Choi, Fernando Chavez Porras
  • Patent number: 7746130
    Abstract: A triangular wave generating circuit includes: an integrating unit including a capacitor, the integrating unit having an output for providing a triangular wave signal; first and second constant current sources for charging and discharging the capacitor; a switch unit for coupling the first and second current sources to the integrating unit to charge and discharge the capacitor in response to an internal clock signal; a high/low level limiter including first and second comparing units for comparing the output of the integrating unit with upper and lower triangular wave peak limit reference voltages, respectively, and providing output signals indicating when the output of the integrating unit coincides with the peak limit reference voltages; a clock generator for providing the internal clock signal in response to the comparing unit output signals; and means for varying a peak-to-peak swing of the triangular wave signal over time to synchronize the internal clock signal with an externally supplied clock pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chih-Sheng Chang
  • Patent number: 7741887
    Abstract: Triangular wave oscillation circuits generate A-wave and B-wave with phases opposite to each other, and are capable of independently controlling oscillation levels of the A-wave and the B-wave. A slope switching circuit including an output voltage monitoring circuit, a slope switching control circuit, and an inverter, monitors output voltages of the triangular wave oscillation circuits, to switch an output voltage generation mode of one triangular wave oscillation circuit whose triangular wave reaches a high level, from an up-slope waveform mode to a down-slope waveform mode, and to switch an output voltage generation mode of the other triangular wave oscillation circuit, from the down-slope waveform mode to the up-slope waveform mode. An oscillation level control circuit controls an oscillation level of the other triangular wave oscillation circuit so that the output voltage of the other of the triangular wave oscillation circuit becomes a reference lower limit crest value during the switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Narihiro Kubo
  • Patent number: 7696597
    Abstract: A pixel with a photosensor and a transfer transistor having a split transfer gate. A first section of the transfer gate is connectable to a first voltage source while a second section of the transfer gate is connectable to a second voltage source. Thus, during a charge integration period of a photosensor, the two sections of the transfer gate may be oppositely biased to decrease dark current while controlling blooming of electrons within and out of the pixel cell. During charge transfer the two gate sections may be commonly connected to a positive voltage sufficient to transfer charge from the photosensor to a floating diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: John Ladd
  • Patent number: 7687703
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for generating a set of data points that form a triangular wave having a desired gain and a desired frequency. In one example, the method includes the step of (a) determining an increment value based on the desired frequency and the desired gain of the triangular wave. The method further includes the step of (b) adding the increment value to a current data point to generate a next data point, the current data point and the next data point forming a subset of the set of data points. The method further includes the step of iteratively performing (a) and (b) to generate the set of data points that form the triangular wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen Molloy, Suresh Devalapalli, Nidish Ramachandra Kamath
  • Publication number: 20100052741
    Abstract: A circuit includes a generating circuit that generates a current signal in response to an input signal, a first one of a plurality of integrators that generates a voltage signal from the current signal, a comparator that is responsive to the voltage signal to compare the voltage signal with a predefined voltage, a switching circuit that reconfigures a first capacitor and a second capacitor connected to the first one of the plurality of integrators to discharge the first capacitor and to enable the second capacitor to generate the voltage signal in response to the current signal, and an analog-to-digital converter to generate an output when a predefined time interval has elapsed. The output is obtained by adding a first charge value corresponding to a count of number of times the voltage signal reaches the predefined voltage in the predefined time interval and a second charge value from the analog-to-digital converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jagannathan VENKATARAMAN, Vajeed Nimran, Sandeep Oswal, Visveswaraya Pentakota
  • Publication number: 20100039571
