Having Signal Feedback Means Patents (Class 330/260)
  • Publication number: 20140285256
    Abstract: A transconductance adjusting circuit includes: a voltage generating section configured to generate a first differential voltage; a first transconductance amplifier configured to receive the first differential voltage through a first positive-phase voltage transmission line and a first reversed-phase voltage transmission line, and output a second differential voltage through a second positive-phase voltage transmission line and a second reversed-phase voltage transmission line; a first control section configured to receive the second differential voltage and supply a first control voltage to the first transconductance amplifier; a second control section configured to receive the second differential voltage and supply a second control voltage to the first transconductance amplifier; a first resistor section that makes a connection between the first positive-phase voltage transmission line and the second positive-phase voltage transmission line; and a second resistor section that makes a connection between the f
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Syou Mitsuishi, Toshio Suzuki, Nobuhiko Shigyo, Kazutoshi Ono, Jyunichirou Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 8841968
    Abstract: An envelope detector (ED) includes a voltage-mode ED core including parallel detection transistors for detecting a voltage envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal input, the RF signal input including an output of a radio such as a cellular transmitter (TX). The ED further includes multiple voltage amplifiers positioned serially in gain stages between the TX output and the ED core to provide a total linear voltage range of the envelope detector. A final voltage amplifier of the multiple voltage amplifiers drives the ED core and includes a class-AB RF amplifier configured to operate within a full linear voltage range of the ED core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Amir Hadji-Abdolhamid, Janice Chiu
  • Publication number: 20140266447
    Abstract: Circuits, devices and methods are provided, such as an amplifier (e.g., a voltage regulator) that includes a feedback circuit that supplies negative feedback through a feedback path. One such feedback path includes a capacitance coupled in series with a “one-way” isolation circuit through which a feedback signal is coupled. The “one-way” isolation circuit my allow the feedback signal to be coupled from a “downstream” node, such as an output node, to an “upstream” node, such as a node at which an error signal is generated to provide negative feedback. However, the “one-way” isolation circuit may substantially prevent variations in the voltage at the upstream node from being coupled to the capacitance in the isolation circuit. As a result, the voltage at the upstream node may quickly change since charging and discharging of the capacitance responsive to voltage variations at the upstream node may be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: DONG PAN
  • Publication number: 20140266445
    Abstract: A new inverter-based fully-differential amplifier is provided including one or more common-mode feedback transistors coupled to each inverter, which transistors operate in the liner region. Accordingly, due to the fully-differential nature of the new inverter-based fully-differential amplifier, the amplifier provides an improved Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR), provides a reduced sensitivity to supply voltage and process or part variations, and does not require an auto-zeroing technique to be utilized, which ultimately saves power, all while utilizing the low-voltage and low-power advantages of an inverter-based design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Xavier Albinet
  • Publication number: 20140266840
    Abstract: A driver for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) has an overall feedback loop between its input and its output for maintaining overall accuracy, and a much faster feedback loop in its output stage that quickly compensates for output transients before the overall feedback loop can substantially react to the transients. Output voltage transients are created by the intermittent capacitive load of the ADC. The fast feedback loop can be made very fast since there are only a few components in the fast feedback path. The fast reduction of the output transients enables a shorter sampling time, leading to more accurate analog-to-digital conversion. The overall gain of the driver can be set to be greater than unity while still providing good output transient suppression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas Lloyd Botker
  • Publication number: 20140269118
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed, including an apparatus with a first differential amplifier to amplify an input signal into a first output signal, a second differential amplifier to amplify the input signal into a second output signal that is complementary to the first output signal, and a feedback resistance coupled between the first output signal and the second output signal. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Jennifer Taylor, Dragos Dimitriu
  • Publication number: 20140266446
    Abstract: An integrated circuit can comprise: a first port, a second port, and a third port; and a plurality of microwave operational amplifiers coupled to each other and the first port, the second port, and the third port. The plurality of microwave operational amplifiers can be arranged to substantially pass a signal provided to the first port to the second port while substantially isolating the signal provided to the first port from the third port; the plurality of microwave operational amplifiers can be arranged to substantially pass a signal provided to the second port to the third port while substantially isolating the signal provided to the second port from the first port; and the plurality of microwave operational amplifiers can be arranged to substantially pass a signal provided to the third port to the first port while substantially isolating the signal provided to the third port from the second port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: David W. Corman, Glenn Diemond, Donald E. Crockett, III, David W. Self
