Current Mirror Patents (Class 327/53)
  • Patent number: 11862285
    Abstract: A sense amplifier, a memory and a method for controlling the sense amplifier are provided. The sense amplifier includes: an amplification module configured to read data in a storage unit on a first or second bit line; a control module electrically connected to the amplification module. When data in the storage unit on the first bit line is read, in a first amplification phase of the sense amplifier, the control module configures the amplification module to include a first current mirror structure and connects a mirror terminal of the first current mirror structure to the second bit line; when data in the storage unit on the second bit line is read, in the first amplification phase of the sense amplifier, the control module configures the amplification module to include a second current mirror structure and connects a mirror terminal of the second current mirror structure to the first bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: ANHUI UNIVERSITY, CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Zhiting Lin, Jianqing Li, Jun He, Zhan Ying, Xin Li, Kanyu Cao, Wenjuan Lu, Chunyu Peng, Xiulong Wu, Junning Chen
  • Patent number: 11165456
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology comprise a method and apparatus for a continuous time linear equalizer (CTLE). In various embodiments, the CTLE comprises a cross-coupled transistor pair that operates as a negative impedance converter. The CTLE produces a transfer function that provides high gain peaking at a high frequency without increasing the size of the die area and/or the power supply level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Phuc Cong Pham, Hieu Nguyen, Rod J. Comer
  • Patent number: 11121677
    Abstract: Provided in the present invention is a transconductance amplifier based on a self-biased cascode structure. The transconductance amplifier includes a self-biased cascode input-stage structure constituted by PMOS (P-channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor) input transistors M1, M2, M3 and M4, a self-biased cascode first-stage load structure constituted by NMOS (N-channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistors M5, M6, M7 and M8, a second-stage common-source amplifier structure constituted by an NMOS transistor M9 and a PMOS transistor M10, a bias circuit structure constituted by NMOS transistors M11 and M12 and a PMOS transistor M13, an amplifier compensation capacitor Cc, an amplifier load capacitor CL, a reference current source Iref and a PMOS transistor M0 that provides a constant current source function. Further provided in the present invention is a transconductance amplifier based on a self-biased cascode structure, which adopts an NMOS transistor as an input transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: CHINA ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, 24TH RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Daiguo Xu, Gangyi Hu, Ruzhang Li, Jian'an Wang, Guangbing Chen, Yuxin Wang, Tao Liu, Lu Liu, Minming Deng, Hanfu Shi, Xu Wang
  • Patent number: 10928425
    Abstract: A current monitoring circuit includes: an output terminal configured to be coupled to a controller; an inverter having an output coupled to the output terminal; a first transconductance amplifier having first and second inputs configured to be coupled across a sense resistive element, and an output coupled to an input of the inverter; and a current generator having a second transconductance amplifier configured to generate a reference current at an output of the current generator based on a reference voltage, the output of the current generator being coupled to the input of the inverter, where the output of the inverter is configured to be in a first state when a load current flowing through the sense resistive element is higher than a predetermined threshold, and in a second state when the load current is lower than the predetermined threshold, and where the predetermined threshold is based on the reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Valerio Lo Muzzo, Alberto Gussoni, Ambrogio Bogani, Fabrizio Martignoni, Mattia Fausto Moretti
  • Patent number: 10783066
    Abstract: A test system accesses a test script. The test script is to test an application at a target screen resolution. The test system tests the application using the test script, and a current screen resolution of the test system is different from the target screen resolution. In the test, the test system initializes a system web browser to run the application, and in the test, the test system overwrites a size parameter of the system web browser to cause a content window of the system web browser to display application content at the target screen resolution instead of the current screen resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: MICRO FOCUS LLC
    Inventors: Eyal Jakov, Moshe Eran Kraus, Shlomi Nissim
  • Patent number: 10574221
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a comparator, an integrated circuit, and a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 10516955
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for correcting a current measurement through a speaker in an audio system. In one example, a system for driving a speaker includes an output stage configured to drive a current through the speaker. The system further includes a first and second current sensor coupled to the output stage and configured to measure a positive current including a first measurement error and a negative current including a second measurement error through the speaker, respectively. The system further includes a processing block coupled to the first and second current sensors to receive the measured positive and negative current signals and configured to add a positive offset value to an input of each first and second current sensors, determine the first and second measurement errors, and correct a measured current using the positive and negative currents and the determined first and second measurement errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Dan Shen, Davide Cartasegna, Ketan B. Patel, Lorenzo Crespi
