Abstract: A current sense circuit for a pass transistor is described. The circuit comprises a sense transistor having input and control ports that are coupled to input and control ports respectively of the pass transistor. The circuit comprises a differential amplifier comprising a differential input and output. An output port of the pass transistor is coupled to a first port of the differential input and an output port of the sense transistor is coupled to a second port of the differential input. The differential amplifier comprises a first sub-amplifier and a second sub-amplifier that are arranged in parallel and which are operated in an auto-zero phase and in an amplification phase in an alternating manner, and which are operated in the auto-zero phase in a mutually exclusive manner. The output of the differential amplifier is used to control voltage drops across the sense transistor and the pass transistor.

Abstract: A circuit for providing a current flowing from a supply voltage into an electric load is presented. The circuit comprises a first circuit branch connected between the supply voltage and an output node connected to the electric load, wherein the first circuit branch comprises a first transistor device, a second circuit branch connected between the supply voltage and a predetermined voltage level, wherein the second circuit branch comprises a series connection of a second transistor device that is a scaled replica of the first transistor device and a current source. The control terminals of the first and second transistor devices are connected to each other. A control circuit is configured to control the voltage at the control terminal of the first transistor device depending on a current flowing through the first transistor device. The application further relates to a method of operating such circuit.

Abstract: A switching mode power converter circuit and a method are presented. The circuit comprises a first transistor switch and a second transistor switch coupled in series between an input voltage level and ground. There is a control circuit for controlling switching operation of the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch. There is a detection circuit for sensing a voltage at an intermediate node arranged between the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch, for deriving an indication of a slope of the sensed voltage, and for generating a switching control signal for the control circuit on the basis of the derived indication of the slope of the sensed voltage. The control circuit sets a first timing for activating the first transistor switch and/or a second timing for activating the second transistor switch on the basis of the switching control signal.

Abstract: A battery charging regulator for use with a charger. The regulator comprises a switch element coupled to a control-circuit and to an adjuster-circuit. The switch element is adapted to selectively couple an input provided by a DC-DC converter with an output for a battery. The switch element comprises a control terminal and first and second path terminals located at a first and a second end of a conductive path respectively. The control-circuit is adapted to adjust an input to the control terminal to regulate at least one of a charge current and a charge voltage supplied to the battery via the conductive path. The adjuster-circuit is adapted to sense an electrical parameter of the switch element; and to adjust a value of the input provided by the DC-DC converter based on the sensed electrical parameter value.

Abstract: A current sense circuit for a pass transistor is described. The current sense circuit comprises a sense transistor, a differential amplifier comprising a differential input and a differential output, and a differential difference amplifier, referred to as DD amplifier, comprising a main differential input, an auxiliary differential input and an output; wherein the differential output of the differential amplifier is coupled to the auxiliary differential input of the DD amplifier; wherein the output port of the pass transistor is coupled to a first port of the main differential input and wherein the output port of the sense transistor is coupled to a second port of the main differential input. The output of the DD amplifier is used to control a voltage drop across the sense transistor and the pass transistor.

Abstract: This application relates to a circuit for determining whether a first transistor device is in a predetermined operation mode. The circuit comprises comprising: a second transistor device, wherein control terminals of the first and second transistor devices are connected, and one of input and output terminals of the first transistor device is connected to the other one of input and output terminals of the second transistor device, a buffer amplifier connected between the one of input and output terminals of the first transistor device and the other one of input and output terminals of the second transistor device, and circuitry for determining whether the first transistor device is in the predetermined operation mode based on an indication of a current flowing through the second transistor device. The application further relates to a method of determining whether a first transistor device is in a predetermined operation mode.

Abstract: A switching mode power converter circuit and a method are presented. The circuit comprises a first transistor switch and a second transistor switch coupled in series between an input voltage level and ground. There is a control circuit for controlling switching operation of the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch. There is a detection circuit for sensing a voltage at an intermediate node arranged between the first transistor switch and the second transistor switch, for deriving an indication of a slope of the sensed voltage, and for generating a switching control signal for the control circuit on the basis of the derived indication of the slope of the sensed voltage. The control circuit sets a first timing for activating the first transistor switch and/or a second timing for activating the second transistor switch on the basis of the switching control signal.

