Patents by Inventor Christian Steffen Birk

Christian Steffen Birk has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230396265
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit with at least a first channel and a second channel. Each channel includes at least a DAC. The integrated circuit also includes a number of circuit elements interconnected between the channels. The circuit elements can be changed between a short circuit state and an open circuit state. Normally, each channel will operate independently of one another, using only the circuit components in its respective channel. However, the circuit elements are arranged to allow a user to combine part of the second channel with the first channel to improve the functionality and performance of the first channel. In particular, a state of the circuit elements can be chosen to combine components of the second channel with the first channel. For example, components (e.g. a sub-stage) of the second channel can be connected in parallel with corresponding components (e.g. a corresponding sub-stage) of the first channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Fergus John Downey, Christian Steffen Birk, Dennis A. Dempsey, Ken Bryan Fulgosino Fabay
  • Patent number: 10200041
    Abstract: An analog multiplexer may be used for sampling an input voltage that is capable of having a higher voltage level than an upper supply voltage. The analog multiplexer includes a plurality of input switch circuits and a shorting switch circuit. The plurality of input switch circuits include n-type or p-type laterally diffused field effect transistors (NLDFETs or PLDFETs). At least one of the input switch circuits includes a level shifting switch circuit that is able to sample an input voltage that is greater than the upper supply voltage for the multiplexer. A shorting switch circuit, at an output of the multiplexer, includes a capacitively coupled gate drive circuit and is configured to short a first differential output to a second differential output after the input voltage is sampled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Gorbold, Christian Steffen Birk, Gerard Mora Puchalt, Colin Charles Price, Michael C. W. Coln, Mahesh Madhavan Kumbaranthodiyil
  • Publication number: 20180123591
    Abstract: An analog multiplexer may be used for sampling an input voltage that is capable of having a higher voltage level than an upper supply voltage. The analog multiplexer includes a plurality of input switch circuits and a shorting switch circuit. The plurality of input switch circuits include n-type or p-type laterally diffused field effect transistors (NLDFETs or PLDFETs). At least one of the input switch circuits includes a level shifting switch circuit that is able to sample an input voltage that is greater than the upper supply voltage for the multiplexer. A shorting switch circuit, at an output of the multiplexer, includes a capacitively coupled gate drive circuit and is configured to short a first differential output to a second differential output after the input voltage is sampled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Gorbold, Christian Steffen Birk, Gerard Mora Puchalt, Colin Charles Price, Michael C.W. Coln, Mahesh Madhavan Kumbaranthodiyil
  • Patent number: 9939476
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide a method of measuring an unknown capacitance of a device. The method may comprise the steps of driving a test signal to a circuit system that includes a current divider formed by the device with unknown capacitance and a reference capacitor; mirroring a current developed in the reference capacitor to a second circuit system that includes a measurement impedance; measuring a voltage within the second circuit system; and deriving a capacitance of the unknown capacitance based on the measured voltage with reference to a capacitance of the reference capacitor and the measurement impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES GLOBAL
    Inventors: Christian Steffen Birk, John A. Cleary, David Sayago Montilla, Elizabeth A. Lillis, Padraig O'Connor, Eoin E. English, Patrick Pratt, Kathleen Embrechts, Wim Rens, Jan Crols
  • Publication number: 20170089966
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide a method of measuring an unknown capacitance of a device. The method may comprise the steps of driving a test signal to a circuit system that includes a current divider formed by the device with unknown capacitance and a reference capacitor; mirroring a current developed in the reference capacitor to a second circuit system that includes a measurement impedance; measuring a voltage within the second circuit system; and deriving a capacitance of the unknown capacitance based on the measured voltage with reference to a capacitance of the reference capacitor and the measurement impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES GLOBAL
    Inventors: Christian Steffen Birk, John A. Cleary, David Sayago Montilla, Elizabeth A. Lillis, Padraig O'Connor, Eoin E. English, Patrick Pratt, Kathleen Embrechts, Wim Rens, Jan Crols
  • Patent number: 8604862
