Abstract: A current switcher including: a positive supply bus and a negative supply bus; a floating-output current amplifier configured to make flow, as an output, an intermediate current dependent on a flowing setpoint current implied as an input; at least one anodic reference dipole connected between the positive supply bus and the floating-output current amplifier; at least one cathodic reference dipole connected between the floating-output current amplifier and the negative supply bus; and at least two stimulation bridges, each stimulation bridge including an anodic current source and a cathodic current source each configured to copy the intermediate current.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy converter for converting energy received from at least one energy source, wherein the at least one energy source includes a first photovoltaic generator, wherein the energy converter is configured to be connected to a second photovoltaic generator; the energy converter further includes a sensing unit configured to sense an open circuit voltage (VPVSS) of the second photovoltaic generator; and the energy converter is configured to convert energy received from the first photovoltaic generator based on the open voltage circuit sensed by the sensing unit. Moreover, the present invention relates to an energy conversion and storage system including the energy converter and least one energy storage element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy converter for converting energy received from at least one energy source, wherein the at least one energy source includes a first photovoltaic generator, wherein the energy converter is configured to be connected to a second photovoltaic generator; the energy converter further includes a sensing unit configured to sense an open circuit voltage (VPVSS) of the second photovoltaic generator; and the energy converter is configured to convert energy received from the first photovoltaic generator based on the open voltage circuit sensed by the sensing unit. Moreover, the present invention relates to an energy conversion and storage system including the energy converter and least one energy storage element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy converter for converting energy received from at least one energy source, wherein the at least one energy source includes a first photovoltaic generator, wherein the energy converter is configured to be connected to a second photovoltaic generator; the energy converter further includes a sensing unit configured to sense an open circuit voltage (VPVSS) of the second photovoltaic generator; and the energy converter is configured to convert energy received from the first photovoltaic generator based on the open voltage circuit sensed by the sensing unit. Moreover, the present invention relates to an energy conversion and storage system including the energy converter and least one energy storage element.

Abstract: A fast power switch comprises one or more field-effect transistors, such as pull-up and pull-down transistors, that are coupled to a load. Respective driver electronic circuits for each of the field-effect transistors include parallel first and second drivers with a shared driver output coupled to a gate of the field-effect transistor. The first and second drivers are operative to switch the shared driver output for the appropriate field-effect transistor in response to a transition (e.g., low-to-high or high-to-low) at a driver input terminal. A control circuit enables the stronger second driver in response to a transition at the driver input terminal and subsequently disables the second driver once a transition threshold at the gate of the field-effect transistor(s) is crossed. The weaker first driver is sized to damp reactive energy at the load to minimize ringing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for providing power to a radio-frequency (RF) component capable of operating under multiple communication standards, wherein each standard has a respective operating frequency. The method includes: receiving a communication standard signal indicative of which of the multiple communication standards the RF component is currently operating under; selecting a frequency for a power converter system in response to the communication standard signal, wherein the selected frequency is higher than a baseband frequency of the current communication standard for the RF component; generating an oscillation signal having the selected frequency; and operating the power converter system with the oscillation signal having the selected frequency to provide power to the RF component, wherein the operation of the power converter system causes minimal interference with the RF component operating under the current communication standard.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for providing power to a radio-frequency (RF) component capable of operating under multiple communication standards, wherein each standard has a respective operating frequency.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for providing power to a radio-frequency (RF) component capable of operating under multiple communication standards, wherein each standard has a respective operating frequency.

Abstract: A differential threshold voltage level detection circuit receives a differential voltage pair as an input, applying each component of the differential pair to an individual voltage shifting circuit. Each voltage shifting circuit is configured with a regulated current producing a shifted and a non-shifted version in-phase. For a shifted set of output differential voltages, the shift magnitude is proportional to the current entering a shifting circuit and is configured to be less than a peak-to-peak magnitude of the differential voltage to be detected. A current mirror within the detector contains a current reference configured to produce a current to be passed through a voltage generator. The current magnitude is sufficient to generate a regulated voltage output to the two current regulating devices that supply the voltage shifting circuits. An overlap detector receiving both differential voltage pairs produces a signal indicating an input is at a detection threshold.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for providing power to a radio-frequency (RF) component capable of operating under multiple communication standards, wherein each standard has a respective operating frequency.

