Plural Signal Inputs Patents (Class 330/147)
  • Patent number: 11899083
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a RF transmit system (1) for a magnetic resonance examination system where it is intended to provide a solution for the problem of rapidly switching between operation modes of different peak power requirements at good power efficiencies. For this purpose the RF transmit system (1) comprises at least one RF channel (14) wherein the RF channel (14) has an RF amplifier (3), at least two power supply devices (4, 5) wherein each of the power supply devices (4, 5) is configured to supply a voltage to the amplifier (3). The RF transmit system (1) further comprises a DC switch (8) configured to switch the voltage supplied to the amplifier (3) between the power supply devices (4, 5) and a controller (2) configured to switch the voltage based on sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Vernickel, Christoph Leussler, Ingo Schmale, Jochen Keupp
  • Patent number: 11790957
    Abstract: A voltage generating circuit includes a voltage supplying circuit and a current biasing circuit. The voltage supplying circuit is configured to supply a first power voltage to an output node based on a first enable signal. The current biasing circuit is configured to control a bias current to flow from the output node based on a second enable signal. The second enable signal is enabled after the first enable signal is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Ho Cheon
  • Patent number: 11095326
    Abstract: A digital predistortion linearization method is provided for increasing the instantaneous or operational bandwidth for RF power amplifiers employed in wideband communication systems. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of increasing DPD linearization bandwidth using a feedback filter integrated into existing digital platforms for multi-channel wideband wireless transmitters. An embodiment of the present invention utilizes a DPD feedback signal in conjunction with a low power band-pass filter in the DPD feedback path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: DALI SYSTEMS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Wan-Jong Kim, Shawn Patrick Stapleton
  • Patent number: 10727879
    Abstract: A digital predistortion linearization method is provided for increasing the instantaneous or operational bandwidth for RF power amplifiers employed in wideband communication systems. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of increasing DPD linearization bandwidth using a feedback filter integrated into existing digital platforms for multi-channel wideband wireless transmitters. An embodiment of the present invention utilizes a DPD feedback signal in conjunction with a low power band-pass filter in the DPD feedback path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: DALI SYSTEMS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Wan-Jong Kim, Shawn Patrick Stapleton
  • Patent number: 9979361
    Abstract: A packaged RF amplifier device includes a transistor, a first input circuit, and a second input circuit. The first input circuit includes a first series inductance coupled between an input lead and a first node, a second series inductance coupled between the first node and the transistor's control terminal, and a first shunt capacitance coupled between the first node and a ground reference. The second input circuit includes a first shunt inductance and a second shunt capacitance coupled in series between the input lead and the ground reference. The first input circuit and the second input circuit create a fundamental frequency match for the device. The second series inductance and the first shunt capacitance present a short circuit to the ground reference for RF energy at a second harmonic frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Sai Sunil Mangaonkar, Ricardo Uscola
  • Patent number: 8947160
    Abstract: A Lange coupler having a first plurality of lines on a first level and a second plurality of lines on a second level. At least one line on the first level is cross-coupled to a respective line on the second level via electromagnetic waves traveling through the first and second plurality of lines. The first and second plurality of lines may be made of metal, and the first level may be higher than the second level. A substrate may be provided into which the first and second plurality of lines are etched so as to define an on-chip Lange coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyi Ding, Kwan Him Lam
  • Patent number: 8902998
    Abstract: The invention relates to a receiver for a near-field chip-to-chip multichannel transmission system such as the capacitive or inductive links used for vertical signal transmission between the stacked chips of a system-in-package. A receiver for near-field chip-to-chip multichannel transmission providing 4 transmission channels for digital transmission between two monolithic integrated circuits comprises 4 coupling devices (211) (212) (213) (214), each of said coupling devices being a planar winding sensitive to magnetic field variations. A multiple-input-port and multiple-output-port amplifier (23) has 4 input ports, each of said input ports being connected to one and only one of said coupling devices (211) (212) (213) (214).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic Broyde, Evelyne Clavelier
  • Publication number: 20140266430
    Abstract: An amplifier stage module circuit has a tube connected with an anode section, a grid section, a cathode section, and an attenuator section. The amplifier stage module circuit is configurable to provide any one of a plurality of selectable voices, each voice provided by a corresponding combination of selectively combinable voice components of the sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Brian Rois