Abstract: A circuit for providing a current flowing from a supply voltage into an electric load is presented. The circuit comprises a first circuit branch connected between the supply voltage and an output node connected to the electric load, wherein the first circuit branch comprises a first transistor device, a second circuit branch connected between the supply voltage and a predetermined voltage level, wherein the second circuit branch comprises a series connection of a second transistor device that is a scaled replica of the first transistor device and a current source. The control terminals of the first and second transistor devices are connected to each other. A control circuit is configured to control the voltage at the control terminal of the first transistor device depending on a current flowing through the first transistor device. The application further relates to a method of operating such circuit.

Abstract: A battery charging regulator for use with a charger. The regulator comprises a switch element coupled to a control-circuit and to an adjuster-circuit. The switch element is adapted to selectively couple an input provided by a DC-DC converter with an output for a battery. The switch element comprises a control terminal and first and second path terminals located at a first and a second end of a conductive path respectively. The control-circuit is adapted to adjust an input to the control terminal to regulate at least one of a charge current and a charge voltage supplied to the battery via the conductive path. The adjuster-circuit is adapted to sense an electrical parameter of the switch element; and to adjust a value of the input provided by the DC-DC converter based on the sensed electrical parameter value.

Abstract: This application relates to a circuit for determining whether a first transistor device is in a predetermined operation mode. The circuit comprises comprising: a second transistor device, wherein control terminals of the first and second transistor devices are connected, and one of input and output terminals of the first transistor device is connected to the other one of input and output terminals of the second transistor device, a buffer amplifier connected between the one of input and output terminals of the first transistor device and the other one of input and output terminals of the second transistor device, and circuitry for determining whether the first transistor device is in the predetermined operation mode based on an indication of a current flowing through the second transistor device. The application further relates to a method of determining whether a first transistor device is in a predetermined operation mode.

Abstract: A current sense circuit for a pass transistor is described. The current sense circuit comprises a sense transistor, a differential amplifier comprising a differential input and a differential output, and a differential difference amplifier, referred to as DD amplifier, comprising a main differential input, an auxiliary differential input and an output; wherein the differential output of the differential amplifier is coupled to the auxiliary differential input of the DD amplifier; wherein the output port of the pass transistor is coupled to a first port of the main differential input and wherein the output port of the sense transistor is coupled to a second port of the main differential input. The output of the DD amplifier is used to control a voltage drop across the sense transistor and the pass transistor.

Abstract: A current sense circuit for a pass transistor is described. The circuit comprises a sense transistor having input and control ports that are coupled to input and control ports respectively of the pass transistor. The circuit comprises a differential amplifier comprising a differential input and output. An output port of the pass transistor is coupled to a first port of the differential input and an output port of the sense transistor is coupled to a second port of the differential input. The differential amplifier comprises a first sub-amplifier and a second sub-amplifier that are arranged in parallel and which are operated in an auto-zero phase and in an amplification phase in an alternating manner, and which are operated in the auto-zero phase in a mutually exclusive manner. The output of the differential amplifier is used to control voltage drops across the sense transistor and the pass transistor.

Abstract: A system comprising a first frequency divider to divide an input frequency of an input signal to generate a first signal having a first frequency and a first phase. Each of a plurality of second frequency dividers divides the input frequency of the input signal to generate a second signal having the first frequency and a second phase. A first switch includes a first end connected to a first node of the first frequency divider, and a second end connected to a second node of a first one of the plurality of second frequency dividers. A plurality of second switches include first ends connected to the second end of the first switch, and second ends respectively connected to the second nodes of the plurality of second frequency dividers other than the first one of the plurality of second frequency dividers.

