Abstract: A power supply (200) includes a VVC (222) which provides for the efficient conversion of voltages with minimum ripple. The doping of the VVC (222) is altered such that most of the energy is delivered to a load (224) at a substantially constant voltage. The VVC (222) is fabricated using such materials as Zirconium Titanate. The VVC (222) has a high capacitance to volume ratio and therefore results in a significant reduction in the overall size of the power supply (200).

Abstract: A circuit probe (300) is provided for measuring a differential circuit. The circuit probe (300) incorporates a novel transmission line (325) which is formed to propagate signals with substantially equal even-mode and odd-mode characteristic impedances. The circuit probe (300) further includes signal contacts (314, 316) and ground contacts (312, 318) coupled to signal conductors (334, 336) and ground conductors (332, 338), respectively, of the transmission line (325).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for characterizing a differential circuit. A measurement system (200) is used to introduce input signals to the differential circuit and to measure corresponding output signals. Particularly, an input differential wave is introduced into the differential circuit (1010) while correspondingly measuring a differential output wave (1020) and a first common mode output wave (1030). Similarly, an input common mode wave is introduced (1040) while measuring a second differential output wave (1050) and a second common mode output wave (1060).

Abstract: A radio frequency electrical connection (600) between a pair of electrical devices is formed by a pair of uninsulated bond wires (601, 603). The uninsulated bond wires (601, 603) are twisted in a manner such that the wires form a twisted pair but do not physically touch each other over the length of the twisted section.

Abstract: A radio frequency electrical connection between a pair of electrical devices (101, 104) is formed by a pair of bond wires (102, 103) crossing (401) each other.

Abstract: A twisted-pair conductor line structure is formed on a substrate (22) having insulated conductive layers (10, 11). The conductive layers are used to form first, second, third, and fourth conductive planar segments (16). A first conductive link (44) joins the first and second planar conductive segments to provide a first signal path. Similarly, a second conductive link (46) joins the third and fourth planar conductive segments to provide a second signal path. The first and second conductive links are operatively arranged to form a twist (17) in the first and second signal paths, such that the resulting magnetic fields (57, 59) around the twisted conductive segments will be opposite to each other for cancelling each other out, in order to reduce the magnetic field radiation to the surrounding environment. Two such twisted-pair conductor lines are placed such that their twisted portions are off-set from each other.

Abstract: A twisted-pair conductor line structure is formed on a substrate (22) having insulated conductive layers (10, 11). The conductive layers are used to form first, second, third, and fourth conductive planar segments (16). A first conductive link (17) joins the first and second planar conductive segments to provide a first signal path. Similarly, a second conductive link (17) joins the third and fourth planar conductive segments to provide a second signal path. The first and second conductive links are operatively arranged to form a twist (17)in the first and second signal paths, such that the resulting magnetic fields (57, 59) around the twisted conductive segments will be opposite to each other for cancelling each other out, in order to reduce the magnetic field radiation to the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A twisted-pair conductor line structure is formed on a substrate (22) having insulated conductive layers (31, 32). The conductive layers are used to form first, second, third, and fourth conductive planar segments (40, 41, 42, 43). A first conductive link (44) joins the first and second planar conductive segments to provide a first signal path. Similarly, a second conductive link (46) joins the third and fourth planar conductive segments to provide a second signal path. The first and second conductive links are operatively arranged to form a twist (17) in the first and second signal paths, such that the resulting magnetic fields (57, 59) around the twisted conductive segments will be opposite to each other for cancelling each other out, in order to reduce the magnetic field radiation to the surrounding environment.

Abstract: An electronic circuit (300) includes first (302) and second (304) variable impedance devices coupled together. The first (302) and second (304) variable impedance devices are designed such that each exhibits a transfer function which is substantially inverse with respect to the other about the operating point of the electronic circuit. This provides for an electronic circuit which exhibits very low distortion characteristics. Circuits such as tunable filters, voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), receivers, etc. will benefit from using an electronic circuit (300) which exhibits such low distortion characteristics.

Abstract: To reduce crosstalk in reentrant off-chip RF selectivity, differential circuits (402, 415), transmission lines (423, 424), and off-chip filters (422) are used in a structure that balances the parasitic capacitances associated with all of the differential elements. The structure includes a substrate (409) with a differential generating circuit (402) and a receiving circuit (415). Two differential transmission lines (423, 424), each with constant characteristic impedance, and each with balanced capacitance to ground, both being closely spaced for some distance, couple the circuits (402, 415) to closely spaced terminating pads (403). A ground plane (412) is shared under both transmission lines (423, 424). A second substrate (408) having a reentrant RF path (406) with the first substrate (409) contains an RF function such as a filter or a delay line.