  • Publication number: 20140266425
    Abstract: According to some embodiments described herein, a bi-directional amplifier may include a first interface port configured to receive a first signal. The bi-directional amplifier may also include a second interface port. The second interface port may be communicatively coupled to the first interface port and may be configured to receive a second signal. The second interface port may be communicatively coupled to the first interface port such that the first signal propagates from the first interface port to the second interface port and such that the second signal propagates from the second interface port to the first interface port. The bi-directional amplifier may also include a common amplifier communicatively coupled between the first interface port and the second interface port such that the common amplifier is configured to receive and amplify both the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: WILSON ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher K. Ashworth, James W. Wilson, Patrick L. Cook, James Colin Clark
  • Publication number: 20140206295
    Abstract: A multichannel splitter formed from 1 to 2 splitters. An input terminal of a first 1 to 2 splitter defines an input of the multichannel splitter. The 1 to 2 splitters are electrically series-connected. First respective outputs of the 1 to 2 splitters define output terminals of the multichannel splitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS SA
    Inventors: Baudouin Martineau, Olivier Richard, Frederic Gianesello
  • Patent number: 8766717
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for control of a multiple-input-single output (MISO) device. For example, the method includes determining a change in power output level from a first power output level to a second power output level of the MISO device. The method also includes varying one or more weights associated with respective one or more controls of the MISO device to cause the change in power output. The one or more controls can include one or more of (a) a phase control of one or more input signals to the MISO device, (b) a bias control of the MISO device, and (c) an amplitude control of the input signals to the MISO device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 8736378
    Abstract: An output matching network comprising a plurality of impedance matching circuits. The inputs of each of the plurality of impedance matching circuits are connected to a first input of the output matching network. The outputs of each of the plurality of impedance matching circuits are connected to a plurality of first outputs of the output matching network. One of the plurality of impedance matching circuits is active at a given time. The active impedance matching circuit of the plurality of impedance matching circuits exhibits a first input impendence at a first frequency band. Each inactive impedance matching circuit of the plurality of impedance matching circuits exhibits a second input impedance at the first frequency band. The second input impendence is at least 10 times greater than the first input impendence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Anadigics, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Hau
  • Publication number: 20140028391
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to digital up-conversion for a multi-band Multi-Order Power Amplifier (MOPA) that enables precise and accurate control of gain, phase, and delay of multi-band split signals input to the multi-band MOPA. In general, a multi-band MOPA is configured to amplify a multi-band signal that is split across a number, N, of inputs of the multi-band MOPA as a number, N, of multi-band split signals, where N is an order of the multi-band MOPA and is greater than or equal to 2. A digital upconversion system for the multi-band MOPA is configured to independently control a gain, phase, and delay for each of a number, M, of frequency bands of the multi-band signal for each of at least N?1, and preferably all, of the multi-band split signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Bradley John Morris, Harpreet Panesar
  • Publication number: 20140022015
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to devices and integrated circuits for instrumentation amplifiers. In one example, an instrumentation amplifier device uses two non-inverted outputs of a first multiple-output transconductance amplifier, and a non-inverted output and an inverted output of a second multiple-output transconductance amplifier. Both multiple-output transconductance amplifiers have a non-inverted output connected to an inverting input, and a non-inverting input connected to a respective input voltage terminal. A first resistor is connected between the inverting inputs of both multiple-output transconductance amplifiers. The outputs of both multiple-output transconductance amplifiers are connected together, connected through a second resistor to ground, and connected to an output voltage terminal. In other examples, two pairs of outputs from triple-output transconductance amplifiers are connected to provide two voltage output terminals, and may also be connected to buffers or a differential amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Paul M. Werking
  • Publication number: 20140015603
