BIAS ARRANGEMENT AND APPARATUS
A biasing arrangement for an electronic apparatus having an input device is disclosed. The biasing arrangement comprises a bias voltage generator arranged to provide a bias voltage; a bias resistor connected between the bias voltage generator and the input device; and a reference voltage point of the input device, wherein a voltage of the reference voltage point of the input device is provided to the bias voltage generator for controlling the bias voltage in relation to the voltage of the reference voltage point of the input device. An electronic apparatus is also disclosed.
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The present invention relates to a bias arrangement for an electronic apparatus having an input device, and such an apparatus.
BACKGROUNDInput devices, such as microphones or other devices providing an analog signal sensitive to introduced noise, being connected by wire and relying on an applied bias voltage may face electromagnetic compatibility problems due to loops being formed e.g. by multiple grounding points. In the case of microphones, high currents to other parts of a device may give rise to voltage fluctuations, which can be discovered in the microphone signal as for example low frequency noise, often called “bumble bee” sound. Other problems that may arise in wired connections using a common reference for input and output devices can be echo effects. These effects normally have to be dealt with by well-balanced designs of how wires and components are positioned and circuitry and signal processing for attenuating known noise. WO 02/056511 discloses an approach for dealing with such noise by enabling generation of a replica of periodic interference that is disturbing a desired signal so as to subtract out an estimation of the periodic interference from the infected signal. The signal is bandpass filtered around an expected frequency of the interfering component, and a fundamental frequency thereof may thereafter be ascertained. Harmonics of the fundamental frequency are generated so as to reconstruct an estimate of the interfering component in the frequency domain using determined weights and Fourier series theory. The interfering component estimate is subtracted to form the received signal to determine a desired component estimate. The weights may be optionally adjusted in a feedback loop.
However, there is also a desire to avoid that these interfering effects occur, or at least alleviate occurrence of them.
SUMMARYThe present invention is based on the understanding that at least some of the effects occur due to fluctuations in biasing of input devices, both in sense of a provided biasing voltage, but also in sense of a reference voltage, such as ground or an intermediate reference voltage between a positive and a negative voltage level of a power supply. The present invention is also based on the understanding that provision of several voltage reference points forming conductive loops, which will collect electromagnetic energy, contributes to introduction of noise. The inventors have found that by provision of a floating biasing arrangement, i.e. a biasing arrangement that do not rely on voltage of a grounding point which may provide such a conductive loop or which may experience a fluctuation in voltage relative to a grounding point of the input device, the undesired effects can be alleviated.
According to a first aspect, there is provided a biasing arrangement for an electronic apparatus having an input device, the biasing arrangement comprising a bias voltage generator arranged to provide a bias voltage; a bias resistor connected between the bias voltage generator and the input device; and a reference voltage point of the input device, wherein a voltage of the reference voltage point of the input device is provided to the bias voltage generator for controlling the bias voltage in relation to the voltage of the reference voltage point of the input device.
The reference voltage may be a ground voltage.
The bias voltage generator may comprise an amplifier having its output connected to the bias resistor, its positive input connected to the reference voltage point of the input device; a feedback resistor connected between the output of the amplifier and a negative input of the amplifier; and a current generator connected to the negative input of the amplifier and arranged to drive a current to a negative supply voltage.
The arrangement may comprise a signal output, wherein the biasing resistor and the input device are connected in series between the bias voltage generator output and a reference voltage, and the signal output is connected such that the alternating voltage over the biasing resistor is provided as an output signal.
The input device may comprise a field effect transistor having its drain and source connected to terminals of the analog input arrangement; and a capacitive sensor connected between gate and source of the field effect transistor. The capacitive sensor may be any of a condenser microphone, a microelectromechanical system sensor, and a liquid capacitive inclinometer.
The arrangement may further comprise a transistor connected between the biasing resistor and the input device with the collector of the transistor connected to the biasing resistor, the emitter of the transistor connected to the input device, and the base connected to a voltage for providing a bias point such that a signal swing of the output signal at the connection to the biasing resistor is provided.
The signal output may comprise connections to respective terminals of the biasing resistor, and at least one of the connections comprises a capacitor for alternating current coupling of the output signal.
According to a second aspect, there is provided an electronic apparatus having an input device, and a biasing arrangement, wherein the biasing arrangement comprises a bias voltage generator arranged to provide a bias voltage; a bias resistor connected between the bias voltage generator and the input device; and a reference voltage point of the input device, wherein a voltage of the reference voltage point of the input device is provided to the bias voltage generator for controlling the bias voltage in relation to the voltage of the reference voltage point of the input device.
