Lowpass Patents (Class 327/558)
  • Patent number: 7425863
    Abstract: A low pass filter includes a switchable resistor bank, a gain stage, and a capacitor bank. The resistors and capacitors switched into the circuit determine a cutoff frequency of the low pass filter. Frequency programmability may be obtained using the switchable resistor bank implemented as a parallel bank of binary weighted resistors. Further frequency programmability may be obtained using the switchable capacitor bank in conjunction with the switchable resistor bank. The resistor and capacitor processes in a semiconductor wafer are sufficiently accurate and repeatable so as to minimize any necessary calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Francesco Gatta, Rajeshmohan Radhamohan
  • Patent number: 7423474
    Abstract: A current mirror with selectable filter poles provides a selected low pass filtering function to a DC bias signal generated by the current mirror. Coupled between a first MOSFET and second MOSFET of the current mirror, a low pass filter with selectable filter poles comprises a plurality of resistor-configured MOSFETs coupled to at least one capacitor-configured MOSFET to provide one of a fast settle time and improved filtering for the current mirror in one embodiment of the invention. A first resistor-configured MOSFETs, biased by logic and bias circuitry, provides a low frequency filter pole that provides an improved filtering for the current mirror. A second resistor-configured MOSFET provides a high frequency filter pole that provides a fast charge time to meet a settle time requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Arya Reza Behzad, Keith A. Carter
  • Publication number: 20080204129
    Abstract: The Sallen-Key low-pass filter circuit comprises a first resistor (16) and a second resistor (18) connected in series, the first resistor (16) being connected between the second resistor and an input of the circuit. The second resistor (18) is directly connected between the first resistor and an output of the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Nguyen-Trieu-Luan Le, David Le Deaut
  • Patent number: 7414461
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed that compensates for the non-linearity of a current mode real pole producing circuit used to generate poles and zeros in complex filter circuits. The non-linearity of the prior art is compensated by driving one end of the primary pole producing capacitor with a signal derived from the drain current and fed back so as to counteract the non-linearity factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Burton DeVolk
  • Publication number: 20080191759
    Abstract: A loop filter includes an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal for a selection signal. At least one low pass filter is disposed between that input terminal and that output terminal. The loop filter is adapted to select a configuration out of a first configuration and at least one second configuration in response to the selection signal. In the first configuration, the loop filter comprises a non-integrating transfer characteristic in operation. In the second configuration, the loop filter comprises an integrating signal transfer characteristic in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Burkhard Neurauter, Harald Pretl, Rastislav Vazny, Thomas Greifeneder
  • Publication number: 20080180165
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for reducing noise in a capacitive sensor (200). One apparatus includes a gain stage (210) including an output, the gain stage configured to generate a first signal having a noise component and a second signal having a desired output component and the noise component, and a filtered-sampling stage (250) having an input coupled to the gain stage output, the filtered-sampling stage configured to sample the first signal, store the first signal, and subtract the first signal from the second signal to produce a desired output signal. A method includes generating a first signal having a first noise component of the gain stage (710), storing the first signal (725), generating a second signal comprising a desired output component and the first noise component (730), and subtracting the first signal from the second signal to produce a first output signal having the desired output component (750).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Dejan Mijuskovic, Liviu Chiaburu
  • Patent number: 7397226
    Abstract: A circuit and method for providing voltage regulation that operates with relatively low noise, low power, fast start up and low dropout. The invention includes a constant voltage reference that is coupled to a reference amplifier which amplifies the reference voltage to a selectable level. The output of the reference amplifier is provided to an integrated low pass noise filter which suppresses at least the noise generated by the constant voltage reference and the reference amplifier. The output of the integrated noise filter is provided to the inverting input of an error amplifier, whose non-inverting input is coupled to the output voltage (VOUT). Also, the output of the error amplifier is coupled to a gate of a pass transistor that is coupled between the input voltage (VIN) and the output voltage (VOUT) of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Vello Mannama, Rein Sabolotny, Viktor Strik, Rein Tiikmaa
  • Publication number: 20080136509