    Abstract: Existing multi-band/multi-mode (MB/MM) power amplifiers (PAs) use separate signal paths for the different covered frequency bands. This results in a large degree of hardware duplication and to a large die size and cost. Solutions that achieve hardware sharing between the different signal paths of MB/MM PAs are shown. Such sharing includes bias circuit and bypass capacitors sharing, as well as sharing front-end stages and the output stage of the PA. Signal multiplexing may be realized in the transmitter or at the PA front-end while the signal de-multiplexing can be realized either in the PA output stage or at the front-end of the output stage. Such circuits can be applied with saturated and linear MB/MM PAs with adjacent or non-adjacent bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: AMALFI SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Baker Scott, George Maxim
  • Patent number: 8502600
    Abstract: Multiple-Input-Single-Output (MISO) amplification and associated VPA control algorithms are provided herein. According to embodiments of the present invention, MISO amplifiers driven by VPA control algorithms outperform conventional outphasing amplifiers, including cascades of separate branch amplifiers using conventional power combiner technologies. MISO amplifiers can be operated at enhanced efficiencies over the entire output power dynamic range by blending the control of the power source, source impedances, bias levels, outphasing, and branch amplitudes. These blending constituents are combined to provide an optimized transfer characteristic function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Rawlins, David F. Sorrells
  • Patent number: 8461924
    Abstract: Multiple-Input-Single-Output (MISO) amplification and associated VPA control algorithms are provided herein. According to embodiments of the present invention, MISO amplifiers driven by VPA control algorithms outperform conventional outphasing amplifiers, including cascades of separate branch amplifiers using conventional power combiner technologies. MISO amplifiers can be operated at enhanced efficiencies over the entire output power dynamic range by blending the control of the power source, source impedances, bias levels, outphasing, and branch amplitudes. These blending constituents are combined to provide an optimized transfer characteristic function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Rawlins, David F. Sorrells
  • Patent number: 8410849
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enable a blended control approach to generate a desired output waveform in an outphasing-based system. Embodiments of blended control according to the present invention combine outphasing with bias and/or amplitude control to yield an accurate, practical, and producible system with substantially comparable performance to that of a theoretical ideal outphasing system, but without the isolation and accuracy requirements of outphasing alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 8390374
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods reduce the likelihood of amplifier saturation due to propagated DC offsets, and reduce the recover from saturated stated when such saturation occurs. Advantageously, these attributes are beneficial for monitoring of bioelectric signals. A circuit uses an instrumentation amplifier connected as a high pass filter to attenuate large DC offsets and amplify small signals. The circuit can include an instrumentation amplifier electrically coupled with a first feedback circuit including at least one resistor and a second feedback circuit including an op-amp. The feedback circuit can also include a low-pass filter. The op-amp in the second feedback circuit can be configured as a non-inverting amplifier, an inverting amplifier, and/or an integrator circuit. Alternatively, the circuit can include an instrumentation amplifier with one feedback circuit including at least one resistor, and a coupling capacitor electrically coupled with a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Alasdair Gordon Alexander, David James Plourde, Matthew Nathan Duff
  • Patent number: 8374279
    Abstract: A modulation device includes a signal input for receiving a data stream to be modulated and a first and a second signal output. At least one first complex component is derived from the data stream in a coding device. A first and a second high-frequency signal are output via the signal outputs. The first and second high-frequency signals are derived from the at least one first complex component and are distinguished by the fact that the second high-frequency signal has a phase shift of substantially 90° with respect to the first high-frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Adler, André Hanke
  • Publication number: 20120286862
    Abstract: A safety switching device, with which a safety-related device, can be set into a safe state. The safety switching device has a microprocessor or microcontroller, which can set an electric drive to be protected into a safe state both if an emergency circuit breaker, protective door switch, and/or two-hand switch is activated and also if there is faulty operation of the safety-related device or electric drive. For this purpose, the microprocessor is implemented such that it can determine from at least one analog signal to be measured whether a predetermined parameter lies outside a predetermined operating range. In addition, the microprocessor can be a component of a safety device which is constructed for multiple-channel control of a safety-related electric drive. In this way, the safety switching device can respond to several safety functions independent of each other in order to set an electric drive into a safe state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Andre Korrek
  • Publication number: 20120200355
    Abstract: Digital predistortion (“DPD”) of an RF power amplifier for signals comprising two widely spaced carrier clusters is proposed. The basis waveforms within the DPD are selected to allow for the use of a lower sampling rate. As one example, multi-carrier signals spanning 60 MHz of bandwidth may be linearized using a sample rate of 100 MHz for the DPD module and the observation path, as opposed to a sample rate exceeding 300 MHz (5 times Nyquist) used conventionally. A transmit (Tx) filter is located after the power amplifier to attenuate distortion modes exceeding the sampling rate used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: RICHARD NEIL BRAITHWAITE
