Having Signal Feedback Means Patents (Class 330/260)
  • Patent number: 7746172
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transimpedance amplifier circuit that includes a linearized differential transimpedance amplifier, a detector, and dynamic current source circuitry, which diverts common mode currents from feedback resistors in the linearized differential transimpedance amplifier to keep the linearized differential transimpedance amplifier in a linear operating range. Magnitudes of the diverted common mode currents from the feedback resistors may be based on a detected magnitude associated with differential input signals that feed the linearized differential transimpedance amplifier. The detector provides a detector output signal to the dynamic current source circuitry based on the detected magnitude associated with the differential input signals, such that the diverted common mode currents are based on the detector output signal. The transimpedance amplifier circuit provides differential output signals that are based on amplifying the differential input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin W. Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100156535
    Abstract: An integrated programmable gain amplifier circuit that receives at an input an analog signal, circuit including an operational amplifier and a gain setup network comprising resistive elements and selection elements, which may be controlled in order to setup the gain of the amplifier circuit. The gain setup network further includes capacitive elements, for defining, together with the resistive elements and the operational amplifier, an anti-aliasing filter of the active RC type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Germano Nicollini, Angelo Nagari
  • Patent number: 7741910
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed that comprises a capacitor gain-boost circuit and an amplifier coupled to capacitor gain-boost circuit. A capacitor gain-boost circuit comprises of capacitor, gain-boost amplifier and biasing circuit. The gain-boost amplifier and capacitor provides optimum biasing operation and performance. Accordingly, through the use of capacitor gain-boost circuit, the supply voltage range and power consumption of an amplifier is optimized while the gain of amplifier is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Louis Sze Wong
  • Patent number: 7737783
    Abstract: A differential amplifier comprises a left amplifier having transistors, a right amplifier having transistors, a negative feedback network having a resistor, and a negative feedback network having a transformer with a center tap. Phase compensation networks comprising a capacitor and a resistor, a capacitor and a resistor, and a capacitor and a resistor are further added to the amplifier. Both ends of a secondary winding of the transformer are connected to the output terminals of the right and left amplifiers, and the center tap of the secondary winding is grounded, so that a differential amplified output signal can be fed back to a single-phase input using one transformer, thereby reducing a cost and an area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Icom Incorporated
    Inventor: Kouichiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7733180
    Abstract: An apparatus having a zero-pole that is dependant on an equivalent series resistance (ESR) and a load is provided. The apparatus comprises an amplifier stage that receives a first input voltage and a bias voltage, an intermediate stage that is coupled to the output node of the amplifier stage (where the intermediate stage outputs an intermediate voltage to an intermediate node), a first capacitor coupled between at least one of the internal transistors at an internal node and the intermediate node, a power transistor coupled between a second input voltage and the intermediate node, a second capacitor coupled between the internal node and the power transistor, and a feedback stage coupled to the intermediate node and to the amplifier stage. The amplifier stage also has an output node and includes a plurality of internal transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Preetam Charan Anand Tadeparthy, Vikram Gakhar
  • Patent number: 7733181
    Abstract: Methods and corresponding systems for amplifying an input signal include inputting first and second differential input signals into first and second circuit legs, respectively, wherein the first circuit leg includes a first transistor coupled in series with a first variable current source, and wherein the second circuit leg includes a second transistor coupled in series with a second variable current source. The first and second variable current sources are dynamically set to provide first and second bias currents in response to the first and second differential input signals, wherein the first bias current is set inversely proportional to the second bias current. The first and second bias currents are sunk in the first and second circuit legs, respectively. First and second differential output signals are output from the first and second circuit legs, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Jaeger, Lawrence E. Connell
  • Patent number: 7724085