    Abstract: A charge-discharge circuit charges or discharges a capacitor having a fixed electric potential at one end. A first comparator compares an output voltage of the capacitor with a first threshold voltage and outputs a first comparison signal in accordance with a comparison result. An edge detecting circuit detects an edge of a synchronization signal input from the outside and having a frequency of about ½ of a triangular-wave signal generated by the triangular-wave generating circuit, and outputs an edge detection signal that will be at a predetermined level for each of the detected edges. A charge-discharge controller receives the first comparison signal that is output from the first comparator and the edge detection signal that is output from the edge detecting circuit, and switches between a charge state and a discharge state of the charge-discharge circuit in accordance with a level transition of these signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Hagino, Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20100007387
    Abstract: A triangular wave generating circuit includes: an integrating unit including a capacitor, the integrating unit having an output for providing a triangular wave signal; first and second constant current sources for charging and discharging the capacitor; a switch unit for coupling the first and second current sources to the integrating unit to charge and discharge the capacitor in response to an internal clock signal; a high/low level limiter including first and second comparing units for comparing the output of the integrating unit with upper and lower triangular wave peak limit reference voltages, respectively, and providing output signals indicating when the output of the integrating unit coincides with the peak limit reference voltages; a clock generator for providing the internal clock signal in response to the comparing unit output signals; and means for varying a peak-to-peak swing of the triangular wave signal over time to synchronize the internal clock signal with an externally supplied clock pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: ELITE SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Chih-Sheng Chang
  • Patent number: 7642820
    Abstract: A triangle wave generator with function of spreading frequency spectrum is provided. The triangle wave generator includes a switch control circuit, a current generator, an integrator, and a spread spectrum control circuit. The switch control circuit provides an internal clock and a switch control signal. The current generator is coupled to the switch control circuit and provides charge current according to the switch control signal. The integrator is coupled to the current generator and provides a triangle wave signal. The spread spectrum control circuit is coupled to the switch control circuit and the current generator for providing a current control signal according to the internal clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Chin-Yang Chen, Jian-Wen Chen
  • Publication number: 20090309635
    Abstract: A circuit includes a level-crossing detector to generate a level-crossing detection signal when an input signal crosses a predetermined voltage level. A first stage set of capacitors is operatively coupled to the level-crossing detector. A ramp circuit is operatively coupled to the set of series-connected capacitors. A second stage set of capacitors is operatively coupled to the first stage set of capacitors and the ramp circuit. The ramp circuit includes a feedback capacitor and a preset switch to provide a linear ramp output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: Hae-Seung Lee
  • Patent number: 7626430
    Abstract: In a triangular-wave generating apparatus including an output terminal adapted to output an output voltage, an incorporated capacitor connected to the output terminal, a first variable current source adapted to charge the incorporated capacitor and a second variable current source adapted to discharge the incorporated capacitor, a charging/discharging current setting circuit sets a charging current in the first variable current source and sets a discharging current in the second variable current source. A level determining circuit determines whether or not the output voltage reaches one of predetermined voltages, to generate timing signals. A reference clock signal generating circuit generates a reference clock signal for defining a frequency of the output voltage. A charging/discharging current adjusting circuit adjusts the charging current and the discharging current in accordance with the timing signals and the reference clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Motoyui
  • Publication number: 20090267656
    Abstract: A triangle waveform generator is set forth that comprises a capacitive element, a regulator, and a control circuit. The regulator is configured to charge the capacitive element in responsive to a first control signal and to discharge the capacitive element in response to a second control signal. The control circuit is responsive to a reference waveform to generate the first and second control signals. In one example, the control circuit generates the first and second control signals in response to the amplitude, frequency, phase, and symmetry of the reference waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Gerald R. Stanley
  • Publication number: 20090251178
    Abstract: A low power servo-controlled single clock ramp generator (100) includes a fast switched comparator (102), charge pump (110) and voltage-to-current converter (120) connected to provide a feedback control mechanism under control of a pulse comparison clock signal (pulse_comp) and a reset pulse clock signal (rst_pulse) that are generated from a single input clock signal (clkin) so that there are well defined time intervals between pulses in the pulse comparison clock signal and the reset pulse clock signal, thereby providing a ramp signal (Vramp_out) having a stable, frequency-independent amplitude that is not limited by the reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Jung Hyun Choi, Fernando Chavez Porras