  • Patent number: 8120423
    Abstract: An operational amplifier with two pairs of differential inputs for use with an input switch capacitor network. The operational amplifier has reset devices for resetting the second pair of differential inputs while amplifying the first pair of differential inputs, and for resetting the first pair of differential inputs while amplifying the second pair of differential inputs for reducing memory effect in electronic circuits. In an embodiment, the amplifier has an additional reset device for resetting the outputs during a prophase of amplifying the first pair of differential inputs and a prophase of amplifying the second pair of differential inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Liping Deng, Tiejun Dai, Wei Zheng, Xueqing Wang
  • Patent number: 8023588
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods control predistortion of an RF transmitter. A base station or a mobile station can utilize predistortion to improve linearity characteristics of the RF power amplifier. When used effectively, predistortion limits spectral growth such that the amplified signal complies with regulatory requirements. With respect to bursty signals, specific improvement techniques are disclosed. A first technique is related to adaptation using only a smaller subset of samples of a burst. A second technique is related to selective application of digital predistortion, such as, only under high power conditions for a power amplifier. A third technique is directed to adaptation of less than all of the coefficients. These improvements permit the use of a smaller and less expensive amplifier for a given power class and can lengthen battery life for a mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: PMC-Sierra, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Benson, William D. Warner, Paul V. Yee
  • Patent number: 8013675
    Abstract: Multiple-Input-Single-Output (MISO) amplification and associated VPA control algorithms are provided herein. According to embodiments of the present invention, MISO amplifiers driven by VPA control algorithms outperform conventional outphasing amplifiers, including cascades of separate branch amplifiers using conventional power combiner technologies. MISO amplifiers can be operated at enhanced efficiencies over the entire output power dynamic range by blending the control of the power source, source impedances, bias levels, outphasing, and branch amplitudes. These blending constituents are combined to provide an optimized transfer characteristic function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Rawlins, David F. Sorrells
  • Patent number: 7952429
    Abstract: The invention relates to an amplifier capable of delivering a plurality of output signals, these output signals being controlled by a plurality of input signals. A multiple-input and multiple-output amplifier of the invention comprises a common input terminal, 4 signal input terminals, 4 signal output terminals, a common terminal amplifier, 4 active sub-circuits and a feedback network. Each active sub-circuit has a sub-circuit input terminal connected to one of the signal input terminals, a sub-circuit output terminal connected to one of the signal output terminals and a sub-circuit common terminal. The feedback network has four C terminals and one R terminal. Each of said C terminals of the feedback network is coupled to the sub-circuit common terminal of one of said active sub-circuits. The output terminal of the common terminal amplifier is coupled to said R terminal of the feedback network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Excem
    Inventors: Frederic Broyde, Evelyne Clavelier
  • Patent number: 7940119
    Abstract: The invention relates to an amplifier capable of producing a plurality of output signals, these output signals being controlled by a plurality of input signals. A multiple-input and multiple-output amplifier of the invention includes 4 signal input terminals, 4 signal output terminals, 4 active sub-circuits and a feedback network. Each active sub-circuit has a sub-circuit input terminals connected to one of the signal input terminals, a sub-circuit output terminal connected to one of the signal output terminals and a sub-circuit common terminal. The feedback network uses mutual induction between windings. The feedback network has terminals connected to the sub-circuit common terminal of the active sub-circuits. The feedback network presents an impedance matrix producing a negative feedback such that the transfer admittance matrix of the multiple-input and multiple-output amplifier approximates a given admittance matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Excem SAS
    Inventors: Frédéric Broyde, Evelyne Clavelier
  • Patent number: 7911272
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enable a blended control approach to generate a desired output waveform in an outphasing-based system. Embodiments of blended control according to the present invention combine outphasing with bias and/or amplitude control to yield an accurate, practical, and producible system with substantially comparable performance to that of a theoretical ideal outphasing system, but without the isolation and accuracy requirements of outphasing alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20110001541