  • Patent number: 10312872
    Abstract: Shoot-through condition in a component containing an amplifier with a push-pull output stage is managed. A first current in a first transistor of the output stage is mirrored to generate a first mirrored current. A second current in a second transistor of the output stage is mirrored to generate a second mirrored current. A sum of the first mirrored current and said second mirrored current is generated. When a magnitude of the sum exceeds a first pre-determined threshold, a respective control voltage of the first transistor and the second transistor is adjusted to reduce the first current and the second current at least until the sum falls below a second pre-determined threshold. In an embodiment, the first pre-determined threshold equals the second pre-determined threshold. In an embodiment, the component is a class-L power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Aura Semiconductor Pvt. Ltd
    Inventors: Arnold J D'Souza, Shyam Somayajula
  • Patent number: 10230361
    Abstract: A comparator circuit has a sense amplifier with a differential pair, a voltage excursion limiter, and a switch. The differential pair receives two analog input signals. Its differential outputs operate at a common mode voltage approximately half the supply voltage. The voltage limiter is coupled with one of the differential pair outputs. A capacitor may store comparison results. The switch energizes the differential pair and the voltage excursion limiter during a first phase of a clock, and de-energizes them during a second phase of the clock. During this phase, the comparator may provide the stored comparison result to an amplifier with positive feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Inventors: Julian Jenkins, Timothy Robins
  • Patent number: 10224906
    Abstract: A hysteresis comparator that has a small circuit area and low power consumption is provided. A differential pair in the comparator is formed using transistors each including a back gate. The comparator is configured to apply an inverted signal of a logic value of an output signal of the comparator to the back gate of the transistor. That is, the threshold voltage of the transistor is controlled by the inverted signal. By the change of the threshold voltage, hysteresis can be added to an input comparison voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Roh Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9916883
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first and second reference cells and a current sense amplifier. The first and second reference cells are configured to store a first and a second logic values, respectively. The current sense amplifier is configured to couple the first reference cell to a first node of the current sense amplifier, and couple the second reference cell to a second node of the current sense amplifier for reading bits stored in the first reference cell and the second reference cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Sergiy Romanovskyy
  • Patent number: 9613672
    Abstract: A circuit includes first and second reference cells and a current sense amplifier. The first and second reference cells are configured to store opposite logic values, respectively. The current sense amplifier is configured with a first node and a second node for currents therethrough to be compared with each other. The current sense amplifier includes a multiplexer configured to couple the first reference cell or the second reference cell to the first node of the current sense amplifier, and couple the second reference cell or the first reference cell to the second node of the current sense amplifier for reading bits stored in the first reference cell and the second reference cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Sergiy Romanovskyy
  • Patent number: 9589662
    Abstract: A resistive memory device includes a resistive memory cell whose resistance value varies based on a logic value of data stored therein, a current amplification block suitable for amplifying a current flowing through the resistive memory cell by N times, where N is a natural number greater than 1, and a sensing block suitable for sensing the data based on the amplified current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Yeon-Uk Kim
  • Patent number: 9564882
    Abstract: A voltage level shifting circuit with an input terminal and an output terminal. The level shifting circuit has a field-effect transistor (FET) switch with a gate attached to the input terminal, a drain attached to the output terminal and a source attached to a current changing mechanism. The current changing mechanism includes a current mirror circuit having an output connected between the source and an electrical earth. The output of the current mirror circuit is preferably adapted to change a current flowing between the drain and the source based on an input voltage applied to the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Meir Gazit
  • Patent number: 9478302
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a first resistive memory cell connected to a first word line, a second resistive memory cell connected to a second word line that is different from the first word line, a clamping unit connected between a sensing node and the first resistive memory cell to provide a clamping bias to the first resistive memory cell, a reference current supplying unit connected to the second resistive memory cell to supply a reference current, and a sense amplifier connected to the sensing node to sense a level change of the sensing node, wherein when the first word line is enabled, the second word line is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mu-Hui Park