  • Patent number: 8836374
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a high performance buffer for use in a communications system includes first and second differential blocks. Each of the first and second differential blocks comprise one or more driving transistors for generating a driving current for a load of the high performance buffer, and a feedback path for adjusting the operation of the one or more driving transistors. The feedback path includes a feedback transistor for receiving a common mode bias voltage, wherein the common mode bias voltage depends at least in part on a threshold voltage of the feedback transistor. The feedback path includes a programmable resistor and capacitor to reduce out of band loop gain and the noise. The high performance buffer is configured to achieve a high linearity, low output impedance, and low noise, and is suitable for use as a pre-mixer buffer in a wireless communications system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Amir Hadji-Abdolhamid, Ahmad Mirzaei, Hooman Darabi
  • Publication number: 20140253237
    Abstract: An amplifier, comprising: an input node; an output node; a gain stage having a gain stage inverting input, a gain stage non-inverting input and a gain stage output; a feedback capacitor connected in a signal path between the gain stage output and the gain stage inverting input; a sampling capacitor connected between the input node and the gain stage non-inverting input, and a controllable impedance in parallel with the feedback capacitor, wherein the controllable impedance is operable to switch between a first impedance state in which it does not affect current flow through the feedback capacitor, and a second impedance state in which it cooperates with the feedback capacitor form a bandwidth limiting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Analog Devices Technology
    Inventors: Colin G. Lyden, Christopher Peter Hurrell, Derek Hummerston
  • Publication number: 20140253236
    Abstract: Apparatuses for generating negative impedance compensation are provided. Embodiments include a differential amplifier having a first output and a second output; a capacitor coupled between the first output and the second output of the differential amplifier; a first negative impedance cross-coupled circuit having a first output and a second output; and a resistance control circuit coupled in series between the first output and the second output of the differential amplifier and the first output and the second output of the first negative impedance cross-coupled circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: RAJESH CHEERANTHODI, JOHN F. EWEN, SANTHOSH MADHAVAN, GIRI N.K. RANGAN, UMESH K. SHUKLA, SARABJEET SINGH
  • Publication number: 20140240870
    Abstract: Amplifier architectures are provided for current sensing applications. An amplifier includes a load device, an operational amplifier, a current source, and a bipolar transistor. The operational amplifier has a first input terminal connected to a first input node that receives an input current, and a second input terminal connected to a second input node that receives a reference voltage. The current source is connected to an output of the operational amplifier. The operational amplifier, the current source, and the bipolar transistor form a feedback loop that generates and maintains a bias voltage on the first input node based on the reference voltage applied to the second input node. The bipolar transistor amplifies the input current received on the first input node, and generates an amplified input current. The load device converts the amplified input current to an output voltage, wherein the output voltage is used to sense the input current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Brad A. Natzke, Cameron C. Rabe, Hong Jiang, Andrew P. Krebs, Jason P. Brenden
  • Publication number: 20140240063
    Abstract: A transformer is provided. The transformer includes at least one first primary turn; at least one second primary turn; and a first secondary turn and a second secondary turn. The first secondary turn and the second secondary turn are arranged laterally between the at least one first primary turn and the at least one second primary turn. The first secondary turn and the second secondary turn are arranged one above the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Stephan Leuschner, José Moreira, Peter Pfann
  • Publication number: 20140240044
    Abstract: An operational amplifier has two paths, a high frequency path and a low frequency path. In addition, it has three main sections of stages. A stage converts input voltage to an amplified output voltage, a stage converting an input voltage in to an output current and a final stage where the outputs of the two previous sections are supplied as inputs. Among them, the final stage acts as a voltage follower to a signal applied to its plus (+) input and as a transimpedance amplifier for a signal applied to its minus input (?). In this configuration, a path for low frequencies and a path for high frequencies are created in a single operational amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Takashi NARITA
  • Patent number: 8816773
