Patents Assigned to Analog Devices
  • Apparatus and methods for forming electrical networks that approximate desired performance characteristics
    Patent number: 8502557
    Abstract: Electrical networks are formed to produce an approximation of at least one desired performance characteristic, based on the recognition that fabrication variations introduce slight differences in electronic sub-networks which were intended to be identical. These fabrication differences are turned to an advantage by providing a pool of sub-networks, and then selectively connecting particular combinations of these sub-networks to implement networks that approximate the desired performance characteristics. The sub-networks are of like kind (e.g., resistors) and have a like measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur J. Kalb, Evaldo M. Miranda
  • Apparatus and method for protecting a semiconductor junction
    Patent number: 8502567
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving protection of a semiconductor junction of a semiconductor device. One such apparatus includes a bipolar transistor including an emitter, a base, and a collector; a first junction protection device including a first end electrically coupled to the emitter of the bipolar transistor, and a second end electrically coupled to a node; and a second junction protection device including a first end electrically coupled to a voltage reference, and a second electrically coupled to the emitter of the bipolar transistor. Each of the first and second junction protection devices may have a substantially higher leakage current than the leakage current of the base-emitter junction of the bipolar transistor when reverse biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Lawas
  • Microphone System with Offset Apertures
    Publication number: 20130195284
    Abstract: A microphone system has a base forming a base aperture, and a lid coupled to the base to form a package having an interior chamber. The system also has a member coupled with the base within the interior chamber, and a microphone die coupled to the member within the interior chamber. The member is positioned between the base and the microphone die and has a member aperture that is laterally offset from the base aperture. The member aperture, member, and base together form an acoustic path between the base aperture and the microphone die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
  • FAST POWER-UP BIAS VOLTAGE CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20130195291
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a DC bias voltage circuit comprising a DC bias voltage generator adapted to supply a first DC voltage. A low-pass filter has an input operatively coupled to the first DC voltage to produce a second DC voltage at a low-pass filter output. The low-pass filter comprises an adjustable switched capacitor resistor setting a cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter and a controller is adapted to controlling a resistance of the adjustable switched capacitor resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES A/S
    Inventor: Olafur Mar JOSEFSSON
  • CORRELATED DOUBLE-SAMPLE DIFFERENCING WITHIN AN ADC
    Publication number: 20130194118
    Abstract: A circuit system for performing correlated double sampling may include a signal sampling stage having an amplifier with a feedback capacitor and a pair of storage capacitors coupled to an output of the amplifier, and a differential analog to digital converter (ADC) having a pair of inputs coupled respectively to storage capacitors of the signal sampling stage. The signal sampling stage may receive reset and signal values from a sensor device and may store processed versions of those signals on respective storage capacitors. The differential ADC may generate a digital value representing a signal captured by the sensor device from a differential digitization operation performed on the processed versions of the reset and signal values. In this manner, the system may correct for any signal errors introduced by components of the sampling stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael COLN, Gary R. CARREAU, Yoshinori KUSUDA
  • TECHNIQUES FOR CALIBRATING MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20130193982
    Abstract: Techniques to provide calibration of a measurement system in conjunction with measurement operations. The techniques may include providing a reference device in a signal processing chain within the measurement system. An excitation signal may be driven through the reference device while it may be connected to the signal processing chain within the measurement system and a calibration response may be captured. During a measurement operation, the reference device connection may be complemented with a sensor connection in the signal processing chain and the excitation signal may be driven through the signal processing chain. A measurement response may be captured from the system. The measurement system may generate a calibrated measurement signal that accounts for phase and/or amplitude errors within the system from the calibration response and the measurement response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Gabriel Banarie, Andreas Callanan, Damien McCartney, Colin Lyden
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS TO INDEPENDENTLY CONTROL FRONT END GAIN AND BASEBAND GAIN
    Publication number: 20130195215
    Abstract: The invention may provide a receiver including a front-end block to provide a front-end gain on a radio-frequency input signal. The front-end block may include a mixer to convert the radio-frequency input signal to a baseband signal. The receiver also may include a wide-band peak detector coupled to the front-end block and a baseband block to provide a baseband gain on the baseband signal. An analog-to-digital converter may convert the baseband signal to a digital signal. The receiver may further include narrow-band peak detector coupled to an output of the analog-to-digital converter. An automatic gain control circuit may independently control the front-end gain and the baseband gain based on outputs from the wide-band peak detector and narrowband peak detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Manish Manglani, Antonio Montalvo
  • Vector modulator having attenuators with continuous input steering
    Patent number: 8497735
    Abstract: Variable attenuation systems having continuous input steering may be used to implement vector or quadrature modulators and vector multipliers. Discrete implementations of attenuators with continuous input steering may have two outputs which may be cross-connected to provide four-quadrant operation. A symmetrically driven center tap may provide improved zero-point accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Barrie Gilbert
  • Apparatus and method for testing multiple integrated circuit devices on a film frame handler
    Patent number: 8497697
    Abstract: Film frame assemblies and apparatus for testing and singulating integrated circuit packages, as well as associated methods for forming a film frame assembly, and testing and singulating integrated circuit packages are disclosed. A plurality of leads on a lead frame are cut to form singulated integrated circuit packages. Apparatus and methods are disclosed for mechanically aligning a set of electrical contacts attached to a contactor body with a plurality of leads on a singulated integrated circuit package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard Blaney
  • Acoustic transducer chip
    Patent number: 8498178
    Abstract: An array of acoustic transducing unit cells configured with an acoustic focus or a beam steering orientation. A variety of time delays between consecutively coupled acoustic transducing unit cells provides acoustic focus. In another configuration, a resistive signal path between adjacent acoustic transducing unit cells can be used to acoustically steer an acoustic beam in a direction non-normal to the top surface in which the array is disposed. In a further embodiment, a signal pad is made available at each end of the connections through an array of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducing unit cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe Antoine, Andrew W. Sparks