  • Patent number: 9368178
    Abstract: A resistive memory device may include first and second resistive memory cells, a reference current generator, and first and second bitline sense amplifiers. The reference current generator may be configured to apply the first and second reference currents to a first common node. A total reference current of the first reference current and the second reference current provided to the first common node may be divided into a first sensing current and a second sensing current by the first common node. The first and second sensing currents may be provided to the first and second bitline sense amplifiers by the first common node, respectively. The first and second bitline sense amplifiers may be configured to sense first data of the first resistive memory cell and second data of the second resistive memory cell based on the first and second sensing currents, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chan-Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 9356408
    Abstract: An electronic device can be configured to support a port that connects to a plug or jack such that the face of the port is substantially equal to or greater in size than at least one dimension of the electronic device. The electronic device can then continue to support connections to peripheral devices and other devices having plugs and jacks of various sizes, and the electronic device is not necessarily limited to a certain depth or thickness. This can be achieved by electronic devices that incorporate adaptive or extensible ports that are retracted in one state and extended in a second state to support the plugs or jacks such that the face of the port substantially meets or exceeds at least one dimension of the electronic device. Alternatively, or in addition, other embodiments can incorporate resilient materials for certain portions of the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Howard Biddle, Christopher Green
  • Patent number: 9343146
    Abstract: Memory apparatuses and methods for low power current mode sense amplification are disclosed. An example memory apparatus may include a current mode sense amplifier and a current circuit. The current mode sense amplifier may be configured to provide an output current. The current circuit may comprise a bias generator that is configured to generate a bias signal as well as a current control circuit coupled to both the current mode sense amplifier and the bias generator. The current control circuit may be configured to receive both the output current and the bias signal and control the output current based, at least in part, on the bias signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Seong-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 9252663
    Abstract: An output voltage is compared to a reference voltage, comparison signals are generated, and control signals and mode signals are generated in response thereto. The output voltage is generated in response to the control signals. A speed of the comparing is increased in response to the mode signals indicating that the output voltage is being increased. The speed is reduced in response to the mode signals indicating that the output voltage is being reduced. For increasing the speed, a path is enabled to conduct current. While the path is enabled, at least one switched voltage is connected to vary an amount of the current conducted through the path. The switched voltage is at least one of the reference voltage and the output voltage. For reducing the speed, the path is disabled against conducting current. While the path is disabled, the switched voltage is disconnected from varying the amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Wei Fu, Karan Singh Bhatia, Siang Tong Tan
  • Patent number: 9230631
    Abstract: A circuit includes a cell segment, first and second reference cells, and a current sense amplifier. The first and second reference cells are configured to store opposite logic values, respectively. The current sense amplifier is configured with a first node and a second node for currents therethrough to be compared with each other. The current sense amplifier includes a multiplexer configured to couple the first reference cell or the second reference cell to the first node of the current sense amplifier, and couple the second reference cell or the first reference cell to the second node of the current sense amplifier in a first mode, and couple a cell of the cell segment to the first node of the current sense amplifier, and couple the first and second reference cells to the second node of the current sense amplifier in a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Sergiy Romanovskyy
  • Patent number: 9231789
    Abstract: In various embodiments a transmitter circuit may include a first circuit configured to transmit data in a first data transmission mode, a second circuit configured to transmit data in a second data transmission mode and a switching circuit configured to control the first circuit and the second circuit to transmit data in the first data transmission mode or in the second data transmission mode. Further, a corresponding method for operating the transmitter circuit is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Magnus-Maria Hell
  • Patent number: 9197453