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to trimming an input offset current of an amplifier. One such apparatus can include auxiliary bipolar transistors connected in parallel with bases of respective bipolar transistors of an input stage of an amplifier. The auxiliary bipolar transistors can be biased such that the base currents of the auxiliary bipolar transistors compensate for a mismatch in base currents of the bipolar transistors of the input stage of an amplifier. The offset current at an input of an amplifier can be reduced independent of an offset voltage at the input of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Gerstenhaber, Rayal Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140232465
    Abstract: A three stage amplifier is provided and the three stage amplifier comprises a first gain stage, a second gain stage and a third gain stage wherein said first stage receives an amplifier input signal and said third gain stage outputs an amplifier output signal. The amplifier includes a feedback loop having a current buffer and a compensation capacitance provided from the output of said third gain stage to the output of the first gain stage. In addition, an active left half plane zero stage is embedded in said feedback loop for cancelling a parasitic pole of said feedback loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF MACAU
    Inventors: Zushu YAN, Pui-In MAK, Man-Kay LAW, Rui Paulo da Silva MARTINS
  • Publication number: 20140232464
    Abstract: Described herein is a low power high-speed digital receiver. The apparatus of the receiver comprises: a sampling unit operable to sample a differential input signal and to boost input signal gain, the sampling unit to generate a sampled differential signal with boosted input signal gain; and a differential amplifier to amplify the sampled differential signal with boosted input signal gain, the differential amplifier to generate a differential amplified signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Hongjiang Song
  • Patent number: 8803611
    Abstract: A circuit includes a bias generating circuit, an operational amplifier, and a current mode logic circuit. The operational amplifier has a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The bias generating circuit is configured to provide a first bias voltage to the first terminal. The second terminal is configured to receive a second bias voltage. The second terminal and the output terminal are configured to form a negative feedback loop. The output terminal is coupled with the current mode logic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei Chih Chen
  • Publication number: 20140217960
    Abstract: An amplifier applies a self-adapting voltage to an output terminal. A bias circuit provides a greater bias current in a first external connection condition, in the absence of a pull-up resistance connected to the output terminal, than when such a pull-up resistance is present. The amplifier applies a different voltage to the output terminal in the absence of a pull-up resistance than when such a pull-up resistance is present. The circuit can be used in a portable device for receiving charging current from a battery charger through a connector having a D+ pin for connection to the battery charger and connected to the amplifier output terminal for battery charger detection. The portable device can meet the USB battery charger specification rev. 1.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Wenzhong Zhang, Shayan Zhang, Yi Zhao
  • Publication number: 20140218114
    Abstract: A method includes, in at least one aspect, receiving, at both an input node of a first input stage and in input node of a second input stage, a single-ended voltage signal; providing, by at least one of the first input stage or the second input stage, inductive degeneration to the single-ended voltage signal; converting an output from the first input stage into a first single-ended current signal; converting an output from the second input stage into a second single-ended current signal; and outputting, by an output stage, a differential output including the first single-ended current signal and the second single-ended current signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventor: Paolo Rossi
  • Patent number: 8791682
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a pass element comprising an input, an output and a control input. The pass element, with a first signal on the control input, passes a voltage from the input to the output and, with a second signal on the control input, blocks the voltage on the input from passing to the output. A differential amplifier includes a non-inverting input coupled to the input, an inverting input coupled to the output, an amplifier output coupled to the control input and a bias current connection. The differential amplifier, with a bias current supplied, supplies the first signal along with a closed feedback loop from the output and supplies the second signal in absence of the bias current. A current source is coupled to the bias current connection and an enable input. The current source supplies the bias current and, in absence of an enable signal, disables the bias current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: Qi Deng
  • Publication number: 20140203875
    Abstract: A preamplifier includes a differential pair of transistors receiving a bias current having a differential input and a differential output, a first resistor coupled to a first differential output node, a first transistor having a current path coupled between the first resistor and a power supply, a second resistor coupled to the first differential output node, a second transistor having a current path coupled between the second resistor and the power supply, a third resistor coupled to a second differential output node, a third transistor having a current path coupled between the third resistor and the power supply, a fourth resistor coupled to the second differential output node, and a fourth transistor having a current path coupled between the fourth resistor and the power supply, wherein a source of the second and third transistors are coupled together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: AEROFLEX COLORADO SPRINGS INC.