  • Patent number: 7583113
    Abstract: A controlled endpoint sawtooth waveform generator and methodology is implemented by a circuit that uses charge sharing between capacitors to produce a sawtooth having one or both endpoints that are suspended between the power supply rail and ground. The circuit may comprise a timing capacitor to which a charging source is coupled, and a switched capacitor coupled to the timing capacitor through a first controlled switch and to a source of switched capacitor reference voltage through a second controlled switch. The first and second controlled switches are responsive to a control signal, that may be internally or externally provided, for mutually exclusive switch operation. An output sawtooth thereby is produced having one endpoint determined by a fixed voltage source and the other endpoint in accord with the capacitance ratio of the timing and switched capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan W. Celani
  • Patent number: 7557622
    Abstract: A triangle waveform generator is set forth that comprises a capacitive element, a regulator, and a control circuit. The regulator is configured to charge the capacitive element in responsive to a first control signal and to discharge the capacitive element in response to a second control signal. The control circuit is responsive to a reference waveform to generate the first and second control signals. In one example, the control circuit generates the first and second control signals in response to the amplitude, frequency, phase, and symmetry of the reference waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Gerald R. Stanley
  • Patent number: 7554370
    Abstract: A multiplicity of electronic devices is provided to generate triangular wave signals variable between an upper and lower limit voltages by charging or discharging capacitors. One of the triangular wave signals serves as a master triangular wave signal for controlling the phases of the remaining (or slave) triangular wave signals. A detection signal is generated every time the master triangular wave signal reaches predetermined threshold levels. In response to the detection signal, a capacitor associated with one slave triangular signal is promptly discharged to bring the slave triangular signal to the lower limit voltage, whereby the respective slave triangular wave signals are synchronized to be offset in phase relative to the master triangular wave signal by respective predetermined phase angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7514971
    Abstract: The present invention provides a PWM current adjustment apparatus including a triangle wave generator (8) for generating a triangle wave voltage signal, a comparator (9), an FET (10), a power supply (14), a first resistor (11) and a second resistor (12). The triangle wave voltage signal generated by the triangle wave generator and a modulation signal provided by a modulation voltage source (13) are fed to the comparator, an output of the comparator is connected to a gate terminal of the FET, the power supply is connected to a source terminal of the FET through the first resistor, and a drain terminal of the FET outputs a driving current through the second resistor to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jyh Chain Lin
  • Publication number: 20090085526
    Abstract: A circuit includes a pulse transformer having primary and secondary windings. An oscillating waveform is applied to the primary winding to induce an oscillating waveform at the secondary winding. A transistor in series with a first resistor is coupled between the secondary winding and the ground. An R-C network formed by a second and a third resistor and a capacitor is coupled to a base junction of the transistor. The R-C network causes a slow, tapered linear pinch off of the transistor's conductance to enable the circuit to output a triangular waveform, which is characterized by a relatively short linear rise time followed by a substantially long linear fall time. The R-C network is coupled to the secondary winding via a first and a second diode, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: PulseTech Products Corporation
    Inventors: Pete Ward Smith, James Earl Huffman, David Lee Sykes, Clyde Ray Calcote
  • Publication number: 20090085617
    Abstract: Implementations related to ramp voltage generating circuits and systems implementing the same are presented herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Jose Luis Ceballos
  • Patent number: 7508243