    Abstract: In various embodiments a transmitter circuit may include a first circuit configured to transmit data in a first data transmission mode, a second circuit configured to transmit data in a second data transmission mode and a switching circuit configured to control the first circuit and the second circuit to transmit data in the first data transmission mode or in the second data transmission mode. Further, a corresponding method for operating the transmitter circuit is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Magnus-Maria Hell
  • Patent number: 9177671
    Abstract: A memory that may allow for the detection of weak data storage cells may include data storage cells, a column multiplexer, a sense amplifier, and a load circuit. The load circuit may include one or more capacitive loads and may be operable to controllably select one or more of the capacitive loads to couple to the input of the sense amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Seningen, Michael E. Runas
  • Patent number: 9059594
    Abstract: A battery switching charger includes a PWM signal generator, a switching circuit, an inductor, a resistor and an analog-to-digital converter. The PWM signal generator is utilized for generating a PWM signal. The switching circuit includes cascoded transistors controlled by the PWM signal for generating an output voltage. The inductor is utilized for receiving the output voltage. The resistor is coupled between the inductor and a charge terminal of the battery switching charger, where the charge terminal is connected to a battery when the battery is being charged by the battery switching charger. The analog-to-digital converter is coupled to the PWM signal generator and the resistor, and is utilized for receiving voltages of two terminals of the resistor to generate control data to the PWM signal generator. In addition, the PWM signal generator adjusts a duty cycle of the PWM signal according to the control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Energy Pass Incorporation
    Inventor: Chao-Hsuan Liu
  • Patent number: 8952728
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to reduce the power consumption of a semiconductor device that requires a plurality of reference potentials and a method of driving the semiconductor device. Disclosed is a semiconductor device having a potential divider circuit in which a potential supplied to a power supply line is resistively divided by resistors connected in series to the power supply line so that a desired potential is output through a switch transistor electrically connected to the power supply line. A drain terminal of the switch transistor is electrically connected to a gate terminal of a transistor provided in a circuit on the output side (or to one terminal of a capacitor) to form a node. The switch transistor has an off current low enough to hold the desired voltage in the node even when the potential is no more supplied to the power supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiya Takewaki, Yutaka Shionoiri, Koichiro Kamata
  • Patent number: 8901966
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor circuit which can amplify a sensor signal at high speed and with a high amplification factor without increasing the current consumption. The sensor circuit includes a primary amplifier for amplifying in advance a differential output signal which is a current signal of a sensor element, a secondary amplifier for amplifying the amplified differential output signal, a constant voltage generating circuit for maintaining a sensor element driving current to be constant, and a feedback circuit for feeding back a feedback signal to adjust an amplification factor. Most of the currents which pass through the primary amplifier are bias currents of the sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20140300388
    Abstract: A switching circuit includes a first input stage having an input for receiving a first input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving an increasing analog current, a second input stage having an input for receiving a second input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving a decreasing analog current, and an output node coupled to the outputs of the first input stage and the second input stage for providing a switched output signal. An output stage is coupled between the first and second input stages and the output node. The first and second input stages are operational amplifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Min CHEN, Wen LIU, HongXia LI, XiaoWu DAI
  • Patent number: 8854084
    Abstract: A sense amplifier according to the present invention for detecting a potential difference of signals input to a first input terminal and a second input terminal, includes a first means for applying voltages corresponding to threshold voltages of first and second transistors to gate-source voltages of the first and second transistors, and a second means for transferring signals input to the first and second input terminals to gates of the first and second transistors. In this case, a threshold variation of the first and second transistors is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shionoiri, Kiyoshi Kato, Munehiro Azami
  • Publication number: 20140269834
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement may include: a first bipolar transistor; a second bipolar transistor; wherein the circuit arrangement is configured to provide a first current flowing through the first bipolar transistor and a second current flowing through the second bipolar transistor; a resistor connected between a first input of the first bipolar transistor and a first input of the second bipolar transistor; a first circuit configured to provide a first current flowing through the resistor to a first input node of the first bipolar transistor, and a second circuit configured to provide a reference current to the first input node of the first bipolar transistor, wherein the first current and the reference current have different temperature dependencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Matthias Eberlein