    Inventors: Alfio Zanchi, Shinichi Hisano
  • Publication number: 20140197828
    Abstract: When a switch is set to off, and a switch is set to on, the voltage of a SigOut terminal is stabilized with a reference voltage, and a bias voltage is applied to a capacitor. Changing the switch from on to off, with the bias voltage retained in the capacitor, a detection signal which is input via a SigIn terminal is amplified with the reference voltage as a reference, and an amplified signal is output from the SigOut terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Miki Kagano, Kazuya Makabe, Tomokazu Ogomi, Takahito Nakanishi, Tadashi Minobe, Takashi Ito
  • Publication number: 20140184332
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a digital amplifier configured to amplify an input signal to output a first output signal, an analog amplifier configured to amplify the input signal to output a second output signal, a check circuit configured to produce a check signal responsive to frequencies of the input signal, and a selector circuit configured to select and output one of the first output signal and the second output signal in response to the check signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Huan Shi, Hisanori Murata
  • Publication number: 20140184331
    Abstract: A method of operating an amplifier circuit having a pre-charge phase and a sample/conversion phase includes, during a pre-charge phase, charging first and second capacitors to first and second bias voltages. The first capacitor is coupled to a first input of an amplifier circuit, which has a second input and an output. The second capacitor is coupled to the second input. During a sample/conversion phase, the first input of the amplifier circuit is coupled to an input signal through the first capacitor to level-shift the input signal according to the first bias voltage and the output of the amplifier is coupled to the second input through the second capacitor to level shift a feedback signal according to the second bias voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Axel Thomsen, Gang Yuan
  • Patent number: 8766715
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit capable of reducing load of a circuit at the previous stage by providing increased input impedance producing less noises. The amplifier circuit includes a fully-differential operational amplifier composed of an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal receiving a signal different from a signal to be input to the inverting input terminal, an inverting output terminal with the same polarity of the inverting input terminal, and a non-inverting output terminal with reverse polarity; an input impedance element with one end connected to the inverting input terminal; an input impedance element with one end connected to the non-inverting input terminal; and positive feedback impedance elements, with one end of connected to the other end of the input impedance element and the other end connected to the inverting output terminal or to the non-inverting output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Koyama
  • Publication number: 20140176239
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes differential input nodes, a differential amplifier stage having differential input terminals and differential output terminals, and an input common-mode voltage adaptation circuit connected between the differential input nodes of the amplifier circuit and the differential input terminals of the differential amplifier stage. During an input common-mode adaptation phase, the input common-mode voltage adaptation circuit forces the differential input terminals of the differential amplifier stage to a common-mode voltage equal to an adaptive reference voltage, independent of a common-mode voltage applied to the differential input nodes of the amplifier circuit during the input common-mode adaptation phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: LSI Corporation
    Inventor: Abhishek Duggal
  • Publication number: 20140176240
    Abstract: A high-frequency bandwidth amplifying circuit includes a forward channel and a backward channel. An input terminal of the forward channel and an external forward input terminal are connected; an output terminal of the forward channel and a forward output port are connected. An input terminal of the backward channel and an external backward input terminal are connected; an output terminal of the backward channel and a backward output port are connected. The high-frequency bandwidth amplifying circuit further includes a feedback network. The forward channel includes a first operational amplifier and a second operational amplifier. An input terminal of the first operational amplifier is connected to the external forward input terminal; an output terminal of the first operational amplifier is connected to an input terminal of the second operational amplifier; and an output terminal of the second operational amplifier is connected to the forward output port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: IPGoal Microelectronics (Sichuan) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ziche Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140167851
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a current-mode line driver that may facilitate transmitting signals to a load. The current-mode line driver may comprise a common-mode current sense element that provides a signal corresponding to the common-mode output current of the line driver. A transconductance element receives the signal from the common-mode current sense element and provides a compensating current that is based at least in part on the signal. The compensating current may reduce the common-mode output current of the line driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hui Pan, Yuan Yao, Mostafa Hammad, Karim Vincent Abdelhalim, Junhua Tan, Ichiro Fujimori
  • Patent number: 8755544
