Abstract: A driver circuit (100) is utilized to drive a high current load (116) in an electronic device powered by a battery (118) having a terminal voltage which varies in relation to a level of energy being consumed. The driver circuit (100) includes a differential amplifier (110) which is responsive to a predetermined reference voltage and to the terminal voltage for generating a drive control signal which proportionally reduces a current supplied to the high current load (114) when the terminal voltage is substantially equal to and lower than the predetermined reference voltage. A slope control element (112) is coupled to the differential amplifier (110) to control a rate at which the drive control signal reduces proportionally the current supplied to the high current load (116). A load control element (114), coupled to the differential amplifier (100), provides the supply of current to the high current load (116).

Abstract: A zero-intermediate frequency receiver circuit (11) for receiving a radio frequency signal detected by an antenna (14). The receiver circuit (10) comprises a second local oscillator circuit (25) and an oscillator circuit (60) of a phase locked loop demodulator (36) which are identical and track each other so as to provide a more accurate reference for processing a demodulated signal. A current reference (39) providing a current reference signal utilized by the second local oscillator circuit (25) and the oscillator circuit (60) of the phase locked loop demodulator (36).

Abstract: A phase locked loop (PLL) circuit for use as a demodulator and other applications. The PLL circuit (200) comprises a phase detector (210), a transconductance amplifier (212) and a current controlled oscillator (ICO) (214). The phase detector has two signal inputs and two outputs, and detects a phase difference between signals at its inputs. A capacitor C1 is connected to the output of phase detector (210) and develops an output voltage signal vo(t). A transconductance amplifier (212) is coupled to the capacitor C1 and converts the output voltage signal vo(t) to an output current signal. The ICO (214) is coupled to the transconductance amplifier (212) and the second output of the phase detector (210) and generates an output signal having a frequency which is proportional to an input current signal. The output signal of the ICO (214) is coupled to the second signal input of the phase detector (212).

Abstract: A high current driver (100) for driving a high current load (110) in an electronic device powered by a battery (112) comprises a voltage reference (104) for generating a reference voltage, and a drive current controller (102, 302) responsive to a drive control signal for selectively switching the drive current controller (102, 302) from an active state for supplying current to the high current load (110), to an-inactive state for inhibiting the supply of current to the high current load (110). The drive current controller (102, 302) further controls the amount of current supplied to the high current load (110) when the battery (112) terminal voltage is substantially equal to the reference voltage. A load control element (108) is coupled to the drive current controller (102, 302) and drives the high current load (110) when the drive current controller (102, 302) is in the active state.

Abstract: A peak and valley measuring circuit (40) featuring a single digital-to-analog converter (DAC) (100), a peak counter (110), a valley counter (120), and a comparator (130). The peak and valley measuring circuit (40) uses the peak counter (110) when detecting peaks of the recovered audio signal and the valley counter (120) when detecting valleys of the recovered audio signal. The DAC (100) is used in conjunction with one of the counters (110) or (120) depending on whether peaks or valleys are being detected, and is preferably a current-mode DAC.

Abstract: A differential direct current (DC) offset compensation circuit for providing DC offset compensation to a circuit device (110). The DC offset compensation circuit (100) comprises a differential integrator (120) and a summing network (130). The circuit device (110) is one of several types of devices, such as a DC coupled amplifier. The differential input (112) of the circuit device (110) is suitable for coupling to a differential input source (140) and the differential output (114) of the circuit device is suitable for connection to a load (150). The differential integrator (120) features a transconductance amplifier (18) at least one other amplifier (13), and a capacitor element (16) having a capacitance of C1. The summing network (130) sums the differential integrator output with the differential input signals of the differential input source (140) and cancels DC offsets of the differential input source (140) and the circuit device (110).

Abstract: A detector circuit (301) is utilized in a DC to DC converter (300) having an inductor (356) coupled to a switch (358) for interrupting an electric current through the inductor (356), thereby allowing the inductor (356) to transfer stored energy to a capacitive load (364). The detector circuit (301) includes a capacitor (302) coupled to the inductor (356) for generating a transient current (428) in response to a completion of a transfer of stored energy from the inductor (356). The detector circuit (301) further includes a reference current generator (306) for generating a reference current, and a summing node (304) coupled to the capacitor (302) and coupled to the reference current generator (306) for summing the transient current (428) and the reference current. The two summed currents form a transient control current (436) responsive to the completion (424) of the transfer of stored energy from the inductor (356).

Abstract: A differential transconductance amplifier consisting of a bipolar differential amplifier (110) and an active load circuit (120) for the bipolar differential amplifier (110). The transconductance amplifier is suitable for driving a load (130). The active load circuit (120) comprises a bipolar differential amplifier (140), a metal-oxide-silicon (MOS) amplifier (150), and a resistor R1. The active load circuit (120) generates active load currents IAL1 and IAL2. The output of the transconductance amplifier are the differential output currents I1 and I2 which are supplied to the load (130). Differential output currents I1 and I2 are the sum of the currents into the nodes between the bipolar amplifier circuit (110) and the active load circuit (120). The gain of the transconductance amplifier is controlled by a current source that biases the differential amplifier (110).