  • Patent number: 8816987
    Abstract: A method and device for signal detection is disclosed. At least one detection period is predefined for detecting a signal of a signal source, a differential signal of a pair of signal sources, or a dual-differential signal of three signal sources during at least one clock cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Egalax—Empia Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Chin-Fu Chang, Cheng-Han Lee, Chi-Hao Tang, Shun-Lung Ho
  • Patent number: 8810281
    Abstract: Sense amplifiers including bias circuits are described. Examples include bias circuits having an adjustable width transistor. A loop gain of the bias circuit may be determined in part by the adjustable width of the transistor. Examples of sense amplifiers including amplifier stages configured to bias an input/output node to a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Seong-Hoon Lee
  • Publication number: 20140225649
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor circuit which can amplify a sensor signal at high speed and with a high amplification factor without increasing the current consumption. The sensor circuit includes a primary amplifier for amplifying in advance a differential output signal which is a current signal of a sensor element, a secondary amplifier for amplifying the amplified differential output signal, a constant voltage generating circuit for maintaining a sensor element driving current to be constant, and a feedback circuit for feeding back a feedback signal to adjust an amplification factor. Most of the currents which pass through the primary amplifier are bias currents of the sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi YOSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8779801
    Abstract: A switching circuit includes a first input stage having an input for receiving a first input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving an increasing analog current, a second input stage having an input for receiving a second input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving a decreasing analog current, and an output node coupled to the outputs of the first input stage and the second input stage for providing a switched output signal. An output stage is coupled between the first and second input stages and the output node. The first and second input stages are operational amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Chen, Wen Liu, HongXia Li, XiaoWu Dai
  • Patent number: 8723594
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes: a first transistor controlled by a control signal; a sense voltage generating circuit for sensing current flowing through the first transistor, mirroring current flowing through a reference current circuit, and summing the currents to generate voltage based on the summed currents; a reference voltage circuit for mirroring current flowing through the reference current circuit and generating reference voltage; an amplifier for comparing the voltage generated by the sense voltage generating circuit and the reference voltage; and a second transistor which has a gate connected to an output terminal of the amplifier and which can turn off the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Kaoru Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 8575969
    Abstract: A semiconductor device configured that its differential pair is made operable in both states of high speed with a high consumption current and low speed with a low consumption current. A differential circuit includes differential pair transistors and a tail current source for supplying a tail current that is switchable so that an amount of current flowing in the differential pair transistors may be switched between at least two sates of different levels. The differential pair transistors have a characteristic that, with a decrease of currents flowing in the differential pair transistors, a value of ?(?I/gm) decreases monotonously, where ? denotes a standard deviation, ?I denotes a difference of the amounts of current of the differential pair transistors, and gm denotes transconductance of the differential pair transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyohiko Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 8575977
    Abstract: A comparator is disclosed. The comparator includes a mirror circuit that is electrically coupled to a first voltage source and a second voltage source. The first voltage source produces a first voltage and the second voltage source produces a second voltage. The comparator also includes a first positive metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor electrically coupled to the first voltage source and an output terminal. The first PMOS transistor is biased by the mirror circuit. The comparator also includes a first negative metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) that is electrically coupled to a ground terminal and the output terminal. The first NMOS transistor is also biased by the mirror circuit. An electrical current flowing across the first NMOS transistor is mirrored from an electrical current flowing through the first PMOS transistor. A method to operate the comparator and a comparator system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Justin Jon Philpott, Arvind Sherigar, Jeffery Chow, Ping-Chen Liu
  • Publication number: 20130257483