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an earphone power amplifier, including a ground contact connected to a ground wire of an earphone, a left sound channel power amplifying circuit connected to a left sound channel of the earphone, and a right sound channel power amplifying circuit connected to a right sound channel of the earphone. The left sound channel power amplifying circuit includes a first operational amplifier and a first positive feedback exported from an input end of the first ferrite bead to an in-phase input end of the first operational amplifier, the right sound channel power amplifying circuit includes a second operational amplifier and a second positive feedback exported from the input end of the first ferrite bead to an in-phase input end of the second operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Huawei Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haitao Zhen, Yongxiang Yang, Xuxing Yan
  • Patent number: 8754711
    Abstract: A system for a feedback transimpedance amplifier with sub-40 khz low-frequency cutoff is disclosed and may include amplifying electrical signals received via coupling capacitors utilizing a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) having feedback paths comprising source followers and feedback resistors. Gate terminals of the source followers may be coupled to output terminals of the TIA. The feedback paths may be coupled prior to the coupling capacitors at inputs of the TIA. Voltages may be level shifted prior to the coupling capacitors to ensure stable bias conditions for the TIA. The TIA may be integrated in a CMOS photonics chip and the source followers may comprise CMOS transistors. The TIA may receive current-mode logic or voltage signals. The electrical signals may be received from a photodetector, which may comprise a silicon germanium photodiode differentially coupled to the TIA. Optical signals for the photodetector in the CMOS photonics chip may be received via optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Welch
  • Publication number: 20140159815
    Abstract: A CMOS trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) in accordance with the present disclosure can achieve improved bandwidth and sensitivity by utilizing novel shunt-shunt feedback and inductor peaking. The proposed design simultaneously improves 10-Gbps TIA performance in terms of bandwidth and sensitivity, while the TIA may be fabricated through a standard 0.13 ?m CMOS process. Performance of the TIA in accordance with the present disclosure is much better than that of conventional CMOS TIA in the 10-Gbps CMOS TIA design and applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SiFotonics Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuicheng Cai, Yuqian Wu, Chunmei Li
  • Patent number: 8751993
    Abstract: A method of designing a microwave filter using a computerized filter optimizer, comprises generating a filter circuit design in process (DIP) comprising a plurality of circuit elements having a plurality of resonant elements and one or more non-resonant elements, optimizing the DIP by inputting the DIP into the computerized filter optimizer, determining that one of the plurality of circuit elements in the DIP is insignificant, removing the one insignificant circuit element from the DIP, deriving a final filter circuit design from the DIP, and manufacturing the microwave filter based on the final filter circuit design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Resonant LLC
    Inventors: Neal Fenzi, Kurt Raihn
  • Patent number: 8742848
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an instrumentation amplifier to have an improved common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) vs. frequency initially trims resistors in the input amplifiers of the instrumentation amplifier during a DC test, where the inputs are shorted and a DC voltage is applied, so that the output of the amplifier is approximately zero. This will normally cause the transconductances of the two input amplifiers to be different. Thus, the AC CMRR will degrade with frequency. Trimmable capacitors are provided in the input section and are trimmed during a common mode AC test to cause the output voltage to be minimized during the AC test. This causes the two input amplifiers to have the same bandwidth and gm/C ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Lloyd Botker
  • Patent number: 8742788
    Abstract: A common mode control circuit (400) for generating a control signal indicative of a common mode signal in first and second signals of a differential signal pair comprises a first charge control means (300) for varying, dependent on polarity of the first and second signals with respect to a threshold, charge on a capacitive element (250, 260, 270). The first charge control means (300) is operable to, in response to the first and second signals both switching polarity simultaneously from opposite polarities, maintain a direction of flow of the charge. The first charge control means (300) can be operable to, in response to the first and second signals both switching polarity simultaneously from opposite polarities and the flow of charge being zero, maintain the flow at zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventor: Bas Maria Putter
  • Publication number: 20140132347
    Abstract: Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide a linearized high-ohmic resistor. In an example, a quantity of serially connected nonlinear impedances is arranged as a resistance. In one example, the quantity of impedances is applied in an amplifier circuit, between an input of the amplifier and an output of the amplifier, and arranged to set a DC operating point for the amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventor: Dieter DRAXELMAYR
  • Patent number: 8725105
