Abstract: An integrated circuit having a sample-and-hold device is provided, which can be operated in successive cycles which each include a sample phase and a hold phase. During a sample phase a first storage device is charged to a voltage value proportional to an analog input signal, which voltage value is provided for a further circuit part of the integrated circuit in the hold phase. A second storage device is charged during a first cycle to a voltage value which is inverted relative to a final voltage value of the first storage device in the hold phase. In the sample phase of the next cycle following the first cycle, the second storage device is connected to the first storage device in order to discharge the first storage device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for pulse generation, having a capacitor, to which a charging current and a discharging current may be supplied in succession. To generate the charging current and the discharging current, there are provided a current source, a first current mirror circuit and a second current mirror circuit complementary to the first current mirror circuit. The current mirror circuits each comprise a plurality of output transistors, which each constitute an output stage for the charging and discharging current, which is connected to a regulator, and for a circuit for controlling the tail current of a differential amplifier forming the regulator. A current output of the differential amplifier is connected to the output of the second current mirror circuit.

Abstract: A chopper type comparator includes an input switch circuit which inputs an input voltage and a reference voltage alternately in response to a control signal; and an output terminal which supplies an output voltage, having a level defined based on the difference between the input voltage and the reference voltage. The comparator further a MOS transistor operating in response to a control signal, and a timing control circuit which provide a delay to the control signal to be supplied to the first MOS transistor and the input switch circuit.

Abstract: A circuit includes a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a first node having a first potential during a first time interval, and is coupled to a second node at a reference voltage during a second time interval. The first capacitor has a second terminal coupled to a third node having a common potential during the first time interval, and to an integrator during the second time interval. The first capacitor receives a first charge component from the second node that is dependent on the first potential during the second time interval. A second capacitor has a first terminal that is coupled to a fourth node having a second potential during the first time interval. The common potential is substantially midway between the first and second potentials. The second capacitor provides a second charge component that cancels the first charge component during the second interval.

Abstract: A circuit for capturing data from a bus having a flip-flop register, comparison logic and clock logic. The comparison logic determines whether any bit on the bus has changed logic state. If a bit has changed state, the comparison logic asserts an enable signal which causes the clock logic to clock the register. Accordingly, data from the bus is not clocked through the register unless the data has actually changed state and the comparison logic itself determines whether different data is present on the bus.

Abstract: A circuit and method for achieving hold time compatibility between data-source devices coupled to a data-requesting device through a data bus is provided. The circuit is made up of an impedance coupled to the data bus, and the value of that impedance is selected, based on a respective capacitance in the data bus, to introduce a predetermined delay to data passing therethrough.

Abstract: A peak-hold circuit that receives an input signal in intermittent bursts has a diode and a capacitor coupled so as to hold the peak input level of each burst. The circuit also has a unit through which the capacitor can discharge with a controllable time constant. The time constant can be controlled according to the expected rate of variation of the input signal level, to permit tracking of peak level variations from burst to burst. Alternatively, the time constant can be increased during bursts to assure stable holding of the peak level, and decreased between bursts to permit tracking of burst-to-burst variations.

Abstract: A circuit 100, which can be used to perform a sample and hold function, includes a switch 112 with a current patch coupled between an input node VIN and an output node VOUT. A capacitor 114 is coupled to the output node VOUT. A replica device 160 includes a current path coupled between the input node VIN and a supply voltage node VDD. A bootstrap circuit, e.g., including a bootstrap capacitor 164, is coupled between a control terminal of the first switch 112 and a control terminal of the replica device 160.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electro-optic sampling oscilloscope which carries out measurement of a measured signal using an optical pulse generated based on a timing signal from a timing generation circuit. The timing generation circuit includes a frequency measurement circuit which generates a gate signal for a gate interval which is a specified multiple N of the cycle of the desired sampling rate, and counts the input trigger signals during the gate interval of the gate signal; a division circuit which divides the count value of said frequency measurement circuit by the specified multiple N, and determines a divider ratio; and a frequency divider which divides the trigger signals by the divider ratio determined by the division circuit, and outputs the result as the timing signal.

Abstract: An analog voltage comparator for suppressing an input voltage offset is described. The voltage comparator includes: a first and a second input comparator, both operating in opposite phases, and third comparator coupled to the two input comparators. The circuit further includes a first switch connected a first capacitor coupled to a negative input of the first comparator and to the positive input of the second comparator for alternatively supplying either an input voltage Vi or a reference voltage Vref to the negative and positive input, respectively. It further includes a second capacitor between the positive input of the first comparator and the negative input of the second comparator; a second switch between the negative input and an output of the first comparator; and a third switch between the negative input and an output of the second comparator.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for determining state information of a high-power semi-conductor, the power semiconductor comprising a collector (C), an emitter (E) and a gate (G), and a gate driver (3) comprising an auxiliary voltage input is connected to the gate of the power semiconductor. The method is characterized by steps wherein the auxiliary voltage (Vcc) of the gate driver (3) is used as reference voltage, saturation voltage (Vsat) of the power semiconductor (1) is compared with the reference voltage by using an optoisolator (4), and a detection signal of state information is generated depending on the magnitudes of the saturation voltage and the reference voltage.