  • LINEARIZING FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTORS IN THE OHMIC REGION
    Publication number: 20130187683
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to using one or more field effect transistors as a resistor. One such apparatus can include a field effect transistor (FET), averaging resistors and a bidirectional current source. The averaging resistors can apply an average of a voltage at the source of the FET and a voltage at the drain of the FET to the gate of the field effect transistor. The bidirectional current source can turn the FET on and off. The FET can operate in the ohmic region when on. Such an apparatus can improve the linearity of the FET as a resistor, for example, at lower frequencies near or at direct current (DC). In some implementations, the apparatus can include one or more current sources to remove an offset introduced by the bidirectional current source at the source and/or the drain of the FET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Omid Foroudi
  • Gain enhancement for cascode structure
    Patent number: 8493148
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods to provide significant gain enhancement for a cascode structure for a differential amplifier. The cascode structure of the differential amplifier can include first and second pairs of output transistors. The second pair of output transistors can be configured to approximately cancel modulation effects of the first pair of output transistors induced by changes in a differential output of differential amplifier, thereby resulting in conditions for providing enhanced gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin Murden
  • Differential current buffer
    Patent number: 8493102
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods provide a differential current buffer. The current buffer has cross-coupled feedback and offers relatively good common-mode rejection and a relatively low and linear input impedance, which can reduce intermodulation distortion. The current buffer can be used in, for example, an RF modulator, such as a quadrature modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Edmund Balboni
  • Low noise auto-zero circuits for amplifiers
    Patent number: 8493139
    Abstract: An amplifier may include a low noise auto-zero circuit with auto-zero capacitors and switch-controlled auxiliary capacitors that function as switched-capacitor low-pass filters. In an acquisition phase of the auto-zero operation, the inputs of an amplifier may be shorted to a common voltage, and a representation of the offset voltage may be acquired by the auto-zero capacitors. In a hold phase of the auto-zero operation, the auto-zero capacitors may be connected to the auxiliary capacitors, and the resulting voltages may be applied to the circuit such that the original offset voltage is cancelled. Moreover, the switched-capacitor filters may reduce the effective sampling noise while maintaining high acquisition bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Sayuk
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ON-CHIP CLOCK WITH LOW POWER CONSUMPTION
    Publication number: 20130181760
    Abstract: A fully on-chip clock generator on an integrated circuit (“IC”) includes a frequency detector for receiving a reference current and providing a first voltage; an error integrator for receiving the first voltage from the frequency detector, comparing it with a reference voltage, and providing a control voltage; a voltage controlled oscillator (“VCO”) for receiving the control voltage from the error integrator, and providing an output clock; and a logic controller on the IC, coupled between the VCO and the frequency detector, and generating logic control signals for controlling the frequency detector. The fully on-chip clock generator requires no external crystal, but its power consumption is significantly lower than a relaxation oscillator that generates the same clock frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Yijing LIN
  • Sensor
    Patent number: 8487260
    Abstract: The invention provides a sensor including a first sensor element formed in a first substrate and at least one optical element formed in a second substrate, the first and second substrates being configured relative to one another such that the second substrate forms a cap over the first sensor element, the at least one optical element being configured to guide incident radiation on the cap to the first sensor element. The sensor also includes a reference sensor element whose output can be used to reference the output of the first sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Lane, Eamon Hynes, Edward John Coyne
  • RTWO-based pulse width modulator
    Patent number: 8487710
    Abstract: A pulse width modulator based on a pair of rotary traveling wave oscillators. The first oscillator operates freely or as part of a phase-locked loop. The second oscillator operates at the same frequency as the first oscillator, but with a controllable phase offset from the first oscillator. The phase offset is set by an input voltage. A block takes the outputs of the first and second oscillators and combines them so that the output is a pulse whose width is the overlap of the oscillation signals from the first and second oscillators. The output pulse width is thus a function of the input voltage. When the pulse width modulator receives the input voltage from the output of a switching power supply, it can use the modulated pulse width to control the switching transistor of the power supply to maintain the output at a regulated voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Beccue, Andrey Martchovsky
  • Comparator with adaptive timing
    Patent number: 8487659
    Abstract: An adaptive delay device that provides a delay to a signal based on circuit conditions such as temperature, supply voltage values and/or fabrication processes. The adaptive delay device may respond to circuit conditions by charging a capacitive device to a threshold voltage. A comparator may incorporate the adaptive delay device to provide adaptive timing for the comparator functions thereby attaining improved noise performance and/or reduce power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Kapusta
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    Publication number: 20130176152
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter system that includes a pipeline of successively-cascaded signal converters, each operating alternatively in a first circuit configuration and a second circuit configuration, an error estimator coupled to the pipeline to receive the digitized error for estimating an amplifier gain of the present signal converter stage, and a code aligner/corrector that temporally aligns and corrects the digital codes received from the successively-cascaded signal converters to provide a digital out of the ADC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty ALI
  • MEMS Microphone with Springs and Interior Support
    Publication number: 20130177180
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone has a stationary portion with a backplate having a plurality of apertures, and a diaphragm spaced from the backplate and having an outer periphery. As a condenser microphone, the diaphragm and backplate form a variable capacitor. The microphone also has a post extending between, and substantially permanently connected with, both the backplate and the diaphragm, and a set of springs securing the diaphragm to at least one of the post and the stationary portion. The post is positioned to be radially inward of the outer periphery of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Sushil Bharatan, Aleksey S. Khenkin, Thomas D. Chen