Abstract: A multi-phase realigned voltage-controlled oscillator (MRVCO) achieves phase realignment based on charge injection in the VCO stages. The individual VCO stages provide an oscillating output signals having an asymmetric waveform with substantially different rise and fall times. This ensures that the VCO as a whole has a multiphase impulse response to the charge injection that is strictly positive or strictly negative, and substantially constant so as to be independent of the VCO phase or timing of charge injection. The MRVCO may form a component part of an implementation of a multi-phase realigned phase-locked loop (MRPLL).

Abstract: A differential threshold voltage level detection circuit receives a differential voltage pair as an input, applying each component of the differential pair to an individual voltage shifting circuit. Each voltage shifting circuit is configured with a regulated current producing a shifted and a non-shifted version in-phase. For a shifted set of output differential voltages, the shift magnitude is proportional to the current entering a shifting circuit and is configured to be less than a peak-to-peak magnitude of the differential voltage to be detected. A current mirror within the detector contains a current reference configured to produce a current to be passed through a voltage generator. The current magnitude is sufficient to generate a regulated voltage output to the two current regulating devices that supply the voltage shifting circuits. An overlap detector receiving both differential voltage pairs produces a signal indicating an input is at a detection threshold.

Abstract: A differential threshold voltage level detection circuit receives a differential voltage pair as an input, applying each component of the differential pair to an individual voltage shifting circuit. Each voltage shifting circuit is configured with a regulated current producing a shifted and a non-shifted version in-phase. For a shifted set of output differential voltages, the shift magnitude is proportional to the current entering a shifting circuit and is configured to be less than a peak-to-peak magnitude of the differential voltage to be detected. A current mirror within the detector contains a current reference configured to produce a current to be passed through a voltage generator. The current magnitude is sufficient to generate a regulated voltage output to the two current regulating devices that supply the voltage shifting circuits. An overlap detector receiving both differential voltage pairs produces a signal indicating an input is at a detection threshold.

Abstract: A multi-phase realigned voltage-controlled oscillator (MRVCO) achieves phase realignment based on charge injection in the VCO stages. The individual VCO stages provide an oscillating output signals having an asymmetric waveform with substantially different rise and fall times. This ensures that the VCO as a whole has a multiphase impulse response to the charge injection that is strictly positive or strictly negative, and substantially constant so as to be independent of the VCO phase or timing of charge injection. The MRVCO may form a component part of an implementation of a multi-phase realigned phase-locked loop (MRPLL).

Abstract: A multi-phase realigned voltage-controlled oscillator (MRVCO) achieves phase realignment based on charge injection in the VCO stages with the injection amount proportional to the instantaneous phase error between the VCO output clock and a reference clock. The MRVCO may be incorporated as part of an implementation of a multi-phase realigned phase-locked loop (MRPLL). A separate phase detector, as well as a specific realignment charge pump, may be provided in the PLL for controlling the VCO. The VCO has lower phase modulation noise, so that the PLL has very large equivalent bandwidth.

Abstract: A multi-phase realigned voltage-controlled oscillator (MRVCO) achieves phase realignment based on charge injection in the VCO stages with the injection amount proportional to the instantaneous phase error between the VCO output clock and a reference clock. The MRVCO may be incorporated as part of an implementation of a multi-phase realigned phase-locked loop (MRPLL). A separate phase detector, as well as a specific realignment charge pump, may be provided in the PLL for controlling the VCO. The VCO has lower phase modulation noise, so that the PLL has very large equivalent bandwidth.

Abstract: A differential threshold voltage level detection circuit receives a differential voltage pair as an input, applying each component of the differential pair to an individual voltage shifting circuit. Each voltage shifting circuit is configured with a regulated current producing a shifted and a non-shifted version in-phase. For a shifted set of output differential voltages, the shift magnitude is proportional to the current entering a shifting circuit and is configured to be less than a peak-to-peak magnitude of the differential voltage to be detected. A current mirror within the detector contains a current reference configured to produce a current to be passed through a voltage generator. The current magnitude is sufficient to generate a regulated voltage output to the two current regulating devices that supply the voltage shifting circuits. An overlap detector receiving both differential voltage pairs produces a signal indicating an input is at a detection threshold.

Abstract: An electrical sampler device has a plurality of samplers for sampling an electrical signal. Each of the samplers is responsive to a corresponding sampling point. The electrical sampler device also has a propagation line coupled to each of the plurality of samplers, for propagating a sampling signal. One or more delay elements are coupled to the propagation line. The delay means elements delay the propagation of the sampling signal between two neighboring samplers.