    Abstract: An accurate intermittent triangular wave signal without waveform distortion is generated by a triangular wave generation circuit 1 including a rectangular wave generation circuit 111 for generating an intermittent rectangular wave signal in which a rectangular wave interval and a direct current interval of a predetermined level are repeated; an integration circuit 12 for generating an intermittent triangular wave signal in which a triangular wave interval and a direct current interval are repeated based on a reference signal and the intermittent rectangular wave signal generated by the rectangular wave generation circuit 111; and a triangular wave correcting circuit 112 for correcting waveform distortion of the intermittent triangular wave signal based on a differential voltage between a starting point and an ending point of the direct current interval of the intermittent triangular wave signal output from the integration circuit 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignees: Fujitsu Ten Limited, Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sekiguchi, Masaki Hirōmōri
  • Patent number: 7471125
    Abstract: A sawtooth wave generating apparatus includes a base frequency generating section and a frequency generating section for generating the frequency of a reference signal, a sawtooth wave forming section which forms a sawtooth wave based on the reference signal, a voltage comparator which compares the voltage value of the sawtooth wave formed by the sawtooth wave forming section with a predetermined voltage value, a phase comparator which compares the phase of the output signal from the voltage comparator with the phase of the reference signal, and a low-pass filter (LPF) which cuts out a high frequency component of the output signal from the phase comparator, and feeds back the resulting output signal to the sawtooth wave forming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20080303563
    Abstract: Triangular wave oscillation circuits generate A-wave and B-wave with phases opposite to each other, and are capable of independently controlling oscillation levels of the A-wave and the B-wave. A slope switching circuit including an output voltage monitoring circuit, a slope switching control circuit, and an inverter, monitors output voltages of the triangular wave oscillation circuits, to switch an output voltage generation mode of one triangular wave oscillation circuit whose triangular wave reaches a high level, from an up-slope waveform mode to a down-slope waveform mode, and to switch an output voltage generation mode of the other triangular wave oscillation circuit, from the down-slope waveform mode to the up-slope waveform mode. An oscillation level control circuit controls an oscillation level of the other triangular wave oscillation circuit so that the output voltage of the other of the triangular wave oscillation circuit becomes a reference lower limit crest value during the switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Narihiro Kubo
  • Publication number: 20080224741
    Abstract: A spread spectrum clock generator is provided which improves the spread spectrum effect with little increasing the circuit cost by modifying the shape of a triangular wave used for frequency modulation by a simple method. The output signal of the modulation waveform generating circuit has such a modulation waveform as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 2A. The modulation waveform is input to a VCO (voltage-controlled oscillator). In response to the modulation waveform, the oscillation frequency of the VCO is modulated, and the output clock that varies its frequency as illustrated in FIG. 2B is obtained. The frequency transition of the output clock involves such temporal variations as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 2C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Tamotsu Nagashima, Koji Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20080180140
    Abstract: A multiplicity of electronic devices is provided to generate triangular wave signals variable between an upper and lower limit voltages by charging or discharging capacitors. One of the triangular wave signals serves as a master triangular wave signal for controlling the phases of the remaining (or slave) triangular wave signals. A detection signal is generated every time the master triangular wave signal reaches predetermined threshold levels. In response to the detection signal, a capacitor associated with one slave triangular signal is promptly discharged to bring the slave triangular signal to the lower limit voltage, whereby the respective slave triangular wave signals are synchronized to be offset in phase relative to the master triangular wave signal by respective predetermined phase angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi FUKUMOTO
  • Patent number: 7403049
    Abstract: A first constant-current source supplies a charging current to a second terminal of a first capacitor in which a first terminal is grounded. A first terminal of a second capacitor is grounded, and a first switch is provided between the second terminal of the first capacitor and a second terminal of the second capacitor. A second constant-current source supplies current to the second capacitor, and a second switch is provided on a current path of the second constant-current source. A third constant-current source draws out current from the first capacitor and the second capacitor. A switch controller turns on the first switch and turns off the second switch when an output voltage appearing in the second terminal of the first capacitor reaches a predetermined upper-limit voltage. The switch controller turns off the first switch and turns on the second switch when the output voltage drops to a predetermined lower-limit voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Uchimoto, Manabu Oyama