Abstract: Circuitry for selectively sampling a reference voltage with a capacitor 403 includes a first switch 505a for selectively coupling capacitor 403 to a source of a first reference signal during a first operating phase and a second switch 505b for selectively coupling capacitor 403 to a source of a second reference signal during a second operating phase.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a much higher speed interface apparatus which comprises a data driving means for decoding two-bit data signals using them as inputs to output four-level data signals; a reference voltage generating means for generating three-level reference voltages to discriminate the voltage levels of the four-level data signals; and a receiver means for comparing the four-level data signals and the three-level reference voltage signals using them as inputs and for encoding the resulting signals to output two data signals.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for performing voltage sampling. The present invention addresses the problems encountered when a voltage is applied to a voltage sampling circuit (76). An additional capacitor (88) is used to store an amount of charge similar to the amount of charge needed by a primary capacitor (89) which provides an output signal to a voltage receiving circuit (74), such as a portion of a sigma-delta analog to digital converter. The additional capacitor (88) is charged while a primary capacitor (89) is discharged in a first clock phase. Then the additional capacitor (88) and the primary capacitor (89) are both coupled to the voltage to be sampled during a second clock phase.

Abstract: A speed-enhancing comparator with cascaded inverters is disclosed.

Abstract: A chopper comparator for comparing an analog input signal voltage and a comparative reference voltage comprises the following elements. First and second input terminals are provided for receiving the analog input signal voltage and the comparative reference voltage respectively. A first capacitor is provided with a first input side terminal connected through a first switch to the first input terminal. A second capacitor is provided with a second input side terminal connected through a second switch to the second input terminal. A data latch circuit is provided and is connected to first and second output terminals of the first and second capacitors.

Abstract: An object is to obtain a voltage comparator capable of high-accuracy voltage comparison. An input voltage (VIN) and a reference voltage (VREF) are connected to one electrode of a capacitor (C1) through switches (S1) and (S2), respectively. The other electrode of the capacitor (C1) is connected to the input portion of an inverter (INV1). The output portion of the inverter (INV1) is connected to the input portion of an inverter (INV3) and is also fed back to the input through a switch (S3). An inverter (INV11) is further connected in parallel with the inverter (INV1), wherein the input/output characteristics of the inverters (INV1, INV3 and INV11) are set equal.

Abstract: Link capacitors are used to establish connection between joining-points of coupling capacitors and inverters in an inverter chopper comparator array, in order to reduce injected electric charge variation due to feedthrough. Some of the comparators in the comparator array, arranged at each end thereof, constitute a redundant comparator array without connection to a logic circuit that is used to obtain an A/D conversion output. This reduces the effects of the device parameter variations in the comparator array whereby a high accuracy voltage comparison is achieved, and noise-resistant strength is improved.

Abstract: There is provided a time counting circuit which measures a pulse spacing of a pulse signal with a high accuracy and exhibits high resistance to variations in power-source voltage.A delay circuit ring consists of a plurality of delay circuits connected in a ring configuration and signal transition is caused to circulate around the delay circuit ring by oscillation. A switch-signal generating circuit outputs first and second switch signals based on the time at which a pulse signal to be measured rises. A row of sampling circuits consists of a plurality of sampling circuits connected to the output terminals of the respective delay circuits and samples the output signals from the delay circuits in response to a direction indicated by the first switch signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing current in a switching device having resistive voltage-current characteristics includes a first and second power terminal (typically common or ground) for the application therebetween of an operating potential (or alternatively, power), an impedance connected between the first power terminal and a node, a switching device having its main conduction path connected between the node and the second power terminal for controlling the flow of current through the impedance, at least one sense device coupled to the node, operative to sense or divide the potential at the node to thereby provide a sensing potential, where at least one of the sense devices is switched only during at least a portion of the period when the switching device is turned on, and a voltage reference generating circuit operative to generate a reference voltage for comparison with the sensed potential.

Abstract: A current memory cell comprises a first bipolar transistor providing a current source and coupled to the emitters of a second and a third bipolar transistor, the latter forming the storage elements of the memory cell. The memory cell is calibrated, to avoid mismatch between the second and third transistors, by adjustment of the current source via a parallel arrangement of a resistor and a field effect transistor in the emitter circuit of the first transistor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip for determining when the frequency of a clock pulse input signal is below a predetermined threshold level and including a capacitor charged up by a current source to produce a linearly-varying ramp signal. The charging circuit includes two MOS transistors, one arranged as a resistor to control the charging current, the other arranged as a capacitor to be charged. When the oxide layer produced by the IC process for making the chips varies in thickness from one batch of chips to a subsequently produced batch, the effect on the charging of the MOS capacitor resulting from the change in capacitance of the previously produced chip is at least partly compensated for by the corresponding change in resistance of the MOS resistor, thereby tending to maintain the charging rate constant.