The reference voltage may be a ground voltage.
The bias voltage generator may comprise an amplifier having its output connected to the bias resistor, its positive input connected to the reference voltage point of the input device; a feedback resistor connected between the output of the amplifier and a negative input of the amplifier; and a current generator connected to the negative input of the amplifier and arranged to drive a current to a negative supply voltage.
The apparatus may comprise a signal output, wherein the biasing resistor and the input device are connected in series between the bias voltage generator output and a reference voltage, and the signal output is connected such that the alternating voltage over the biasing resistor is provided as an output signal.
The input device may comprises a field effect transistor having its drain and source connected to terminals of the analog input arrangement; and a capacitive sensor connected between gate and source of the field effect transistor. The capacitive sensor may be any of a condenser microphone, a microelectromechanical system sensor, and a liquid capacitive inclinometer.
The apparatus may further comprise a transistor connected between the biasing resistor and the input device with the collector of the transistor connected to the biasing resistor, the emitter of the transistor connected to the input device, and the base connected to a voltage for providing a bias point such that a signal swing of the output signal at the connection to the biasing resistor is provided.
The signal output may comprise connections to respective terminals of the biasing resistor, and at least one of the connections comprises a capacitor for alternating current coupling of the output signal.
The input device of the apparatus may comprise a microphone.
The apparatus may comprise a wired connection to the input device which comprises an antenna, wherein the antenna is connected to a radio receiver of the apparatus and separated from an audio input circuitry of the apparatus by a choke coil. The apparatus may further comprising an output device, wherein the reference voltage point is used as reference voltage also for an output device. The output device of the apparatus may comprise at least one speaker. The wired connection to the input device may comprise a connector for detaching the input device from the apparatus.
For biasing, a biasing resistor can be connected to a supply voltage and to an analog input arrangement. The analog input arrangement is traditionally connected to a reference voltage, e.g. ground, such that biasing resistor and the analog input arrangement are connected in series between the supply voltage and the reference voltage. The signal over the analog input arrangement is traditionally connected by a signal output to provide an output signal. The signal output preferably comprises a capacitor for alternating current (AC) coupling of the output signal.
The biasing arrangement 100, which is a part of the electronic apparatus 101, and other circuitry of the electronic apparatus, such as the signal processing circuitry 105, normally has a voltage reference, such as ground 108. The input device 102 is also connected to a reference voltage 109, which is preferred to have the same voltage as the other reference voltage 108 of the electronic apparatus 101. The reference voltage 109, which preferably is arranged close to the input device 102, will give proper protection against electrostatic discharges. However, due to different physical locations of reference voltage points 108, 109, 110, there can be a difference in voltage, normally an alternating difference, which can be modelled as an alternating current voltage source 111 between the reference voltage points 108, 110 and 109, respectively. This will add noise to the signal provided to the signal processing circuitry 105 from the input device 102.
The present invention alleviates this problem by providing a floating bias generator. This can be implemented according to the principles illustrated in
In
The wired connection to the input device can further comprise an antenna, wherein the antenna is connected to a radio receiver 424 of the apparatus 400 and separated from an audio input circuitry 426 of the apparatus 400 by a choke coil 428. The apparatus 400 can further comprise an output device 430, e.g. one or more speakers, which is also connected by wires 406, 407, wherein the ground point 417 is used as reference voltage also for the output device 430. The output device 430 is for example driven by an output signal circuitry 432, which has its output connected to the wire 407. The wired connection to the input device 404, and preferably also the output device 430, can comprise a connector 434 for detaching the input device 404, and preferably also the output device 430, from the apparatus 400, as will be further illustrated below with reference to
The example illustrated in
The example illustrated in
The example illustrated in
The example illustrated in
The example illustrated in
The example illustrated in
The example illustrated in
The example illustrated in
Any unwanted AC components of the supply voltage provided by the biasing arrangement, which ideally should have pure direct current (DC) properties, may propagate through the series coupling, i.e. the input device and the biasing resistor, and the signal output and add noise to the output signal. Below, a few approaches how to cope with such unwanted AC components will be demonstrated.