    Abstract: A diode connected P-type CMOS transistor is operated in the sub-threshold area and, with a bypass capacitor, operates as a low pass audio filter. The equivalent resistance of the CMOS transistor in the sub-threshold range is very high—in the gigaOhm range. With this size resistor, a capacitor in the 1-25 pF range may be used to provide filtering capabilities with break points in the 1-10 Hz frequency range. Such a filter provides an effective low pass filter that attenuates audio frequency signals. The 1-25 pF capacitors use little chip area making the arrangement practical for integrating on an IC with the audio signals. In one embodiment, a digital signal and the audio signals share one pin, where the audio signal appears only when the digital signal is high. In this case, the audio signal filtered out from the digital high signal. The filtered digital signal drives digital circuitry while the audio signal is directed to other audio circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Frederick N. Timm
  • Patent number: 7385439
    Abstract: An analog switch used in a switched capacitor filter has N-channel and P-channel MOS FETs connected in parallel between input and output switch terminals, with capacitor charge currents being periodically produced from the output terminal. The filter derives an output signal with respect to a reference voltage and maintains the switch input and output terminal at the reference voltage, while respective substrate potentials of the N-channel and P-channel MOS FETs are fixed at the reference voltage, so that the analog switch does not produce an external flow of leakage current that can affect the output signal of the filter during each interval when the switch is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Makino, Kazuyoshi Nagase
  • Publication number: 20080116967
    Abstract: The invention discloses radio frequency zero crossing signal generators for optical disc drives, comprising a controllable low pass filter, a comparator, and a control circuit. The controllable low pass filter evaluates an average level of the magnitude of a radio frequency ripple from an optical disc drive. The comparator compares the radio frequency ripple to the average level evaluated by the controllable low pass filter to generate a radio frequency zero crossing signal. When the optical disc drive reads a fingerprint defect on an optical disc, the control circuit adjusts a cut-off frequency of the controllable low pass filter to adjust the speed at which the controllable low pass filter evaluates the average level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Te-Ju Wang
  • Patent number: 7375583
    Abstract: A differential biquad filter includes positive and negative single ended circuits connected between first and second power supply terminals. Each single ended circuit includes a single input terminal; a transistor having a control terminal, and first and second main terminals; a single output terminal corresponding to the control terminal of the transistor; first and second conductances connected between the single input terminal and the control terminal of the transistor; a first capacitance connected between the control terminal of the transistor and the second main terminal of the other single ended circuit; and a second capacitance connected between the node between the first and second conductances on one hand and the second main terminal of the transistor on the other hand. The differential biquad filter also includes a fifth capacitance connected between the second main terminals of each transistor of each single ended circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Eoin Ohannaidh
  • Publication number: 20080106329
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for adjusting frequency characteristic and Q factor of a low pass filter (LPF) and a method thereof. The apparatus includes: a frequency comparing unit for calculating a first square value and a second square value, and comparing a first reference value with the first and the second square values; a frequency adjusting unit for adjusting the frequency characteristic to range the first reference value between the first square value and the second square value; a Q factor comparing unit for calculating a third square value, and comparing a second and a third reference values with the third square value; a control unit for activating the Q factor comparing unit when the frequency characteristic is completely adjusted; and a Q factor adjusting unit for adjusting the Q factor to range the third square value between the second reference value and the third reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Seung-Sik LEE, Bong-Hyuk PARK, Chang-Wan KIM, Sang-Sung CHOI
  • Patent number: 7365668
    Abstract: The invention concerns a continuous-time delta-sigma analog-digital converter for the conversion of an analog input signal into a digital output signal, comprising an analog filter which filters the analog input signal and at least one externally circuited operational amplifier (OPAMP) for the formation of an integrator stage, a clock-driven quantizer, which quantizes the filtered analog signal outputted through the analog filter to generate the digital output signal, and a feedback arrangement with at least one digital-analog converter, which supplies to the analog filter at least one feedback signal on the basis of the digital output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Germany AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Mitteregger
  • Patent number: 7355463
    Abstract: A phase-locked loop and method are disclosed. One method embodiment includes providing a dual-path filter of a phase-locked loop, the dual-path filter consisting of passive components, and summing control signals in the dual-path filter using the passive components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Tirdad Sowlati, Edward Youssoufian
  • Publication number: 20080079484
