Abstract: A voltage sense circuit and method of providing an operating voltage to a low voltage integrated circuit are provided. The voltage sense circuit includes a switch responsive to a control signal. The switch is coupled between an input node and a power supply node, and a voltage drop circuit is coupled in parallel with the switch. The voltage drop circuit is configured to provide the operating voltage at the power supply node when a power supply voltage at the input node is approximately an operating voltage of a higher voltage integrated circuit. The voltage sense circuit also includes a control circuit coupled to the switch. The control circuit is configured to control the switch to substantially pass the power supply voltage to the power supply node when the power supply voltage is approximately the operating voltage of the low voltage integrate circuit.

Abstract: A distributed amplifier having an improved transimpedance and/or gain comprises an input transmission line, the input transmission line forming an input of the distributed amplifier and having a characteristic impedance associated therewith, and an output transmission line, the output transmission line forming an output of the distributed amplifier and having a characteristic impedance associated therewith. The distributed amplifier further comprises a plurality of amplifying stages, each of at least a subset of the amplifying stages including an input and an output, the input of each amplifying stage in the subset being operatively coupled to the input transmission line and the output of each amplifying stage in the subset being operatively coupled to the output transmission line.

Abstract: A distributed amplifier having an improved transimpedance and/or gain comprises an input transmission line, the input transmission line forming an input of the distributed amplifier and having a characteristic impedance associated therewith, and an output transmission line, the output transmission line forming an output of the distributed amplifier and having a characteristic impedance associated therewith. The distributed amplifier further comprises a plurality of amplifying stages, each of at least a subset of the amplifying stages including an input and an output, the input of each amplifying stage in the subset being operatively coupled to the input transmission line and the output of each amplifying stage in the subset being operatively coupled to the output transmission line.

Abstract: A ring-shaped device is provided for protecting an electrostatic discharge sensitive electronic component. The protective device has a thin film support structure, adhesive material for securing the support structure to the leads of the electronic component, and conductive material for electrically connecting the leads together. The adhesive material may be a pressure sensitive adhesive. The conductive material may be an annular layer of metal deposited on the support structure. In addition, a central opening is provided in the support structure to accommodate a top portion of the electronic component. The electronic component may be protected while it is stored, handled and assembled into a larger system or device, such as a circuit board. The protective device may be used with a variety of electronic components, including components with different leads configurations and also taped components.

Abstract: A ring-shaped device is provided for protecting an electrostatic discharge sensitive electronic component. The protective device has a thin film support structure, adhesive material for securing the support structure to the leads of the electronic component, and conductive material for electrically connecting the leads together. The adhesive material may be a pressure sensitive adhesive. The conductive material may be an annular layer of metal deposited on the support structure. In addition, a central opening is provided in the support structure to accommodate a top portion of the electronic component. The electronic component may be protected while it is stored, handled and assembled into a larger system or device, such as a circuit board. The protective device may be used with a variety of electronic components, including components with different leads configurations and also taped components.

Abstract: Circuits having switched capacitors that are implemented with T-structures in which one of the three capacitors in the T-structure is implemented with a buffer amplifier configured to receive a control signal (e.g., a control voltage) and to apply a buffered control signal to an active device having a capacitance that is dependent on the control signal level. In one embodiment, the control signal is a control voltage, the active device is a varactor diode, and the circuit is a ladder filter having one or more switched capacitors, each of which is implemented using the T-structure of the present invention. Under the present invention, continuously tunable circuits can be implemented with discrete elements where the circuits can be tuned by changing the control signal in one or more of the switched capacitors, without having to provide a continuously tunable clock.

Abstract: A fully integrator RF attenuator performs gain control upon a received RF signal without the use of an off-silicon PIN diode. The attenuator includes a T-configuration pad in conjunction with a current source. A direct current signal biases a shunt element in the T-pad. Preferably, a voltage control signal which controls the direct current is generated as a negative feedback signal in proportion to the magnitude of the RF detected at the attenuator output.