Abstract: A bias voltage source (20) produces a variable bias voltage (VBREF) which regulates the bias currents in an array (30) of transistor current switch cells (34,36) in an digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The bias voltage (VBREF) is applied to the bases of the regulating transistors (Q8') in the cells (34,36) to regulate the bias currents in their respective main transistors (Q6',Q7') to values proportional to the main bias current (IBIAS). Each main transistor (Q6,Q6',Q7,Q7') and regulating transistor (Q8,Q8') is provided with a compensating transistor (Q10,Q10')(Q11,-Q11') which sinks the emitter-base current thereof and cancels deviation of the actual current gain from the design current gain. Another compensating transistor (Q9,Q9') is connected to each regulating transistor (Q8,Q8') to cancel the effect of base-emitter voltage variation with temperature.

Abstract: First and second current feedback transconductance amplifiers (102,104) each have a high impedance voltage input, a low impedance current input and a pair of push-pull current outputs. In a single-ended configuration, an input signal is applied to the voltage input of the first transconductance amplifier (102) and the push-pull outputs of the both transconductance amplifiers are connected through a current mirror (136,138) to a node (134) where the current outputs are summed. The node current is integrated by a capacitor (174) to produce a voltage which is amplified by a transimpedance amplifier (190) to produce an output voltage which is fed back to the voltage input of the second transconductance amplifier (104). The current inputs of the transconductance amplifiers (102,104) are interconnected by a resistor (132). The high impedance voltage inputs produce common-mode cancellation of distortion in the transconductance amplifiers (102,104) and low input shot noise.

Abstract: A transconductance push-pull amplifier (20) generates primary push-pull currents (I1, I2) corresponding to a voltage input signal (VIN). Current mirrors (42,44) generate secondary push-pull currents (I3, I4) corresponding to the primary push-pull currents (I1, I2). For sampling, both the primary and secondary push-pull currents (I1, I2, I3, I4) are applied to charge a capacitor (C3) in a current feed-forward arrangement with high slew rate and fast signal acquisition to produce a voltage output signal (VOUT). The capacitor (C3) is disconnected from the amplifier (20) and current mirrors (42,44) to hold the output signal (VOUT). Switching transistors (Q13, Q15) which are connected between the capacitor (C3) and the current mirrors (42,44) have substantially the same non-linear modulation characteristics as corresponding output transistors (Q7, Q8) in the amplifier (20).

Abstract: A compensating transistor (Q5) is connected in series with the collector of a main transistor (Q3), and a level shifted replica (Vin+V1) of an input signal (Vin) is applied to the base of the compensating transistor (Q5) to maintain a constant voltage difference between the base and collector of the main transistor (Q3) and compensate for base width modulation .DELTA.Vce. A voltage-controlled current source (S1) is responsive to the input signal (Vin) and applies a compensating current .DELTA.Iload which is equal and opposite to the load current variation caused by a change (.DELTA.Vin) in the input voltage (Vin) to the emitter of the main transistor (Q3) to compensate for load current modulation .DELTA.Vbe. Alternatively, the compensating current can be applied to the junction of the base of the main transistor (Q3) and the emitter of pre-distortion transistor (Q4) which has a base connected to receive the input signal (Vin). Another compensating transistor (Q12) applies a current (.DELTA.

Abstract: A diode bridge includes a plurality of diodes for coupling an input voltage signal to a holding capacitor for sampling when the diodes are forward biased, and uncoupling the voltage signal from the capacitor for holding when the diodes are reverse biased. The diode bridge has first and second bias current nodes. A constant current drain causes a constant bias current to flow out of the bridge. A transistor connects the first node to the drain for forward biasing the diodes, whereas a transistor connects the second node to the drain for reverse biasing the diodes. A bootstrap amplifier (A2) produces a variable control voltage which controls a pair of voltage-controlled constant current sources to cause the constant bias current to flow therethrough into the bridge. A transistor (Q7) couples the control voltage to the first current source for forward biasing the diodes, whereas a transistor couples the control voltage to the second current source for reverse biasing the diodes.

Abstract: A bandgap reference voltage source (104) has positive and negative terminals (104a,104b) which are connected through high impedance constant current sources (124c,126c) to positive and negative voltage supplies (+VDD,-VEE) respectively. The effect of variations of the voltage supplies (+VDD, -VEE) on the voltage source (104) is low due to the high impedances of the currents sources (124c,126c), providing a high power supply rejection ratio (PSRR). The reference voltage (VREF) generated by the voltage source (104) is converted into a reference current (IREF) which flows through two equal series resistors (108,110), and also through current mirrors (124,126) which produce positive and negative output currents corresponding thereto. The current sources (124c,126c) for the voltage source (104) are also controlled by the current mirrors (124,126).

Abstract: A compensating transistor (Q5) is connected in series with the collector of a main transistor (Q3), and a level shifted replica (Vin+V1) of an input signal (Vin) is applied to the base of the compensating transistor (Q5) to maintain a constant voltage difference between the base and collector of the main transistor (Q3) and compensate for base width modulation .DELTA.Vce. A voltage-controlled current source (S1) is responsive to the input signal (Vin) and applies a compensating current .DELTA.Iload which is equal and opposite to the load current variation caused by a change (.DELTA.Vin) in the input voltage (Vin) to the emitter of the main transistor (Q3) to compensate for load current modulation .DELTA.Vbe. Alternatively, the compensating current can be applied to the junction of the base of the main transistor (Q3) and the emitter of pre-distortion transistor (Q4) which has a base connected to receive the input signal (Vin). Another compensating transistor (Q12) applies a current (.DELTA.