  • Patent number: 7391242
    Abstract: A sawtooth waveform generator includes an operational amplifier that generates a ramp signal. The ramp signal charges a capacitor connected between the output of the operational amplifier and the inverting input of the operational amplifier. The inverting input is maintained at a substantially constant voltage, which provides a substantially constant charging current through a timing resistor. The connections to the capacitor are switched when the ramp voltage reaches a predetermined level. A control circuit switches the connections to the capacitor in response to a voltage on one terminal of the capacitor to assure that the connections to the capacitor are switched to a configuration to cause the direction of current flow through the capacitor to be reversed as a result of the switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Inventor: Newton E. Ball
  • Publication number: 20080143394
    Abstract: A sawtooth voltage generator has a first capacitor that is charged with a variable feedback control current to provide a sawtooth output signal with a controlled amplitude. A feedback loop includes a comparator that compares a version of the sawtooth output signal with a fixed voltage reference to provide a comparator output signal to a phase frequency comparator, the output of which controls a source of the variable feedback control current. A method includes controlling the amplitude of a sawtooth output signal by charging a capacitor in a sawtooth voltage generator with a variable feedback control current; comparing a version of the sawtooth output signal with a fixed reference voltage to provide a comparator output signal; processing the comparator output signal in a phase frequency comparator to provide up/down control signals; and controlling the variable feedback control current with the up/down control signals from the phase frequency comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca, Eric Brunet
  • Patent number: 7388413
    Abstract: An efficient ramp generator uses a reversing switch array to couple a timing capacitor in alternating polarities between an input terminal and an output terminal of an operational amplifier to generate a periodic ramp signal without discharging the timing capacitor between voltage ramps. The reversing switch array includes at least four semiconductor switches controlled by a flip-flop circuit or a latch circuit. The flip-flop circuit or the latch circuit can be driven by an external clock signal or an internal clock signal with a variable frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventor: Newton E. Ball
  • Publication number: 20080094114
    Abstract: A sawtooth generator adapted to produce a sawtooth voltage, a method of operating the same, and a power converter employing the sawtooth generator and method. In one embodiment, the sawtooth generator includes a current source, coupled to a clock with a clock frequency, configured to produce a reference current proportional to the clock frequency. The sawtooth generator also includes an active network including a switch and a capacitor coupled to the current source and configured to provide a sawtooth voltage with a waveform slope produced across the capacitor substantially proportional to the reference current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Mirmira Ramarao Dwarakanath, Jue Wang
  • Patent number: 7362150
    Abstract: A multiplicity of electronic devices is provided to generate triangular wave signals variable between an upper and lower limit voltages by charging or discharging capacitors. One of the triangular wave signals serves as a master triangular wave signal for controlling the phases of the remaining (or slave) triangular wave signals. A detection signal is generated every time the master triangular wave signal reaches predetermined threshold levels. In response to the detection signal, a capacitor associated with one slave triangular signal is promptly discharged to bring the slave triangular signal to the lower limit voltage, whereby the respective slave triangular wave signals are synchronized to be offset in phase relative to the master triangular wave signal by respective predetermined phase angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7362149
    Abstract: Zero crossings for a non-symmetrical VIN may be determined by first amplifying and clipping VIN to create a non-symmetrical square wave whose zero crossings are those of VIN. A selected polarity edge of the non-symmetrical square wave may be taken as a 0° indicator and is used to create a fundamental sawtooth ramp of the same frequency and in phase with VIN. The fundamental sawtooth ramp starts at zero volts, linearly ramps to some peak and is AC coupled to a comparator whose other input is zero volts. That creates a square wave that is symmetrical as to its half-cycles, and whose every other edge is synchronous with the start of the fundamental sawtooth ramp, and whose intervening edges occur in the middle of the ramp. The intervening edge is detected and taken as a 180° indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chin Hong Cheah, Lian Ping Teoh
  • Patent number: 7355461