    Abstract: In a case where two constant envelope signals corresponding to an input signal are generated through analog signal processing, variation in detection sensitivities of amplitudes of those signals is suppressed. At least one of a mixer (24) for detecting an amplitude of a first intermediate signal S1 and a mixer (26) for detecting an amplitude of a second intermediate signal S2 detects an amplitude of a given reference signal, and sampling hold circuits (36, 38) hold a voltage related to those amplitudes. Then, detection sensitivities of the mixer (24, 26) are corrected based on the held voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Nagayama
  • Patent number: 7863977
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fully differential non-inverting parallel amplifier for detecting biology electrical signal, including input buffer circuits, differential filter circuits, data selector, non-inverting parallel amplifying circuits and analog-digital circuits. The biology electrical signal, first impeded and converted by the input buffer circuits, and then low-pass filtered by the differential filter circuits, shall be amplified with its common mode signal rejected by passing through the data selector and non-inverting parallel amplifier circuits. At last, the amplified biology electrical signal is output by analog to digital conversion in the analog-digital circuits after its noises beyond signal high frequency band are filtered by anti-aliasing filter net. This invention, with low noise and high common mode rejection ratio, stable baseline, large signal input dynamic range, is reliable and not easy to be saturated. Furthermore, it can support mature PACE Detecting with a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Edan Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaofei Xiang, Xunqiao Hu, Xicheng Xie
  • Patent number: 7728664
    Abstract: Satellite set-top boxes (STB) are increasingly being designed with multiple tuners, making them capable of receiving more than one program at a time. In addition, satellite STBs are increasingly being designed with multiple inputs, to permit reception of additional channels that will not fit within the conventional satellite intermediate frequency (IF) band (950-2150 MHz). Often, the STB must route these multiple inputs to the multiple tuners with some form of switching function, to allow each tuner to receive all channel bands. Accordingly, the invention includes an RFIC with two RF inputs and three RF outputs, and a crossbar switch that can route any input to any output. The two inputs are amplified by low-noise amplifier stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sung-Hsien Chang, Juo-Jung Hung, Stephen Edward Krafft, Ertan Zencir, Stefano Bozzola, Ramon Alejandro Gomez
  • Patent number: 7702119
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting and mixing electronic signals. The circuit has an operational amplifier and two or more ganged, tapped-resistors in which the tap divides the resistance into a first and a second resistance. The tapped-resistors are connected so that either the first or the second resistance provides the effective input resistance for that signal at the operational amplifier. The second resistance of one of the tapped-resistors provides the output resistance for all signals at operational amplifier. As the tapped resistors are equivalent and their taps ganged, when the signals are mixed, those signals whose effective input resistance at the operational amplifier is selected to be the second resistance have unit gain, while those signals whose effective input resistance at the operational amplifier is selected to be the first resistance have a gain equal to the second resistance divide by the first resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W Walden
  • Patent number: 7656232
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable gain amplifier. The variable gain amplifier includes an input unit including first and second input nodes and an output node, the input unit being configured to receive first and second input signals. The variable gain amplifier further includes a first clipping unit operable to clip a voltage level at the output node to be equal to or lower than a level of a first reference voltage and a second clipping unit operable to clip a voltage level at the output node to be equal to or greater than a level of a second reference voltage, wherein the second reference voltage is lower than the first reference voltage. A predetermined level of a voltage is outputted through an output unit included in the variable gain amplifier based on the clipped voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Medison Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Sun Kim, Ki Jeon
  • Patent number: 7642849
    Abstract: The invention relates to an amplifier capable of producing a plurality of currents at its output terminals, these currents being controlled by a plurality of input voltages. A multiple-input and multiple-output amplifier of the invention includes 4 signal input terminals, 4 signal output terminals, 4 active sub-circuits and a feedback network. Each active sub-circuit has a sub-circuit input terminal connected to one of the signal input terminals, a sub-circuit output terminal connected to one of the signal output terminals and a sub-circuit common terminal. The feedback network has terminals connected to the sub-circuit common terminal of each active sub-circuit. The feedback network presents, in a known frequency band, an impedance matrix producing a negative feedback such that the transfer admittance matrix of the multiple-input and multiple-output amplifier approximates a given admittance matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Excem SAS
    Inventors: Frederic Broyde, Evelyne Clavelier
  • Patent number: 7639072
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7518454