    Abstract: An amplifier stage or circuit for providing cross-point adjustment. The circuit may include a first input node configured to receive a first data signal and a second input node configured to receive a second data signal that is complementary of the first data signal. The circuit also includes a programmable first stage having a first node coupled to the first input node and a second node coupled to the second input node that is configured to adjust an amount of current provided to the first and second data signals to create a signal offset. The circuit further includes a second stage having a first node coupled to a third node of the programmable first stage and a second node coupled to a fourth node of the programmable first stage configured to provide the signal offset at a third and fourth node of the second stage to adjust the cross-point of the first and second signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Y. Miao, Timothy G. Moran
  • Publication number: 20080074178
    Abstract: A single-ended low pass filter and its double-ended or balanced version comprising a first coil (Lp1) coupled between a first input (Vin1) and a first output (Vout1) terminal of the filter, a second coil (Lp2) coupled between a second input (Vin2) and a second output (Vout2) terminal of this filter, and a capacitor (C) coupled between the first and second output terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Edmond Op De Beeck
  • Patent number: 7327997
    Abstract: A trans-impedance filter circuit provided according to an aspect of the present invention contains an operational amplifier, a first resistor, a first capacitor, a second resistor, and a second capacitor. The second capacitor is connected in parallel between the inverting input terminal and an output path of the operational amplifier. The second resistor is connected between the output terminal of the operational amplifier and a second node on a path connecting the input signal to the inverting input terminal. The first resistor is coupled between the first node and inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier. The first capacitor is coupled between the first node and Vss. Due to such connections, the filter circuit operates as a second order filter circuit, thereby providing a desired high level of filtering. Also, as the filter circuit is implemented with a single operational amplifier, the power and area requirements are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gaurav Chandra, Preetam Charan Anand Tadeparthy, Prakash Easwaran
  • Patent number: 7239196
    Abstract: An R-2R resistor circuit network 12 used in a filter circuit according to the present invention has a path through which each branch current flows to a next integrating capacitor and a path through which each branch current flows to a low impedance analog midpoint (ground potential) Vss. The path can be selected by digital control bit data Bn to B0 for each branch current. By this, a frequency characteristic of a filter using an integrator as a component may be changed with an accuracy of (½n+1)(Gm1)/Cf from (½n+1)(Gm1)/Cf to ((2n+1?½n+1)(Gm1)Cf. As a result, by setting the setting bit width to 7 (n=6), a variable range of the frequency characteristic of over one hundredfold may be easily realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasumasa Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7230476
    Abstract: A bipolar high impedance element comprises a p-n diode made from a compound semiconductor, and circuitry arranged to reverse-bias the diode such that the diode conducts a nearly constant current—thereby enabling the element to be employed as a high impedance element. The diode is preferably the base-emitter junction of a transistor made from a compound semiconductor like InP, such that an on-chip high impedance element is provided for a fabrication process such as that used for HBTs. The element is suitably employed in an active low pass filter design: the element is connected between an input signal and an op amp input, and a feedback capacitor is connected between the op amp's output and input. The resulting filter's time constant varies with the reverse-biased diode's impedance and the capacitance of the feedback capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Inphi Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Peter Edward Broekaert, Michael Case
  • Patent number: 7187213
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor circuit capable of effectively applying a filter function to both of L-level noise superimposed during originally H signal periods and H-level noise superimposed during originally L signal periods. An input signal branches off into two and one of them is inputted through signal inverting means to a first delay circuit including a first capacitor. The other is inputted to a second delay circuit including a second capacitor. An output signal from the first delay circuit and an output signal from the second delay circuit are inputted to separate input terminals of a flip-flop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshida, Kazuhito Fujii
  • Patent number: 7138856
    Abstract: A controller that is linearly responsive to an input voltage provides continuously adjustable control of the width of a periodically repeating digital pulse, thereby achieving a linear voltage to duty-cycle ratio transfer function. The circuit of the present invention includes a master clock input, a ratio control voltage input, a controlled duty cycle clock output, a high gain amplifier configured as an integrator having differential inputs, each equipped with a low pass filter, a controlled current source, a resettable timing capacitor, a threshold detector and a reference pulse generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: K-Tek Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Laletin
  • Patent number: 7123083
    Abstract: An at least second-order active filter circuit includes an operational amplifier (Op) whose frequency response, in conjunction with an RC network (R1, R2, C1, C2), serves to set a predetermined low-pass characteristic. The frequency response of the operational amplifier (Op) forms an integral part of this low-pass characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventors: Norbert Greitschus, Stefan Noe