    Abstract: A waveform generating circuit is provided which generates a modified triangular wave signal suitable for being input to a frequency modulation circuit such as a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The waveform generating circuit includes a triangular generator, an offset generator for generating first and second offset component signals, a combiner for adding the triangular wave signal generated by the triangular wave generator and the offset component signals, and an output for delivering an output signal resulting from the addition by the combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microsystems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Nagashima, Koji Tomioka
  • Patent number: 7352216
    Abstract: A high speed ramp generator is presented. The high speed ramp generator is advantageous over the prior art because it provides a ramp response without the delay incident with a simple integrator approach. A closed loop system generates a continuous ramp and, in an open loop manner, subtracts a mirror of the current ramp from itself. A switch is provided which when open, triggers an immediate current ramp output that is not dependent on the amplifier or any other component of prior art feedback circuits. Two such ramp generators may be used in tandem to provide alternating portions of a precision ramp signal, such as may be used to cancel the magnetization current induced in the primary of an isolation transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Teridian Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Russell Hershbarger
  • Patent number: 7348812
    Abstract: To oscillate and output multiphased triangular waves with a designed waveform shape, wave crest value, and phase relationship. This multiphased triangular wave oscillating circuit has two triangular wave generating circuits 10A and 10B for generating two phased triangular waves A and B with phases opposite each other, a middle point potential fixing element 20 that always fixes the middle point potential of the output voltage A and B of the two triangular wave generating circuits 10A and 10B at a fixed value, and a mode switching element 30 that instantly switches the output voltage generation mode (up-slope waveform mode/down-slope waveform mode) in the two triangular wave generating circuits 10A and 10B at a preset reference wave crest value level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Katsuya Ikezawa
  • Patent number: 7339406
    Abstract: A sawtooth wave generating apparatus includes a base frequency generating section and a frequency generating section for generating the frequency of a reference signal, a sawtooth wave forming section which forms a sawtooth wave based on the reference signal, a voltage comparator which compares the voltage value of the sawtooth wave formed by the sawtooth wave forming section with a predetermined voltage value, a phase comparator which compares the phase of the output signal from the voltage comparator with the phase of the reference signal, and a low-pass filter (LPF) which cuts out a high frequency component of the output signal from the phase comparator, and feeds back the resulting output signal to the sawtooth wave forming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7336110
    Abstract: A dual differential sawtooth signal generator includes a first sawtooth voltage generator that has a first capacitor and a second capacitor that are alternately charged with a feedback control source current from a low voltage reference voltage level. A second sawtooth voltage generator has a first discharge capacitor and a second discharge capacitor that are alternately discharged with a feedback control sink current from a high voltage reference voltage level. The output signals of the two sawtooth voltage generators are compared to control a phase frequency comparator that provides signals to control a dual charge pump that provides the feedback control source current and that provides the feedback control sink current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Payrard, Michel Cuenca, Eric Brunet
  • Patent number: 7317362
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit is disclosed that includes a first oscillation part configured to output a first oscillation output by charging and discharging a first capacitor, and a second oscillation part configured to output a second oscillation output by charging and discharging a second capacitor. The second oscillation part includes a phase difference detection part configured to detect the phase difference between the first oscillation output and the second oscillation output, and a charging current and discharge current control part configured to control the charging current and the discharge current of the second capacitor in accordance with the phase difference detected by the phase difference detection part so that the second oscillation output synchronizes with the first oscillation output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuya Sakuma, Akira Ikeuchi
  • Patent number: 7282970
    Abstract: In the present invention, a device and method for generating one-shot bipolar waveforms are provided. The provided device can generate bipolar sawtooth waves, bipolar sinusoidal waves and bipolar square waves by employing a division circuit, an one-shot circuit, an analog switch and a synchro-trigger gate-controlled circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: National Instrument Technology Research Center