Abstract: Circuits and processes write and read analog signals in non-volatile memory cells such as EPROM and flash EPROM cells. One read circuit process determines a memory cell's threshold voltage by slowly ramps the control gate voltage of a memory cell being read and senses when the memory cell conducts. Another read circuit determines the threshold voltage of a memory cell using a source follower read process and a ramping circuit which slowly increases the source voltage. Still another read circuit includes a cascoding device connectable to a memory cell, bias circuit for biasing the memory cell in its linear region, and a load which carries a current that mirrors the current through the memory cell wherein the threshold voltage of the memory cell is determined from a voltage across the load. Read circuits disclosed can be used with analog memory cells, binary memory cells, multi-level digital memory cells, and other applications which require precise reading of threshold voltages.

Abstract: A source driver circuit device for decreasing a gap of output errors of a plurality of driver circuits which perform a serial/parallel conversion of a video signal, comprises a plurality of sample-and-hold circuits arranged in the order for sequentially sampling levels of an input video signal; a plurality of signal output circuits for respectively generating voltage outputs corresponding to holding levels of said plurality of sample-and-hold circuits; a plurality of reference level sample-and-hold circuits each of which is provided with each predetermined number of said sample-and-hold circuits, and for sampling a reference level; a plurality of sample value output circuits for respectively generating voltage outputs corresponding to holding levels of said plurality of reference level sample-and-hold circuits; and an output error correction circuit for performing an output level correction in each of said plurality of signal output circuits on the basis of a level difference between said reference level and

Abstract: A signal processor alternately outputs two input signals to a common output terminal every predetermined period to form a single serial signal. A capacitor for holding the input signal is provided on each input signal transmitting path. A buffer is provided at each of the preceding and succeeding stages of each capacitor. The turning on and off of these buffers is controlled by a single switch. The switch is controlled so that when one capacitor is supplied with the input signal, the other capacitor outputs a signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing current in a switching device having resistive voltage-current characteristics includes a first and second power terminal (typically common or ground) for the application therebetween of an operating potential (or alternatively, power), an impedance connected between the first power terminal and a node, a switching device having its main conduction path connected between the node and the second power terminal for controlling the flow of current through the impedance, at least one sense device coupled to the node, operative to sense or divide the potential at the node to thereby provide a sensing potential, where at least one of the sense devices is switched only during at least a portion of the period when the switching device is turned on, and a voltage reference generating circuit operative to generate a reference voltage for comparison with the sensed potential.

Abstract: A frequency-responsive integrated circuit (IC) for determining when the frequency of a clock pulse input signal is below a predetermined threshold level, the IC including a capacitor charged up at a nearly constant rate by a current source. If the capacitor voltage reaches one-third of the DC power voltage, and input pulses are received, the capacitor is discharged to start another charge-up cycle. If no input pulses were received, the capacitor continues to charge up until its voltage reaches two-thirds of the DC power voltage, at which point an output signal is produced indicating that the input frequency is below the predetermined threshold level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for sampling an analog, periodic, measured signal, which is subject to a phase jitter. The misread signal is to be detected with a prior event. One measured value is recorded for each individual signal and each successive measured value recording is delayed by a time unit in which each measured value recording takes place in a fixed time grid with a prior event, and in which the point in time of the start of the signal is detected in the time grid and is stored, assigned to the recorded measured value.

Abstract: An input terminal is connected to bases of first and second transistors. Collectors of the first and fourth transistors are connected to a power-source terminal. Collectors of the second and third transistors are grounded. A base of the third transistor is connected to an emitter of the first transistor. A base of the fourth transistor is connected to an emitter of the second transistor. One terminal of the capacitor is grounded and the other terminal thereof is connected to emitters of the third and fourth transistors and an input of an output buffer whose output is connected to an output terminal. A collector of a fifth transistor is connected to the power-source terminal and a base thereof is connected to the output terminal. A collector of a sixth transistor is grounded and a base thereof is connected to the output terminal. A first constant-current source is connected to an emitter of the fifth transistor and a base of the fourth transistor.

Abstract: A driver circuit in an integrated circuit includes a flip-flop circuit and a plurality of AND gates. The flip-flop circuit causes an external control signal which is supplied externally to synchronize with a clock signal, and produces an internal control signal. The AND gates control a plurality of outputs based on a data signal in accordance with the internal control signal. Since the internal control signal is synchronized with the clock signal, changes in the outputs from the AND gates are delayed from the timing of the clock signal. Thus, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of malfunction caused by a switching current to flow in transient of changes in the outputs.