Abstract: A system and method for radiation-tolerant level shifting are disclosed. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit may include a plurality of level shifters, where each of the plurality of level shifters configured receive a same logic level in a first voltage domain and to output candidate logic levels in a second voltage domain, and where at least one of the candidate logic levels subject to being different from another one of the candidate logic levels. The integrated circuit may also include a voting circuit coupled to the plurality of level shifters, where the voting circuit is configured to evaluate the candidate logic levels and output a selected logic level based, at least in part, upon the evaluation.

Abstract: A system and method for radiation-tolerant level shifting are disclosed. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit may include a plurality of level shifters, where each of the plurality of level shifters configured receive a same logic level in a first voltage domain and to output candidate logic levels in a second voltage domain, and where at least one of the candidate logic levels subject to being different from another one of the candidate logic levels. The integrated circuit may also include a voting circuit coupled to the plurality of level shifters, where the voting circuit is configured to evaluate the candidate logic levels and output a selected logic level based, at least in part, upon the evaluation.

Abstract: A level formatter is provided that has differentially coupled closed loop current sources, each configured to precisely establish a current proportional to a reference voltage. A bridge circuit is differentially coupled to two supplementary current sources and controlled to rapidly switch the current from the supplementary current sources to produce output voltages at respective outputs that are approximately equal to respective one of two reference voltages.

Abstract: A level formatter is provided that has differentially coupled closed loop current sources, each configured to precisely establish a current proportional to a reference voltage. A bridge circuit is differentially coupled to two supplementary current sources and controlled to rapidly switch the current from the supplementary current sources to produce output voltages at respective outputs that are approximately equal to respective ones of two reference voltages.

Abstract: A linear amplifier is configured with a current-feedback amplifier followed by a voltage-feedback amplifier to drive a totem-pole output stage. The output stage includes a series arrangement of an npn transistor and a pnp transistor with their emitters coupled in series and to an output node. The voltage amplifier driving the output stage is also configured with totem-pole elements, wherein a conductive path between the voltage-feedback amplifier and an output transistor is included to reduce conduction of the output transistor when the opposing output transistor is driven to increase conduction as a result of a high-frequency input signal. A capacitor may be included between the collector and base of a transistor in the circuit path that drives an output transistor in the output stage to briefly reduce its conduction when the opposing output transistor is driven to increase conduction.

Abstract: An apparatus for affecting operation of a signal treating device that is provided an operating voltage ranging between an upper voltage limit and a lower voltage limit for treating at least one input signal includes: a respective dynamic bias unit coupled with the signal treating device for each respective input signal of the at least one input signal; and a respective transconductance control unit coupled with each the respective dynamic bias unit. Each respective dynamic bias unit and transconductance control unit cooperates to operate the signal treating device responsive to the at least one input signal approaching at least one of the upper voltage limit and the lower voltage limit.

Abstract: An IC package includes a package body of non-conductive material. A conductive heat-sink pad includes an interior pad portion located within an interior of the package body. An exterior pad portion is located external to the package body. The exterior pad portion includes at least two pad pieces that are spaced apart to define at least one channel that separates the at least two pad pieces, the at least two pad pieces being electrically connected with each other. The at least two pad pieces may be flush with an underside surface of the package body or one or more of the pad pieces may extend outwardly from the package body.

Abstract: An apparatus for affecting operation of a signal treating device that is provided an operating voltage ranging between an upper voltage limit and a lower voltage limit for treating at least one input signal includes: a respective dynamic bias unit coupled with the signal treating device for each respective input signal of the at least one input signal; and a respective transconductance control unit coupled with each the respective dynamic bias unit. Each respective dynamic bias unit and transconductance control unit cooperates to operate the signal treating device responsive to the at least one input signal approaching at least one of the upper voltage limit and the lower voltage limit.

Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an operational amplifier (30) having both a high slew rate and a full power bandwidth with low distortion by providing resistors (R6, R7, R9, R10) in place of active loads coupled to a differential pair (Q22, Q25, and Q23, Q24) of transistors in a folded cascode input stage (34). By utilizing passive resistors instead of active loads, no saturation occurs during high slew rate signals. The present invention achieves technical advantages of higher slew rate and lower noise without sacrificing power consumption.

Abstract: An IC package includes a package body of non-conductive material. A conductive heat-sink pad includes an interior pad portion located within an interior of the package body. An exterior pad portion is located external to the package body. The exterior pad portion includes at least two pad pieces that are spaced apart to define at least one channel that separates the at least two pad pieces, the at least two pad pieces being electrically connected with each other. The at least two pad pieces may be flush with an underside surface of the package body or one or more of the pad pieces may extend outwardly from the package body.