    Abstract: A low noise amplifier is used to amplify a differential input pair to generate a differential output pair. The low noise amplifier includes two main paths, two assistant circuits and two adders to make noise carried on two output signals of the differential output pair be the same; therefore, the noise of the two output signals can be fully cancelled in the following operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Da Tsai, Chih-Fan Liao
  • Patent number: 8723603
    Abstract: Amplifiers with voltage and current feedback error correction are provided. In one embodiment, an amplifier includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, an output terminal, a first stage, and a voltage feedback amplification circuit. The first stage can be used to generate first and second output currents, which can be used to control a voltage level of the output terminal. The first and second output currents can change in response to a current feedback signal and a differential input signal received between the first and second input terminals. The first stage can also generate a voltage feedback signal, which can be used by the voltage feedback amplification circuit to control a voltage level of the second input terminal based on a voltage level of the first input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Derek Bowers
  • Publication number: 20140125413
    Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a common mode output voltage in an instrumentation amplifier is provided. In one aspect, the common mode output voltage is increased or decreased with respect to the common mode input voltage to enable high amplification of the signal input to the instrumentation amplifier. Moreover, the common mode output voltage can be driven to (or approximately to) a target voltage value such as, but not limited to, half the supply, even if the common mode input voltage is close to supply or ground rail voltage. Thus, a high amplification of the differential input voltage can be obtained and utilized for various applications requiring rail to rail input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: SEMTECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Olivier Nys, Francois Krummenacher
  • Patent number: 8717097
    Abstract: An amplifier with improved noise reduction is disclosed. In one implementation, an amplifier is provided that includes a main output stage configured to output an amplified signal at a main output terminal, a secondary output stage configured to output a copy of the amplified signal at a secondary output terminal, and a signal coupler configured to provide a variable resistance coupling between the secondary output terminal and the main output terminal to reduce noise at the main output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Vijayakumar Dhanasekaran
  • Publication number: 20140120856
    Abstract: A RF front-end circuit and a low noise amplifier thereof configured for a receiver are provided. The circuit includes a low noise amplifier and a quadrature passive mixer. The low noise amplifier provides two RF output differential signals to the quadrature passive mixer. The RF signals are down-converted to the differential in-phase baseband signals and the differential quadrature-phase baseband signals. The structure of the RF front-end circuit can avoid the signal and noise interfering between in-phase channel and quadrature-phase channel without using a 25% duty cycle local oscillation generator circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Shenzhen South Silicon Valley Microelectronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hua-Yu Liao, Cheng-Yu Wang, Ying-Tang Chang
  • Publication number: 20140111278
    Abstract: A transconductance amplification stage (301) includes a differential pair (306) wherein a bias current flows through each transistor (302, 304) of the pair when input voltages are equal. Tail current boosting circuitry (320), which includes a tail transistor, provides a translinear expansion of tail current of the differential pair. A feedback loop (307) dynamically biases the differential pair to maintain current through one transistor (302) of the pair at the bias current value in spite of a difference between input voltages. Another transistor (304) of the pair provides an output current responsive to a difference between input voltages. The output current is not affected by a region of operation of the tail transistor. An output structure (300, 500) includes the transconductance amplification stage and a circuit (303) for mirroring the output current. An amplifier (800) includes the output structure as a buffer between other structures (801) and an output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Ricardo Pureza COIMBRA, Edevaldo PEREIRA da SILVA, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140104001
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit configured to amplify a voltage between a signal input to a first input terminal and a signal input to a second input terminal, a plurality of output circuits each configured to output a signal corresponding to a signal output from the differential amplifier circuit, and a control circuit configured to set a selected one of the plurality of output circuits in an operating state to drive an output terminal of the selected output circuit, and set a remaining output circuit in a non-operating state and set an output terminal of the remaining output circuit in a high impedance state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20140097899
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an audio amplification circuit includes an input stage switchably connected to a switching network through a signal generator and a signal generator stage having a first input and a first output, the first input of the signal generator stage coupled to the first output of the input stage. An output stage is connected to the signal generator stage. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for inhibiting audible transients in an audio signal comprises providing an audio amplification circuit having at least one input and at least one output and coupling a first output to a first source of operating potential in response to one of starting or turning off the audio amplification circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: Stephane Ramond
