Abstract: A charge pump controller provides the timing and drive voltages necessary for an self-regulated charge pump voltage converter. The controller utilizes a conventional non-overlapping two-phase clock to control the timing of switch drivers which control an array of switches. Pump and reservoir capacitors are distributed within the array. One of the switch drivers produces a modulated, or linear, drive voltage for one of the switches in the array in response to the charge pump's output voltage. The controller thereby produces a regulated output voltage from the charge pump.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) data to emitter coupled logic (ECL) data translator system comprised of translator apparatus for receiving data signals from a CMOS circuit powered from a CMOS voltage power source, apparatus for powering an ECL circuit from the power source, a transmission line carrying output signals from the translator apparatus to the ECL circuit, having a predetermined characteristic, a load having the characteristic impedance connecting the transmission line to the power source, and the translator apparatus comprising apparatus for outputting a data signal on the transmission line which corresponds to the received data signals but having an amplitude compatible with the ECL circuit and referenced to a voltage of the power source.

Abstract: A programmable gain amplifier including first and second gain elements are connected by an impedance selector which allows programmability of the gain of both gain elements. The impedance selector is connected in series with the output of the first gain element. The impedance selector places an impedance in the feedback path of the first gain element or the input path of the second gain element. Errors introduced in the signal path due to the switches are attenuated by the open loop gain of the first gain element. The gain may be equally divided between both stages of the amplifier to allow for optimum band width. Optimum noise performance may be obtained by placing most of the gain in the first stage. An instrumentation amplifier may also be made which further includes a third gain element connected to the gain element with a second impedance selector in a manner similar to the connection of the first gain element to the second gain element.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) generates multiple analog waveforms, preferably as voltage ramps, that progressively increase in signal value over time but at different rates of increase. The ramp with the greatest slope is initially compared with an input signal sample until the ramp exceeds the sample, at which time the system switches to the ramp with the next greatest slope for comparison with the input. The operation then repeats, with the system switching to the next lower ramp each time the current ramp exceeds the input. Both the number of ramp switching events that occur during a sample cycle, and the clock count at the time of the most recent ramp switch, are recorded and used respectively as the most and least significant bits of a digital output. The switching event count proceeds from an initial maximum value from which it subtracts at each switching event, while the clock count builds up from an initial minimum value.

Abstract: A programmable gain amplifier including first and second gain elements are connected by an impedance selector which allows programmability of the gain of both gain elements. The impedance selector is connected in series with the output of the first gain element. The impedance selector places an impedance in the feedback path of the first gain element or the input path of the second gain element. Errors introduced in the signal path due to the switches are attenuated by the open loop gain of the first gain element. The gain may be equally divided between both stages of the amplifier to allow for optimum band width. Optimum noise performance may be obtained by placing most of the gain in the first stage. An instrumentation amplifier may also be made which further includes a third gain element connected to the gain element with a second impedance selector in a manner similar to the connection of the first gain element to the second gain element.

Abstract: A delta modulator includes an integrator, a comparator for sensing the output of the integrator and a flip flop for synchronizing the comparator output to a clock signal and providing an error signal to the input of the integrator. The output of the delta modulator is a data stream having a time-averaged duty cycle that represents the input signal amplitude. The integrator includes an amplifier that is provided with positive feedback. Error caused by the finite open loop gain of the amplifier is cancelled by the positive feedback. As a result, high accuracy is achieved. The integrator amplifier is stabilized by the overall negative feedback of the delta modulator loop.