  • Patent number: 7123082
    Abstract: A variable time constant circuit includes an inverting amplifier which has an amplifier input terminal and an amplifier output terminal connected to a signal output terminal and inverts a signal inputted to the amplifier input terminal, a first and a second resistor which are connected in series between the signal input terminal and the amplifier input terminal, a capacitor connected between the amplifier input terminal and the amplifier output terminal, a field effect transistor including a gate terminal connected to a junction point of the first and second resistors, a source terminal kept at a constant potential, and a drain terminal connected to the amplifier input terminal, the transistor flowing a current through the drain terminal according to a voltage between the gate terminal and the source terminal, and a control circuit which controls a voltage-current conversion ratio of the transistor according to a time constant control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Daisuke Kurose, Tetsuro Itakura, Rui Ito
  • Patent number: 7098718
    Abstract: A tunable current mode integrator for low-frequency continuous-time filters that requires a reduced amount of area when implemented in an integrated circuit (IC). The integrator includes input and output transistors, and cross-coupled current mirrors, integration capacitors, and operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) that form a feedback structure with the input transistors. Input currents are converted to small current swings within the OTAs, and are subsequently integrated by the capacitors. Resulting integrated voltages are converted to output currents by the output transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: The Trustees of Boston University
    Inventors: Zibing Yang, Todd A. Hinck, Howard I. Cohen, Allyn Hubbard
  • Patent number: 7088157
    Abstract: An apparatus for frequency and phase acquisition has a voltage-controlled oscillator and a search generator with a forward path and a backward path for generating a search signal with a search frequency, the forward path of the search generator acting as a loop filter when the frequency is locked off. The search signal is symmetrized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Marconi Communications GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Kirsch
  • Patent number: 7075363
    Abstract: An analog finite impulse response (“FIR”) filter generates a continuous time output using a chain of tunable delay elements. The tunable delay elements generate a time delay in an input signal. A calibration circuit, consisting of a control loop, tunes the delay elements to provide precision in the time delay response of the delay elements. The control loop generates a delay adjustment, based on the period of reference signals, and the phase adjustment is used to tune the parameters of the delay elements. The tunable delay elements may comprise any combination of transmission lines, lumped elements and semi-lumped elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Aeluros, Inc.
    Inventor: Lars Erik Thon
  • Patent number: 7075364
    Abstract: An active filter with compensation to reduce Q-enhancement is disclosed. The filter may include a first amplifier and a second amplifier coupled to the first amplifier. The second amplifier having a negative feedback loop including a buffer having a plurality of compensation resistors. The compensation resistors may each have a value that results in the biquad filter having substantially zero Q-enhancement. The biquads may cascaded to form higher order filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Prasad Gudem, Peter C. Gazzerro
  • Patent number: 7057443
    Abstract: A current circuit includes a first group and a second group of transistors whose emitters are connected via respective resistors to a voltage source. The collectors of the first-group of transistors (50, 51) are connected together to an output terminal (43) and those of the second group of transistors (70, 71) are connected together to a current source (74) that produces a constant current (I). The bases of the first and second groups of transistors are connected together to form a current mirror, so that the same constant current is drawn by the first group of transistors to the output terminal. From the output terminal, a current inversely variable with uniform resistance variations is drawn, so that a current supplied from the output terminal is a difference between the constant current and the inversely variable current. The current from the output terminal drives an active filter (10) which includes switching circuits and resistor-capacitor circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7053697
    Abstract: An integrated circuit formed on a semiconductor chip, comprising a low pass filter circuit having a first resistor of a first resistance value and a capacitor of a first capacitance value, wherein the first resistance value and the first capacitance value determine a corner frequency of the filter; and a tuning circuit having a second resistor of a second resistance value, a switched-capacitor of a third resistance value and a comparator that compares two voltage signals to produce a control signal, wherein the control signal adjusts the first and second resistance values as a function of the third resistance value. The corner frequency of the filter can be adjusted by varying one or more reference voltage signals. In combination, the corner frequency of the filter is adjusted by changing the frequency of a clock that controls the switched-capacitor to decrease the circuit sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph A. Duncan, Chun-Ying Chen, Young J. Shin
  • Patent number: 7049883