    Abstract: Sense amplifier-type latch circuits are provided which employ static bias currents for enhancing operating frequency. For example, a sense amplifier-type latch circuit includes a latch circuit that captures and stores data during an evaluation phase of the sense amplifier-type latch circuit, and outputs the stored data to differential output nodes. An input differential transistor pair has drains connected to the latch circuit and sources commonly connected to a coupled source node. A static bias current circuit is connected to the coupled source node to provide a static bias current which flows through the differential transistor pair and cross-coupled inverters of the latch during a precharge phase. A switch device, which is connected to the coupled source node, is turned off during the precharge phase and turned on during the evaluation phase by operation of a clock signal to increase current flow through the differential transistor pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John F. Bulzacchelli
  • Publication number: 20130249599
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes: a first transistor controlled by a control signal; a sense voltage generating circuit for sensing current flowing through the first transistor, mirroring current flowing through a reference current circuit, and summing the currents to generate voltage based on the summed currents; a reference voltage circuit for mirroring current flowing through the reference current circuit and generating reference voltage; an amplifier for comparing the voltage generated by the sense voltage generating circuit and the reference voltage; and a second transistor which has a gate connected to an output terminal of the amplifier and which can turn off the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Kaoru SAKAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20130187681
    Abstract: A switching circuit includes a first input stage having an input for receiving a first input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving an increasing analog current, a second input stage having an input for receiving a second input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving a decreasing analog current, and an output node coupled to the outputs of the first input stage and the second input stage for providing a switched output signal. An output stage is coupled between the first and second input stages and the output node. The first and second input stages are operational amplifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) R&D CO. LTD.
    Inventor: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8472552
    Abstract: A digital linear transmitter for digital to analog conversion of a radio frequency signal. The transmitter includes a delta sigma (??) digital to analog converter (DAC) and a weighted signal digital to analog converter in the transmit path of a wireless device to reduce reliance on relatively large analog components. The ?? DAC converts the lowest significant bits of the oversampled signal while the weighted signal digital to analog converter converts the highest significant bits of the oversampled signal. The transmitter core includes components for providing an oversampled modulated digital signal which is then subjected to first order filtering of the oversampled signal prior to generating a corresponding analog signal. The apparatus and method reduces analog components and increases digital components in transmitter core architecture of wireless RF devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Icera, Inc.
    Inventors: Tajinder Manku, Abdellatif Bellaouar
  • Publication number: 20130148432
    Abstract: A sense amplifier includes a sense input node, a current mirror circuit to mirror the current on the sense input node, and a result output node. A current source supplies an offset current. The sense amplifier increases the current on the sense input node by the offset current and reduces the offset current from the mirrored current at the result output node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erwin Castillon, Uday Mudumba
  • Patent number: 8456337
    Abstract: A system to interface analog-to-digital converters to inputs with arbitrary common-modes includes a common-mode voltage amplifier circuit and a PGA circuit connected to the common-mode voltage amplifier circuit. The common-mode voltage amplifier and PGA circuits receive first and second analog input signals. The PGA circuit eliminates the arbitrary common-modes from the first and second analog input signals based on an output of the common-mode voltage amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Siddhartha Gopal Krishna
  • Patent number: 8446178
    Abstract: A comparator includes: a pre-amplification module, configured to generate two amplified differential signal reference currents according to an input voltage and a reference voltage; and a differential signal obtaining module, configured to obtain a differential signal according to the two amplified differential signal reference currents. The pre-amplification module includes a differential unit, an offset unit, and an amplification unit, where the differential unit is configured to generate two direct current bias currents according to the input voltage and the reference voltage; the offset unit is configured to generate an offset current of the two direct current bias currents according to the input voltage and the reference voltage, so as to reduce magnitude of the two direct current bias currents and obtain two differential signal reference currents; the amplification unit is configured to receive the two differential signal reference currents, and amplify the two differential signal reference currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shifu Pang, Ding Li
  • Publication number: 20130010560