    Abstract: A bootstrapped switch circuit includes a first switch transistor to receive an input signal and a second switch transistor to provide an output signal. The sources of the switch transistors may be coupled. A voltage source may be coupled to the sources of the switch transistors and at least one of the gates of the switch transistors. The voltage source may generate a control voltage to activate at least one of the switch transistors based on a bias current. A voltage source driver may be coupled to the voltage source to generate the bias current based on a bias voltage. The bias voltage may include a first voltage approximately corresponding to an overdrive voltage of at least one of the switch transistors and a second voltage approximately corresponding to a threshold voltage of the switch transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Steffen Birk, Gerard Mora Puchalt
  • Publication number: 20130009623
    Abstract: A bootstrapped switch circuit includes a first switch transistor to receive an input signal and a second switch transistor to provide an output signal. The sources of the switch transistors may be coupled. A voltage source may be coupled to the sources of the switch transistors and at least one of the gates of the switch transistors. The voltage source may generate a control voltage to activate at least one of the switch transistors based on a bias current. A voltage source driver may be coupled to the voltage source to generate the bias current based on a bias voltage. The bias voltage may include a first voltage approximately corresponding to an overdrive voltage of at least one of the switch transistors and a second voltage approximately corresponding to a threshold voltage of the switch transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Christian Steffen BIRK, Gerard MORA PUCHALT
  • Patent number: 8222948
    Abstract: A bootstrapped switch circuit can include at least one transistor, to receive an input signal and allow the input signal to pass through as an output signal based on a control signal, and a voltage-controlled voltage source, to provide first and second voltages between a gate and a source of the at least one transistor in response to the control signal. The voltage-controlled voltage source can include a differential pair and a current source. A gate of one of the differential pair can receive the control signal and a gate of the other of the differential pair can receive a logical inverse of the control signal. The current source can provide a current to connected sources of the differential pair. The first voltage can turn on the at least one transistor and be produced in response to a first logic state of the control signal resulting in the current of the current source flowing entirely through a first one of the differential pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Steffen Birk
  • Publication number: 20110204956
    Abstract: A bootstrapped switch circuit can include at least one transistor, to receive an input signal and allow the input signal to pass through as an output signal based on a control signal, and a voltage-controlled voltage source, to provide first and second voltages between a gate and a source of the at least one transistor in response to the control signal. The voltage-controlled voltage source can include a differential pair and a current source. A gate of one of the differential pair can receive the control signal and a gate of the other of the differential pair can receive a logical inverse of the control signal. The current source can provide a current to connected sources of the differential pair. The first voltage can turn on the at least one transistor and be produced in response to a first logic state of the control signal resulting in the current of the current source flowing entirely through a first one of the differential pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Christian Steffen BIRK
  • Patent number: 7952419
    Abstract: A bootstrapped switch circuit can include a switch transistor, having a drain configured as an input terminal to receive an input signal, and a voltage-controlled voltage source, configured to provide predetermined constant voltages between a gate and a source of the switch transistor in response to a control signal received at a control terminal. The predetermined constant voltages can include a first predetermined constant voltage to turn on the switch transistor and pass the input signal to the source and a second predetermined constant voltage to turn off the switch transistor. The first and second predetermined constant voltages can be independent of the magnitude of a signal passed to the source of the switch transistor based on the input signal at the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Steffen Birk
  • Publication number: 20110115544
    Abstract: A bootstrapped switch circuit can include a switch transistor, having a drain configured as an input terminal to receive an input signal, and a voltage-controlled voltage source, configured to provide predetermined constant voltages between a gate and a source of the switch transistor in response to a control signal received at a control terminal. The predetermined constant voltages can include a first predetermined constant voltage to turn on the switch transistor and pass the input signal to the source and a second predetermined constant voltage to turn off the switch transistor. The first and second predetermined constant voltages can be independent of the magnitude of a signal passed to the source of the switch transistor based on the input signal at the drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Christian Steffen BIRK