    Abstract: A low-pass filter configured as a switched capacitor circuit in which capacitor charge switching is performed by 2-phase clock signals that control respective sets of switching elements, wherein an interval between a first-phase clock signal pulse and a succeeding second-phase clock signal pulse, during which no charging/discharging of capacitors should occur, is made as short as possible while ensuring that the two sets of switching elements cannot enter the ON state simultaneously. A low cut-off frequency can thereby be achieved, while using very small capacitor values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Makino, Seiki Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7049866
    Abstract: Circuitry compensates for adverse effects resulting from leakage currents in loop filter capacitors for signal synthesizers, like PLLs. In one technique, leakage current in the loop filter's damping capacitor is compensated by driving the voltage across a matching capacitor and generating current for the damping capacitor based on current applied to the matching capacitor. In another technique, leakage current in the loop filter's transconductor capacitor is compensated by digitally accumulating differences between the damping capacitor voltage and a reference voltage, and then converting the accumulated difference into a (voltage or current) signal applied to the transconductor capacitor. In addition, the loop filter could have an analog transconductor path that generates a signal that is also applied to the transconductance capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7030688
    Abstract: The invention provides a low-pass filter suitably used as a loop filter for a PLL or a DLL that has a filtering characteristic equivalent to that of a conventional one and can be realized in a smaller circuit area. The low-pass filter includes first filtering means (31) for accepting, as an input, an input signal to the low-pass filter and outputting a first voltage; a circuit element (311) included in the first filtering means (31) for allowing a first current to flow in accordance with the first voltage; current generating means (32) for generating a second current at a given rate to the first current; second filtering means (33) for accepting, as an input, the second current and outputting a second voltage; and adding means (34) for adding the first voltage and the second voltage and outputting an output signal of the low-pass filter, in which the second current is set to be smaller than the first current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Dosho, Naoshi Yanagisawa, Masaomi Toyama, Keijiro Umehara, Masahiro Fukui, Takefumi Yoshikawa, Toru Iwata, Shiro Sakiyama, Ryoichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7026856
    Abstract: A continuous-time filter comprising at least one amplifier and at least one passive element. The amplifier comprises at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal and the passive element is positioned between the terminals. In addition the amplifier is provided with a transconductance gain. The filter comprises circuit means suitable for correlating the transconductance gain of the amplifier with the passive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Stefano D'Amico, Andrea Baschirotto, Alberto Gola
  • Patent number: 7023263
    Abstract: A low pass filter includes a differential amplifier including a positive input end, a negative input end, a positive output end, and a negative output end. A first resistive device is coupled between the negative input end and a first node. A second resistive device is coupled between the positive input end and the first node. A third resistive device substantially the same as the second resistive device is coupled between the negative input end and a second node. A fourth resistive device substantially the same as the first resistive device is coupled between the positive input end and the second node. A first capacitive device is coupled between the negative input end and the positive output end. Finally, a second capacitive device substantially the same as the first capacitive device is coupled between the positive input end and the negative output end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Chia-Jun Chang, Chao-Cheng Lee
  • Patent number: 7005929
    Abstract: A loop filter for a frequency synthesizer provides a lower frequency pole with a smaller capacitor than conventional filters. The loop-filter comprises a resistor and a smaller capacitor in a series-feedback path, and a transconductor to sense a voltage across the resistor to either source or sink additional current proportional to the sensed voltage. The transconductor and the smaller capacitor may provide a larger capacitance. The loop filter also may comprise an operational amplifier having the smaller capacitor and the resistor in the series-feedback path to receive pulses from a charge pump. The filter may integrate the pulses and may generate a control voltage related to a width of the pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Malcolm H. Smith
  • Patent number: 7002427
    Abstract: An adjustable phase shifter generates a phase shifted reference signal by introducing a phase shift in a reference signal. A phase detector identifies a phase difference between the reference signal and the phase shifted reference signal. A control signal generator generates a plurality of control signals, each of which causes the adjustable phase shifter to adjust a magnitude of at least one component value in the adjustable phase shifter. The phase shift introduced by the adjustable phase shifter is based at least partially on the magnitude of the at least one component value in the adjustable phase shifter. The control signal generator also selects one of the control signals, where the selected control signal causes the adjustable phase shifter to produce the phase shifted reference signal such that the phase difference attains a specified value. The analog filter adjusts a magnitude of at least one component value in the analog filter based at least partially on the selected control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Nystrom, Per Konradsson, Ari Grasbeck