  • Patent number: 8692616
    Abstract: A folded cascode operational amplifier includes a constant current source to output a constant current; a differential input stage to output a part of the constant current as a differential current based on a voltage difference between voltages input to an inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal, and connected to the constant current source; and an output stage to output a remaining current obtained by subtracting the differential current from the constant current as an output stage current, and connected parallel to the differential input stage facing the constant current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kunihiko Gotoh
  • Patent number: 8686889
    Abstract: A system for signal processing comprising a cyclic analog to digital converter structure having a first stage and a second stage, wherein the first stage is configured to receive an input signal to perform 1.5 bits/stage ADC and to generate a first stage output signal, and the second stage is configured to receive the first stage output signal and to perform fine offset tuning using a final conversion phase. The second stage further configured to perform 1.5 bits/stage ADC and to generate a second stage output that is fed back to the first stage to iteratively generate a next 1.5 bits, until (N?3) most significant bits of N bits of data are generated. A third stage configured to generate a three least significant bits of the N bits of data using a flash ADC sampling circuit that samples a residue signal at the output of the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandrashekar A. Reddy, Yagneshwara Ramakrishna Rao Vadapalli
  • Publication number: 20140085007
    Abstract: An envelope detector (ED) includes a voltage-mode ED core including parallel detection transistors for detecting a voltage envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal input, the RF signal input including an output of a radio such as a cellular transmitter (TX). The ED further includes multiple voltage amplifiers positioned serially in gain stages between the TX output and the ED core to provide a total linear voltage range of the envelope detector. A final voltage amplifier of the multiple voltage amplifiers drives the ED core and includes a class-AB RF amplifier configured to operate within a full linear voltage range of the ED core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amir Hadji-Abdolhamid, Janice Chiu
  • Publication number: 20140077880
    Abstract: An operational amplifier module including an operational amplifier circuit, a rate-increasing circuit and an overdriving circuit is provided. The operational amplifier switches an input voltage to an output voltage and outputs the switched output voltage. The rate-increasing circuit receives the input voltage and the output voltage and increases the rate of switching the input voltage to the output voltage according to the difference between the input voltage and the output voltage. The overdriving circuit provides an overdriving voltage to the rate-increasing circuit and the operational amplifier circuit during an overdriving period according to a selection signal. The level of the overdriving voltage is higher or lower than the levels of the input voltage and the output voltage. Furthermore, a method for increasing the slew rate of the operational amplifier circuit is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Ji-Ting Chen
  • Publication number: 20140070886
    Abstract: Amplifiers with voltage and current feedback error correction are provided. In one embodiment, an amplifier includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, an output terminal, a first stage, and a voltage feedback amplification circuit. The first stage can be used to generate first and second output currents, which can be used to control a voltage level of the output terminal. The first and second output currents can change in response to a current feedback signal and a differential input signal received between the first and second input terminals. The first stage can also generate a voltage feedback signal, which can be used by the voltage feedback amplification circuit to control a voltage level of the second input terminal based on a voltage level of the first input terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Derek Bowers
  • Patent number: 8670730
    Abstract: A power efficient, small-packaged radio frequency (RF) transmitter for use in avionics applications. The RF transmitter utilizes Cartesian feedback to operate a power amplifier with Class AB biasing and efficiency, while delivering Class A biasing performance. The RF transmitter includes interstage pads and high pass filters specially configured to meet demanding requirements for both adjacent channel power (ACP) limits and wideband spurious energy limits. The RF transmitter is much smaller in size and dissipates less DC power and heat than previous RF transmitters used in avionics applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Spectralux Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Ogle Shafer
  • Publication number: 20140062597
    Abstract: A decision feedback equalizer is disclosed. The decision feedback equalizer comprises an amplifier circuit and a latch. The amplifier circuit is configured to receive an input signal, a decision feedback signal and a control signal, and is configured to adjust its driving capability according to the decision feedback signal and the control signal to provide an amplified signal of the input signal. The latch is configured to latch the amplified signal as an output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Nanya Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Yu Meng CHUANG