In the configuration of
The approach is based on the understanding that at least some of the effects occur due to fluctuations in biasing of input devices in sense of a provided biasing voltage. The approach is also based on the understanding that provision of the analog signal output to an amplifier, taken over the high impedance field effect transistor contributes to taking up a considerable amount of the noise, while an analog signal taken over a series resistor, which is also used for the biasing and having a considerable lower impedance than the arrangement with the analog input and the field effect transistor, reduces the noise component provided to the amplifier. The approach can be used as a substitute, or a complement, to the filter demonstrated with reference to
For the embodiments of the approach demonstrated with reference to
The configuration of
The approach demonstrated in
Claims
1. A biasing arrangement for an electronic apparatus having an input device, the biasing arrangement comprising
- a bias voltage generator arranged to provide a bias voltage;
- a bias resistor connected between the bias voltage generator and the input device; and
- a reference voltage point of the input device,
- wherein a voltage of the reference voltage point of the input device is provided to the bias voltage generator for controlling the bias voltage in relation to the voltage of the reference voltage point of the input device.
2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the reference voltage is a ground voltage.
3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the bias voltage generator comprises
- an amplifier having its output connected to the bias resistor, its positive input connected to the reference voltage point of the input device;
- a feedback resistor connected between the output of the amplifier and a negative input of the amplifier; and
- a current generator connected to the negative input of the amplifier and arranged to drive a current to a negative supply voltage.
4. The arrangement according to claim 3, comprising a signal output, wherein the biasing resistor and the input device are connected in series between the bias voltage generator output and a reference voltage, and the signal output is connected such that the alternating voltage over the biasing resistor is provided as an output signal.
5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises
- a field effect transistor having its drain and source connected to terminals of the analog input arrangement; and
- a capacitive sensor connected between gate and source of the field effect transistor.
6. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the capacitive sensor is any of a condenser microphone, a microelectromechanical system sensor, and a liquid capacitive inclinometer.
7. The arrangement according to claim 4, further comprising a transistor connected between the biasing resistor and the input device with the collector of the transistor connected to the biasing resistor, the emitter of the transistor connected to the input device, and the base connected to a voltage for providing a bias point such that a signal swing of the output signal at the connection to the biasing resistor is provided.
8. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the signal output comprises connections to respective terminals of the biasing resistor, and at least one of the connections comprises a capacitor for alternating current coupling of the output signal.
9. An electronic apparatus having an input device, and a biasing arrangement, wherein the biasing arrangement comprises
- a bias voltage generator arranged to provide a bias voltage;
- a bias resistor connected between the bias voltage generator and the input device; and
- a reference voltage point of the input device,
- wherein a voltage of the reference voltage point of the input device is provided to the bias voltage generator for controlling the bias voltage in relation to the voltage of the reference voltage point of the input device.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the reference voltage is a ground voltage.
11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the bias voltage generator comprises
- an amplifier having its output connected to the bias resistor, its positive input connected to the reference voltage point of the input device;
- a feedback resistor connected between the output of the amplifier and a negative input of the amplifier; and
- a current generator connected to the negative input of the amplifier and arranged to drive a current to a negative supply voltage.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, comprising a signal output, wherein the biasing resistor and the input device are connected in series between the bias voltage generator output and a reference voltage, and the signal output is connected such that the alternating voltage over the biasing resistor is provided as an output signal.
13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the input device comprises
- a field effect transistor having its drain and source connected to terminals of the analog input arrangement; and
- a capacitive sensor connected between gate and source of the field effect transistor.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the capacitive sensor is any of a condenser microphone, a microelectromechanical system sensor, and a liquid capacitive inclinometer.
15. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a transistor connected between the biasing resistor and the input device with the collector of the transistor connected to the biasing resistor, the emitter of the transistor connected to the input device, and the base connected to a voltage for providing a bias point such that a signal swing of the output signal at the connection to the biasing resistor is provided.
16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the signal output comprises connections to respective terminals of the biasing resistor, and at least one of the connections comprises a capacitor for alternating current coupling of the output signal.
17. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the input device of the apparatus comprises a microphone.
18. The apparatus according to claim 9, comprising a wired connection to the input device which comprises an antenna, wherein the antenna is connected to a radio receiver of the apparatus and separated from an audio input circuitry of the apparatus by a choke coil.
19. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an output device, wherein the reference voltage point is used as reference voltage also for an output device.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the output device of the apparatus comprises at least one speaker.
21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the wired connection to the input device comprises a connector for detaching the input device from the apparatus.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 7, 2008
Publication Date: Mar 25, 2010
Applicant: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB (Lund)
Inventors: Kaj ULLEN (Bjarred), Peter KORNER (Lund), Magnus BIRCH (Malmo)
Application Number: 12/267,115
International Classification: G05F 1/10 (20060101);