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first node, a second node, a first current mirror circuit, and a second current minor circuit. The first current mirror circuit has a reference end and a mirrored end. The reference end of the first current minor circuit is coupled to the first node, and the mirrored end of the first current minor circuit is coupled to the second node. The second current minor circuit has a reference end and a mirrored end. The reference end of the second current minor circuit is coupled to the second node, and the mirrored end of the second current minor circuit is coupled to the first node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Ji LU, Hung-Jen LIAO, Cheng Hung LEE, Derek C. TAO, Annie-Li-Keow LUM, Hong-Chen CHENG
  • Publication number: 20120249098
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first resistor, a second resistor, a voltage follower and a current mirror. The first resistor converts a current flowing through the first resistor to a voltage drop between positive and negative sides of the first resistor. The second resistor is coupled to the negative side of the first resistor. The voltage follower is coupled to the positive side of the first resistor via a non-inverting terminal, and coupled to the negative side of the first resistor through the second resistor via an inverting terminal to cause a voltage at the inverting terminal to follow a voltage at the non-inverting terminal. The current mirror is coupled to the voltage follower to provide a sensing current proportional to the current flowing through the first resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: O2Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: Serban Mihai POPESCU, Cristian ANDREEV
  • Publication number: 20120235708
    Abstract: A sense amplifier may be operable to form a current-mirror reference using a first PMOS transistor and a NMOS transistor. Currents at a first internal terminal and a second internal terminal may be generated based on the current-mirror reference. Voltage signals at the first internal terminal and the second internal terminal may be generated based on received differential input signals and the currents at the first internal terminal and the second internal terminal. The sense amplifier may limit voltage excursions of the voltage signals at the first internal terminal and/or of the second internal terminal using a pair of cross coupled PMOS transistors, respectively. Voltage signals at a third internal terminal and a fourth internal terminal may be generated based on voltage signals at the first internal terminal and the second internal terminal. An output signal may be generated based on the voltage signal at the fourth internal terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Mark Slamowitz
  • Patent number: 8188768
    Abstract: The present invention is directed for a comparator circuit used in an analog-to-digital converter, and more particularly, for a low power consumption low kick-back noise comparator circuit for an analog-to-digital converter, which can significantly reduce kick-back noise generated in a signal input stage due to a signal regeneration method employed in a signal comparing operation and can efficiently reduce power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Postech Academy-Industry Foundation
    Inventors: Jun Hyun Bae, Hong June Park
  • Patent number: 8149018
    Abstract: A sense amplifier according to the present invention for detecting a potential difference of signals input to a first input terminal and a second input terminal, includes a first means for applying voltages corresponding to threshold voltages of first and second transistors to gate-source voltages of the first and second transistors, and a second means for transferring signals input to the first and second input terminals to gates of the first and second transistors. In this case, a threshold variation of the first and second transistors is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shionoiri, Kiyoshi Kato, Munehiro Azami
  • Patent number: 8058908
    Abstract: A level detector, a voltage generator, and a semiconductor device are provided. The voltage generator includes a level detector that senses the level of an output voltage to output a sensing signal and a voltage generating unit that generates the output voltage in response to the sensing signal. The level detector may include a first reference voltage generator configured to divide a first voltage and to output a first reference voltage, a second reference voltage generator configured to divide a second voltage in response to the output voltage and to output a second reference voltage that varies as a function of temperature, and a differential amplifier configured to receive the first and second reference voltages and to output a sensing signal in response to a sensing voltage generated by amplifying a difference between the first and second reference voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Whi-Young Bae, Byung-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 8018253
    Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit is provided with a first transistor arrangement comprising a first n-type field effect transistor (NFET) having a respective body node, and a second transistor arrangement comprising a second NFET having a respective body node. The second transistor arrangement is electrically coupled to the first transistor arrangement, and the body node of the first NFET is electrically coupled to the body node of the second NFET. The sense amplifier circuit also includes or cooperates with a voltage condition selector that is electrically coupled to the body node of the first NFET and to the body node of the second NFET. The voltage condition selector is configured to assert one of a plurality of voltage conditions at the body node of the first NFET and at the body node of the second NFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Schreiber, Keith Kasprak