Abstract: A non-contact pager programming system includes a controller (30) which is responsive to command and data signals to generate first signals (34) including command and data words to govern a transmitting circuit (36) to transmit over the air a programming signal (46) digitally modulated in accordance with a reception protocol. The programming system may also include a receiving circuit (42) which is governed by at least one second signal (40) generated by the controller to receive over-the-air signals (52) generated by the pager being programmed in response to the programming signal.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter regulates the maximum current through an inductor. The DC-DC converter operates within a paging receiver and boosts a voltage from a single cell battery to substantially 3.1 VDC in order to operate circuits which require more voltage than that produced by the single cell battery. Such circuits include CMOS microcomputers and code plug. The DC-DC converter is current regulated thus providing for improved power conversion efficiency. The DC-DC converter is active when the voltage is below a minimum voltage and inactive when above a maximum voltage. The DC-DC converter provides for a wide range of load currents from the converted voltage without being controlled by a microcomputer and while delivering the power to the loads with an improved efficiency.

Abstract: A driving circuit including a single transformer drives a piezoelectric transducer and an electroluminescent lamp. The circuit is coupled to the driving circuit for limiting the peak current through the transformer.

Abstract: An inductively loaded switching transistor circuit for use in the DC-DC converter includes an inductive load and a switching transistor coupled to the inductive load for conducting current flowing therethrough when the switching transistor is on. A drive circuit is provided which is coupled to the switching transistor for supplying a drive current thereto, and feedback means are provided for adjusting the amount of base drive supplied to the switching transistor from the drive circuit. The drive current is varied substantially linearly with respect to the current flowing through the inductive load.

Abstract: An improved amplifier with controlled hysteresis and an extremely low current drain capable of operating over a sufficiently large input voltage dynamic range is provided. Two circuits comprising a transistor and a diode are coupled between a differential amplifier and two cross-coupled current mirrors for preventing transistor saturation in the current mirrors.

Abstract: A data limiter for a radio pager is described in which an analog input signal including a data signal is compared in a comparator with a threshold voltage which is adjusted by means of a feedback network. The network consists of transconductance amplifiers having predetermined input offset voltages related to the amplitude of the analog signal which monitor the departure of the analog signal from a reference voltage to provide output currents which are integrated by an integrator and applied as the threshold voltage to the comparator and as the reference voltage to the transconductance amplifiers.

Abstract: A power switching circuit is described for supplying power to a radio pager which must be continuously powered from either a main or backup battery. The main battery voltage is monitored and at appropriate levels as its value falls, selected functions of the pager are eliminated and switch over to the backup battery is made to keep alive essential functions.

Abstract: A data limiter in a paging receiver for converting an analog signal to a digital signal, the data limiter having a variable time constant. The data limiter includes an amplifying circuit and an integrating circuit. The amplifying circuit, being responsive to the analog input signal generated from a receiving circuit of the paging receiver, generates a reference signal depending upon a variable bias current input to the amplifying circuit. The integrating circuit, being responsive to the reference signal, generates a comparison signal depending upon a variable gain input. The amplifying circuit responsive to the comparison signal compares the comparison signal to the input signal for generating a digital output signal. A processing circuit of the paging receiver generates a first control signal for modifying the variable bias current input and a second output signal for modifying the variable gain input.

Abstract: A combined radio pager/analog timepiece that may be worn on the wrist of the user is described. The device includes a stepping motor to periodically advance the second hand of the watch portion. The voltage pulse device signals to the timepiece are effectively inhibited during those intervals when the paging receiver is activated. Receiver activation occurs so as to monitor its communication channel or actually process an intended message if its unique address has been received and detected. These inhibited, i.e. delayed, voltage device pulses are later applied to the stepping motor on an accelerated basis to bring the timepiece to current time status.

Abstract: A current mode active filter includes a differential amplifier, having two transistors, and a current mirror, having two transistors, connected into a feedback loop. The phase shift of the loop is controlled by one or two grounded capacitors and bias current sources connected to forward bias the base-emitter junctions of the transistors. The frequency of the filter is controlled by varying the dynamic resistances of the base-emitter junctions with the bias current sources. The current mirror increases loop gain, thereby enhancing the Q of the circuit. Improved dynamic range and large-signal performance can be achieved by the addition of two transistors to the current mirror circuit.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit with enhanced response time includes a data limiter circuit having an input and an input capacitor having one terminal coupled to the input. A first selectively actuable voltage clamping circuit responds to a first comparing circuit and is coupled to the input for preventing the voltage at the input from exceeding a predetermined upper voltage. A second selectively actuable voltage clamping circuit is responsive to a second comparing circuit and is coupled to the input for preventing the voltage at the input from decreasing below a predetermined lower voltage.

Abstract: A configuration of two transistors and two capacitors provides a current mode second-order active filter for IC implementation with low-pass, bandpass and high-pass capabilities. The filter frequency is tunable over a wide range, independently of filter Q and gain, by varying a DC bias current. The filter can provide one-port impedance functions, and two-port voltage, current and impedance transfer functions. With the addition of a second biasing current source, the filter Q can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of the two biasing current sources. Enhanced dynamic range and large-signal performance can be achieved by the addition of linear resistors, with trade-offs in tunable frequency range and frequency linearity.