  • Patent number: 7002417
    Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for operating with an RC filter (26, 26A), and a corresponding method. The apparatus includes circuitry (32) for use in measuring an actual value of at least one filter component and a controller (34), coupled to the measurement circuitry, for determining at least one adaptive filter (36, 46) coefficient using the measured actual value to so as to compensate for a deviation of at least one filter component value from an ideal value. Where the filter is embodied as an RC network, the circuitry measures an actual value of both a resistor and a capacitor, and the controller uses the measured actual value of the capacitor when determining the value of a resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jaako Maunuksela, Jussi Vepsäläinen, Tuomas Honkanen
  • Patent number: 6998906
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide low pass filters. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a synchronous low pass filter is disclosed. The filter may be employed, for example, to suppress signal transients in power supply monitoring applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Cook, Frederic Deboes
  • Patent number: 6995607
    Abstract: In a low-pass filter, the filter characteristics equivalent to those of a conventional low-pass filter are maintained, the size of a capacitive element is decreased, and the low-pass filter operates stably. Further, a MOS capacitor is used as a capacitive element. For such purposes, in a low-pass filter including a first capacitive element, and a resistive element and a second capacitive element which are connected in series to the first capacitive element, a first electric current is supplied to the first input terminal connected to one end of the first capacitive element, and a second electric current is supplied to the second input terminal connected to the other end of the first capacitive element. Herein, the capacitance value of the first capacitive element is set according to the magnitude of the first electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Dosho, Takashi Morie, Kazuaki Sogawa
  • Patent number: 6977541
    Abstract: A variable time constant circuit includes an inverting amplifier which has an amplifier input terminal and an amplifier output terminal connected to a signal output terminal and inverts a signal inputted to the amplifier input terminal, a first and a second resistor which are connected in series between the signal input terminal and the amplifier input terminal, a capacitor connected between the amplifier input terminal and the amplifier output terminal, a field effect transistor including a gate terminal connected to a junction point of the first and second resistors, a source terminal kept at a constant potential, and a drain terminal connected to the amplifier input terminal, the transistor flowing a current through the drain terminal according to a voltage between the gate terminal and the source terminal, and a control circuit which controls a voltage-current conversion ratio of the transistor according to a time constant control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Daisuke Kurose, Tetsuro Itakura, Rui Ito
  • Patent number: 6975158
    Abstract: A low-pass filter eliminates a high-frequency component contained in an input signal. An inverter outputs a signal at a high level or a low level in response to an output of the low-pass filter that is larger or smaller than a threshold level. A one-shot pulse generating circuit outputs a pulse signal at a point of time when an output level of the inverter is changed. FETs receive the pulse signal output from the one-shot pulse generating circuit, and pulls in forcedly the output of the low-pass filter to the high level or the low level. According to this pulling-in operation, generation of the noise at an output terminal can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Sekimoto
  • Patent number: 6972616
    Abstract: A low-noise, fast-settling bias circuit includes a first and a second low pass filter, such as RC filters. The second filter initially shorts out a resistor of the first filter with a switch (set to low impedance) in parallel. Accordingly, a capacitor of the first filter quickly charges up to the same voltage as the input bias voltage. As the second filter charges up, the switch slowly shuts off (high impedance). By this time, since the capacitor of the first filter has charged to the same voltage as the bias voltage, a large RC formed by the resistor of the first filter and the capacitor of the first filter is available to provide filtering for the desired bias current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Wu
  • Patent number: 6972604
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a low pass filter. A first capacitor, has a first associated leakage current. A second capacitor has a specified capacitance that is a fraction of the capacitance of the first capacitor, the second capacitor further having a second associated leakage current. A voltage follower circuit is coupled to the output of the first and second capacitor. First and second current sources are coupled to the voltage follower circuit. A bias current source is coupled the first current source. A current mirror is coupled to the second current source, and the current mirror is further coupled to at least the anode of the first capacitor, thereby generating replacement current of a capacitor within a low-pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David William Boerstler, Eskinder Hailu