    Inventor: Tai-Shan Liao
  • Patent number: 7271632
    Abstract: A ramp generator is provided that includes an amplifier, first and second transistors, a variable resistive load having a control electrode, and a capacitor. The amplifier has an inverting input that receives a first reference voltage, and an output connected to the gate of the first transistor. The first transistor has a source connected to a second reference voltage, and a drain connected to the non-inverting input of the amplifier and also to the variable resistive load. The second transistor mirrors the current of the first transistor so as to charge the capacitor, which is periodically discharged by a discharging circuit. In one embodiment, the generator further comprises a comparator, a filter, and an integrator that control the variable resistive load so as to generate a slope having characteristics that are noticeably independent from dispersion, from manufacturing methods, and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Denis Cottin, Christophe Garnier
  • Patent number: 7224196
    Abstract: A multiplicity of electronic devices is provided to generate triangular wave signals variable between an upper and lower limit voltages by charging or discharging capacitors. One of the triangular wave signals serves as a master triangular wave signal for controlling the phases of the remaining (or slave) triangular wave signals. A detection signal is generated every time the master triangular wave signal reaches predetermined threshold levels. In response to the detection signal, a capacitor associated with one slave triangular signal is promptly discharged to bring the slave triangular signal to the lower limit voltage, whereby the respective slave triangular wave signals are synchronized to be offset in phase relative to the master triangular wave signal by respective predetermined phase angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7212045
    Abstract: A double frequency signal generator to which a synchronization signal having a duty cycle of 1% to 999% is inputted. The synchronization signal is used for triggering of a switching component at positive and negative edges to generate a triangular-wave signal. An average of voltages of the triangular-wave signal is acquired and compared with the triangular-wave signal at a comparator to generate a square-wave having a duty cycle of 50%. Then, the square-wave signal is used for triggering at positive and negative edges to generate a double frequency signal. As such, the high cost issue and the limitation of a square-wave input signal occurred in the prior art may be efficiently overcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Logan Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chia Hsu, Teng-Ho Wu, Yu-Cheng Pan, Ho-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 7158067
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter includes a resistor-divider network including a plurality of resistors, an arbel channel circuit configured to generate a voltage sawtooth signal as an output, a dc-offset disposed to couple a node of the resistor-divider network and the arbel-channel circuit. The converter further includes a voltage reference circuit configured to generate a reference voltage, and a differential comparator configured to compare the voltage sawtooth signal with the reference voltage to produce a digital output signal corresponding to the voltage sawtooth signal. Method of converting an analog signal to a digital signal is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Keir C. Lauritzen, Martin Peckerar, F. Keith Perkins, Angela M. Hodge-Miller
  • Patent number: 7154308
    Abstract: A driver circuit is disclosed comprising an amplifier, a data DAC, and a voltage control mechanism (VCM). During a power up sequence, the VCM provides gradually increasing voltage signals to the amplifier to cause a voltage at the output of the amplifier to increase gradually. During a power down sequence, the VCM provides gradually decreasing voltage signals to the amplifier to causes the voltage at the output of the amplifier to decrease gradually. By gradually increasing and decreasing the voltage at the output of the amplifier in this way, pop noise caused by a rapid change in voltage can be reduced or even eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Ho
  • Patent number: 7116138
    Abstract: A ramp signal generation circuit is disclosed. The ramp signal generation circuit comprises a ramp signal generator, a buffer, a comparator, and a switching circuit. The switching circuit provides current to an output of the ramp signal generation circuit in response to a control signal output by the comparator. When a high slew rate is required, the output of the ramp signal generation circuit is driven by the current provided by the switching circuit. Otherwise, the output of the ramp signal generation circuit is driven by an output of the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Su-hun Lim
  • Patent number: 7102432
    Abstract: A class D amplifier capable of compressing a dynamic range and reproduction by changing on a real time basis a modulation ratio to a non-linear ratio in accordance with amplitude of an input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Nippon Precision Circuits Inc.
    Inventor: Shinichi Watanabe