Abstract: A linear amplifier is configured with a current-feedback amplifier followed by a voltage-feedback amplifier to drive a totem-pole output stage. The output stage includes a series arrangement of an npn transistor and a pnp transistor with their emitters coupled in series and to an output node. The voltage amplifier driving the output stage is also configured with totem-pole elements, wherein a conductive path between the voltage-feedback amplifier and an output transistor is included to reduce conduction of the output transistor when the opposing output transistor is driven to increase conduction as a result of a high-frequency input signal. A capacitor may be included between the collector and base of a transistor in the circuit path that drives an output transistor in the output stage to briefly reduce its conduction when the opposing output transistor is driven to increase conduction.

Abstract: A dynamic current generator 30 is disclosed in which a common-mode input range is provided which is asymmetric toward the bottom rail VEE. An embodiment of the invention is also disclosed used in an asymmetrical dynamically biased amplifier system 34.

Abstract: A voltage feedback (“VF”) operational amplifier (“op-amp”) that includes a circuit operable to dynamically bias pre-driver transistors at the op amp output stage. This arrangement provides a dynamic bias from a common base gain stage (302) to the pre-drivers (338, 339) of the output stage (303) so that higher slew rate is achieved with minimal discontinuity in the signal.

Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an operational amplifier (30) having both a high slew rate and a full power bandwidth with low distortion by providing resistors (R6, R7, R9, R10) in place of active loads coupled to a differential pair (Q22, Q25, and Q23, Q24) of transistors in a folded cascode input stage (34). By utilizing passive resistors instead of active loads, no saturation occurs during high slew rate signals. The present invention achieves technical advantages of higher slew rate and lower noise without sacrificing power consumption.

Abstract: A voltage feedback (“VF”) operational amplifier (“op-amp”) that includes a circuit operable to dynamically bias pre-driver transistors at the op amp output stage. This arrangement provides a dynamic bias from a common base gain stage (302) to the pre-drivers (338, 339) of the output stage (303) so that higher slew rate is achieved with minimal discontinuity in the signal.

Abstract: A dynamic current generator 30 is disclosed in which a common-mode input range is provided which is asymmetric toward the bottom rail VEE. An embodiment of the invention is also disclosed used in an asymmetrical dynamically biased amplifier system 34.

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating a difference between a first voltage and a second voltage includes: (a) an input unit for receiving the first voltage at a first locus and receiving the second voltage at a second locus; the input unit quanitifying the difference; (b) an output unit coupled with the input unit and cooperating with the input unit to generate an output signal for effecting the indicating; and (c) a signal treating unit coupled with the output unit, the first locus and the second locus, and employing at least one algorithmic relation with at least one of the first voltage and the second voltage to generate at least one bias current for effecting a substantially balanced response by said output section in said generating said output signal as said difference varies. The at least one drive current has nonnegative values as the difference ranges in value.

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating a difference between a first voltage and a second voltage includes: (a) an input unit for receiving the first voltage at a first locus and receiving the second voltage at a second locus; the input unit quanitifying the difference; (b) an output unit coupled with the input unit and cooperating with the input unit to generate an output signal for effecting the indicating; and (c) a signal treating unit coupled with the output unit, the first locus and the second locus, and employing at least one algorithmic relation with at least one of the first voltage and the second voltage to generate at least one bias current for effecting a substantially balanced response by said output section in said generating said output signal as said difference varies. The at least one drive current has nonnegative values as the difference ranges in value.

Abstract: An emitter coupled pair transconductor circuit includes: an emitter couple pair 20 and 21; and a tail current source coupled to the emitter couple pair wherein the tail current source provides a tail current that is a hyperbolic cosine function relative to a differential input signal. This solution transforms the output current of an emitter couple pair transconductor from a hyperbolic tangent to a hyperbolic sine by using a hyperbolic cosine comparator for the biasing. By doing this, the transconductor has a similar speed behavior to a second-generation current conveyor and is more precise. This transformation makes a regular transconductor very fast without changing its parameters.

Abstract: The present invention (800) comprises an operational amplifier with a first stage comparator circuit (801) for biasing a second stage folded cascode amplifier circuit (802). The result is that the input differential voltage signal to output current signal is transformed from a tanh function to a sinh function. The present invention provides the low noise, low distortion, high gain, wide bandwidth and good DC performance characteristics of the folded cascode op-amp configuration, with much improved slew rate.