    Abstract: A current feedback-type operational amplifier comprising multiple input parts and one output part, wherein each of the multiple input parts comprises a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, the signals input from the first input terminal are buffer amplified and output to the second input terminal, and current is output to the output terminal in an amount corresponding to the current that flows to the second input terminal; the output terminal part comprises an input terminal and an output terminal, signals obtained by adding in terms of current the signals of all of the input parts are input to the input terminal, and the signals input to the input terminal are converted to voltage signals, amplified, and output to the output terminal; and one of the above-mentioned input parts is made effective and the other input parts are made ineffective in response to first external signals, the impedance of the first input terminal, the second input terminal, and the output terminal of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Verigy (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuya Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20090085788
    Abstract: A multi-input operational amplifier circuit operable with a high degree of accuracy and in a small area, a D/A converter using the multi-input operational amplifier circuit, and a drive circuit or driver for a display device, using the D/A converter. In embodiments of the multi-input operational amplifier circuit, a constant current source of a third differential amplifier circuit that causes a doubled constant current i×2 to flow with respect to constant current sources of first and second differential amplifier circuits by application of two types of bias voltages thereto is configured using PMOS of the same number and size. Therefore, operations equivalent to those of a conventional circuit may be realized by the three constant current source PMOSs, and a smaller chip size may be required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Koji Yamazaki, Koji Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20090072899
    Abstract: A mechanism for discharging parasitic capacitance at an input of an operational amplifier, which is shared between two stages of a pipelined analog-to-digital converter and/or two channels of signal processing circuitry, before the amplifier configuration of the stages/channels is switched. The discharging act occurs when a short reset pulse is generated between two clock phases. The short reset pulse is applied to a switch connected to the operational amplifier input. When the reset pulse closes the switch, a discharge path is created and any parasitic capacitance at the operational amplifier input is discharged through the path. The discharging of the parasitic capacitance substantially mitigates the memory effect and the problems associated with the memory effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Taehee Cho, Sandor L. Barna, Andrew M. Lever, Kwang-Bo Cho, Chiajen Lee
  • Publication number: 20080309436
    Abstract: A non-inverting amplifier includes n external input terminals which receive n (n?3) input voltage signals having a constant sum of voltages, respectively, n amplification units each including n?1 internal input terminals connected to n?1 terminals of the n external input terminals in a different combination for each of the amplification units, n?1 voltage-to-current converters which convert input voltage signals from the internal input terminals into current signals, and a load which converts an added current signal obtained by adding up the current signals into an output voltage signal, and n external output terminals which output n output voltage signals from the n amplification units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takafumi Yamaji, Rui Ito, Tetsuro Itakura
  • Publication number: 20080272841
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20080224772
    Abstract: A current feedback-type operational amplifier comprising multiple input parts and one output part, wherein each of the multiple input parts comprises a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, the signals input from the first input terminal are buffer amplified and output to the second input terminal, and current is output to the output terminal in an amount corresponding to the current that flows to the second input terminal; the output terminal part comprises an input terminal and an output terminal, signals obtained by adding in terms of current the signals of all of the input parts are input to the input terminal, and the signals input to the input terminal are converted to voltage signals, amplified, and output to the output terminal; and one of the above-mentioned input parts is made effective and the other input parts are made ineffective in response to first external signals, the impedance of the first input terminal, the second input terminal, and the output terminal of
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventor: Katsuya Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7408406
    Abstract: A mode selection amplifier circuit has multiple differential amplifier circuits coupled to receive input signals A, B and C. Each differential amplifier circuit is selectively operable for generating a signal output representative of an output mode with the output mode of each differential amplifier circuit selected from one of algebraic combinations of the signal inputs A?C, B?C, A?B and (A+B)/2?C. The mode selection amplifier circuit is usable in a signal acquisition probe for providing various signal output modes to a measurement test instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Barton T. Hickman, Richard J. Huard, Einar O. Traa
  • Patent number: 7403069