Abstract: A transmitter including a first mixer, a first frequency divider to divide a frequency of an input signal to generate a first signal, and a plurality of second frequency dividers to divide the frequency to respectively generate a plurality of second signals, and a control module. In response to the transmitter being turned on, the control module turns on the first frequency divider, turns off the plurality of second frequency dividers, and drives the first mixer with the first signal. Subsequently, in response to determining that a transmit power of the transmitter is to be increased, the control module sequentially turns on and connects each of the plurality of second frequency dividers in parallel to the first frequency divider. Upon a second frequency divider being connected to the first frequency divider, the control module also drives the first mixer using the second signal generated by that second frequency divider.

Abstract: A circuit including a current source, an inverter, and a device. The current source is configured to receive a first reference voltage and supply an output current. The inverter has a transconductance. The inverter includes a first transistor having a source and a drain and a second transistor having a source. The source of the first transistor is connected to the current source. The source of the first transistor is configured to receive a portion of the output current. The source of the second transistor is connected to the drain of the first transistor. The device is configured to select the first reference voltage such that the output current of the current source varies with changes in a temperature of the current source to maintain the transconductance of the inverter at a same value and prevent changes in respective transition frequencies of both the first transistor and the second transistor.

Abstract: A system comprising a first frequency divider to divide an input frequency of an input signal to generate a first signal having a first frequency and a first phase. Each of a plurality of second frequency dividers divides the input frequency of the input signal to generate a second signal having the first frequency and a second phase. A first switch includes a first end connected to a first node of the first frequency divider, and a second end connected to a second node of a first one of the plurality of second frequency dividers. A plurality of second switches include first ends connected to the second end of the first switch, and second ends respectively connected to the second nodes of the plurality of second frequency dividers other than the first one of the plurality of second frequency dividers.

Abstract: A circuit including a current source, an inverter, and a device. The current source is configured to receive a first reference voltage and supply an output current. The inverter has a transconductance. The inverter includes a first transistor having a source and a drain and a second transistor having a source. The source of the first transistor is connected to the current source. The source of the first transistor is configured to receive a portion of the output current. The source of the second transistor is connected to the drain of the first transistor. The device is configured to select the first reference voltage such that the output current of the current source varies with changes in a temperature of the current source to maintain the transconductance of the inverter at a same value and prevent changes in respective transition frequencies of both the first transistor and the second transistor.

Abstract: The transition frequency of an inverter can vary with the transconductance of its internal transistors as a function of temperature and bias level. To maintain consistent transition frequency across temperatures, and therefore reduce the phase noise variation introduced by the inverter, systems, methods, and circuits are disclosed for biasing the inverter with a temperature varying current such that the transconductance of transistors remains constant across temperatures, while maintaining the lowest possible power consumption to do so. Various embodiments can include using current sources that have proportional-to-absolute-temperature (PTAT) devices.

Abstract: A transmitter including a first mixer, a first frequency divider to divide a frequency of an input signal to generate a first signal, and a plurality of second frequency dividers to divide the frequency to respectively generate a plurality of second signals, and a control module. In response to the transmitter being turned on, the control module turns on the first frequency divider, turns off the plurality of second frequency dividers, and drives the first mixer with the first signal. Subsequently, in response to determining that a transmit power of the transmitter is to be increased, the control module sequentially turns on and connects each of the plurality of second frequency dividers in parallel to the first frequency divider. Upon a second frequency divider being connected to the first frequency divider, the control module also drives the first mixer using the second signal generated by that second frequency divider.

Abstract: A system including a first frequency divider, a plurality of second frequency dividers, and a control module. The first frequency divider includes a first plurality of components and is configured to divide an input frequency of an input signal to generate a first signal having a first frequency and a first phase. Each of the plurality of second frequency dividers includes a second plurality of components and is configured to divide the input frequency of the input signal to generate a second signal having the first frequency and a second phase. The control module is configured to connect the second plurality of components of one of the second frequency dividers to the first plurality of components of the first frequency divider.