  • Patent number: 6914477
    Abstract: A bandpass filter unit includes first and second bandpass filters having substantially the same pass-band characteristics. The first and second bandpass filters are connected in parallel with each other. At least one phase shifter for shifting the phase is connected to at least one of the first and second filters. Accordingly, reflected waves occurring in the first and second bandpass filters cancel out each other at an input terminal pair and an output terminal pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruhisa Shibahara
  • Patent number: 6909321
    Abstract: The present invention provides an active low-pass filter system including a low-pass filter circuit and at least one frequency-rejecting network coupled to the low-pass filter circuit. The frequency-rejecting network is included in a resistive forward signal flow branch of the low-pass filter. The present invention also provides a power amplifier system for driving a load. The power amplifier system includes a pulse width modulation circuit which creates ripple spectra, an error amplifier and modulator circuit, and a demodulation filter connected in series, and a feedback control loop coupled to the pulse modulation circuit and including an active low-pass filter having a feedback demodulation filter and an isolated-integrator frequency-rejecting network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Gerald R. Stanley
  • Patent number: 6903593
    Abstract: A DC offset cancellation circuit employs multiple feedback factors for canceling DC offset by increasing convergence time. The DC offset cancellation circuit features an active low-pass analogue filter including a variable resistor, an amplifier, a capacitor pair and a comparator, the amplifier being coupled to an output of the variable resistor. Negative feedback is provided from the output of the variable resistor to the input signal source, the capacitor pair is coupled to the amplifier, one input of the comparator is coupled to an output of the amplifier, and a second input of the comparator is coupled to a reference voltage source such that a comparison signal is output by the comparator to the variable resistor after comparing the negative feedback signal with a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Chao-Shiun Wang
  • Patent number: 6894557
    Abstract: An integrated circuit formed on a semiconductor chip, comprising a low pass filter circuit having a first resistor of a first resistance value and a capacitor of a first capacitance value, wherein the first resistance value and the first capacitance value determine a corner frequency of the filter; and a tuning circuit having a second resistor of a second resistance value, a switched-capacitor of a third resistance value and a comparator that compares two voltage signals to produce a control signal, wherein the control signal adjusts the first and second resistance values as a function of the third resistance value. The corner frequency of the filter can be adjusted by varying one or more reference voltage signals. In combination, the corner frequency of the filter is adjusted by changing the frequency of a clock that controls the switched-capacitor to decrease the circuit sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph A. Duncan, Chun-Ying Chen, Young J. Shin
  • Patent number: 6861879
    Abstract: A switched capacitor circuit having an integrator, a switch, a capacitor, a field effect transistor, and a network. The switch is connected to the integrator. The capacitor is connected to the switch. The field effect transistor is connected to the capacitor. The network is connected to a gate terminal of the field effect transistor. The network is configured to control a resistance of the field effect transistor in response to variations in an input signal voltage received at the field effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Sandeep K. Gupta
  • Patent number: 6828654
    Abstract: In a low-pass filter for a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit, a capacitor formed by an N-type substrate, a P-type region formed on the N-type substrate, a thick oxide formed over the P-type region, a P+ gate electrode formed over the thick oxide and coupled to a first voltage supply line, and P+ pick-up terminals formed in the P-type region adjacent the gate electrode and coupled to a second voltage supply line, whereby a gate-to-substrate voltage is maintained at less than zero volts to maintain a stable control voltage for the PLL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Derek Tam, Jasmine Cheng, Jungwoo Song, Takayuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6825712
    Abstract: In a front end that has a filter circuit and is used for a communication system having an asymmetric communication channel in which upstream and downstream data rates are different, a filter circuit for received signals, which is for filtering received signals, and a filter circuit for transmitted signals, which is for filtering transmitted signals, are provided. The filter circuit for received signals has an amplifier block including a plurality of amplifiers, a capacitor block including a plurality of capacitors and being connected to the plurality of amplifiers included in the amplifier block, and a first and a second resistor blocks each including a plurality of resistors. Either one of the first or the second resistor block is selectively switched so as to be connected to the amplifier block by a resistor block-switching circuit. The circuit scale is reduced since only one amplifier block and one capacitor block are commonly used for two kinds of filter circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Dosho, Takashi Morie, Hitoshi Kobayashi, Norihide Kinugasa, Masaomi Toyama