    Abstract: A multi-fferential amplifier system includes an amplifier having a plurality of amplifier inputs and a plurality of amplifier outputs; a plurality of input terminals for receiving a plurality of inputs and being interconnected with the amplifier inputs through a plurality of input impedances, respectively, and a feedback network including a plurality of summing circuits for combining the plurality of amplifier outputs in a plurality of different sets of groups each group numbering one fewer than the plurality, respectively, and feeding back the sum of each group of amplifier outputs to the remaining amplifier input for maintaining the difference between any group of amplifier outputs proportional to the difference of a corresponding group of inputs at the terminals and maintaining the average value of the amplifier outputs constant and unrelated to the inputs at the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefano D'Aquino
  • Publication number: 20080143438
    Abstract: An amplifier device has an amplifier circuit, an energy supply device, a switching matrix and a control device. A radio-frequency, low-energy signal pulse can be amplified into a high-energy power pulse by the amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit is supplied with electrical energy by the energy supply device. The energy supply device has a number of electrical energy sources that are separated in terms of potential relative to one another in a state in which they are not connected to the amplifier circuit. The electrical energy sources can be selectively connected to the amplifier circuit by the switching matrix. The switching state of the switching matrix can be dynamically set for this purpose by the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Adam Albrecht, Horst Kroeckel
  • Publication number: 20080068075
    Abstract: A multi-fferential amplifier system includes an amplifier having a plurality of amplifier inputs and a plurality of amplifier outputs; a plurality of input terminals for receiving a plurality of inputs and being interconnected with the amplifier inputs through a plurality of input impedances, respectively, and a feedback network including a plurality of summing circuits for combining the plurality of amplifier outputs in a plurality of different sets of groups each group numbering one fewer than the plurality, respectively, and feeding back the sum of each group of amplifier outputs to the remaining amplifier input for maintaining the difference between any group of amplifier outputs proportional to the difference of a corresponding group of inputs at the terminals and maintaining the average value of the amplifier outputs constant and unrelated to the inputs at the terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventor: Stefano D'Aquino
  • Patent number: 7276971
    Abstract: A multi-operational amplifier system comprises a plurality of operational amplifiers and a controller to configure the plurality of operational amplifiers. The operational amplifiers may be selectively configured to operate individually or in combination with other of the operational amplifiers. The operational amplifiers may have different common node inputs. In one aspect, the different inputs may be selected from groups of PMOS, N-type NMOS and NZ NMOS inputs. The operational amplifiers may include the different inputs that are arranged as differential pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hieu Van Tran, Anh Ly, Sang Thanh Nguyen, Vishal Sarin
  • Patent number: 7236054
    Abstract: A multi-operational amplifier system comprises a plurality of operational amplifiers and a controller to configure the plurality of operational amplifiers. The operational amplifiers may be selectively configured to operate individually or in combination with other of the operational amplifiers. The operational amplifiers may have different common node inputs. In one aspect, the different inputs may be selected from groups of PMOS, N-type NMOS and NZ NMOS inputs. The operational amplifiers may include the different inputs that are arranged as differential pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hieu Van Tran, Anh Ly, Sang Thanh Nguyen, Vishal Sarin
  • Patent number: 7098733
    Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and circuits for increasing the number of selectable gain settings of an amplifier by subtracting gains. In one embodiment, the amplifier is configured with three gain channels that are power-of-three weighted—that is, the gain channels provide gains of 1×, 3× and 9×. By combining the gain values of those gain channels in a manner that adds and/or subtracts the gain values, the amplifier can be configured with any of 13 consecutive gain settings of the same polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Kristiaan B. Lokere
  • Patent number: 6809595
    Abstract: A two dimensional array of resistive bolometers (B) is arranged in rows and columns. Amplifiers (A0, A1 etc) amplify signals obtained from the bolometers. Instead of providing one amplifier per column, a smaller number of amplifiers is used each of which is connected to a plurality of column sense lines (L) via a multiplexer (M0, M1 etc).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Infrared Integrated Systems Limited
    Inventors: Stephen George Porter, John Fox, Bhajan Singh
  • Patent number: 6788153
    Abstract: A two dimensional array of resistive bolometers (B) is arranged in rows and columns. Amplifiers (A0, A1 etc) amplify signals obtained from the bolometers. Instead of providing one amplifier per column, a smaller number of amplifiers is used each of which is connected to a plurality of column sense lines (L) via a multiplexer (M0, M1 etc).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Infrared Integrated Systems Limited
    Inventors: Stephen George Porter, John Fox, Bhajan Singh