    Abstract: The variable gain amplifier includes a forward path that provides the amplifier variable gain, and a feedback path. The feedback path uses a switch that is turned on at low gain levels. The switch taps into the feedback resistor, shunting it to signal-ground and eliminating the feedback mechanism. This ensures that the input impedance seen at the input port does not grow excessively, using part of the feedback resistor as a passive termination at low gain levels. In this way variable gain ranges in excess of 30 dB can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Danilo Manstretta
  • Publication number: 20100123983
    Abstract: An operational amplifier circuit is for an arc fault circuit interrupter including a current sensor having a secondary and an envelope detector circuit having an input. The operational amplifier circuit includes a band pass filter having an input structured to be electrically interconnected with the secondary of the current sensor and an output; and a rectifier circuit. The rectifier circuit includes an operational amplifier having an input electrically interconnected with the output of the band pass filter and an output, a half-wave rectifier having an input electrically interconnected with the output of the operational amplifier, an output, and a forward voltage between the input and the output of the half-wave rectifier, the half-wave rectifier output being structured to be electrically interconnected with the input of the envelope detector circuit, and a voltage compensation circuit cooperating with the input and the output of the operational amplifier to compensate for the forward voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventor: ROBERT T. ELMS
  • Patent number: 7719358
    Abstract: A low frequency analog circuit and a method for designing the same are provided. In a low frequency analog circuit according to the present invention, a part of MOS transistors employed in the circuit are operated at a weak inversion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yu-Chun Hsu, Lu-Po Liao
  • Patent number: 7719361
    Abstract: A differential amplifier includes a first electrical path formed between a first transistor and a first load impedance; a second electrical path formed between a second transistor and a second load impedance; a tail-current transistor coupled to the first and second transistors; an input end of a feedback amplifier coupled directly to the first and second electrical paths for receiving a differential voltage output signal; and an output end of the feedback amplifier coupled directly to the tail-current transistor for adjusting the current provided through each of the first and second electrical paths. The feedback amplifier includes a non-inverting input node and an inverting input node, each node coupled directly to one or the other of the first and second electrical paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Florin Pera
  • Publication number: 20100117736
    Abstract: A line driver includes an output terminal set for outputting an output signal, a differential amplifier for amplifying an input signal, a series resistor set coupled between the differential amplifier and the output terminal set, a negative-feedback resistor set coupled to the differential amplifier, a feedback variable resistor set coupled between the differential amplifier and the output terminal set, and an adjusting unit coupled to the feedback variable resistor set. The adjusting unit is operable to adjust resistances of the feedback variable resistor set according to the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Su-Liang LIAO
  • Patent number: 7714645
    Abstract: A single-ended operational amplifier includes an output stage, a first transconductance amplifier and a second transconductance amplifier. In an offset cancellation mode, two inputs of the first transconductance amplifier are supplied with a reference voltage to sink two currents from two inputs of the output stage respectively, the output stage generates a third current according to the difference between the two currents to charge a capacitor, and the second transconductance amplifier generates two currents according to the voltage in the capacitor to make currents in the two inputs of the output stage equal to each other, thereby canceling the offset of the single-ended operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Shui-Mu Lin, Tsung-Wei Huang, Jien-Sheng Chen, Kwan-Jen Chu
  • Publication number: 20100109775
    Abstract: To eliminate the substrate voltage dependences of the respective resistance values of resistor elements, in the resistor elements coupled in series to each other over respective substrate regions, the ends of the resistor elements are coupled to the corresponding substrate regions by respective bias wires such that respective average potentials between the substrate regions of the resistor elements and the corresponding resistor elements have opposite polarities, and equal magnitudes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Masaomi KAMAKURA, Toshio Kumamoto, Takashi Okuda
  • Patent number: 7710197
    Abstract: A system for processing a signal is provided. The system includes a differential amplifier receiving a radio-frequency input signal at a first differential input. A rectifying device such as a transistor has a control terminal that is coupled to an output of the differential amplifier and an output that is coupled to a second differential input of the differential amplifier. The second differential input of the differential amplifier receives a low frequency feedback signal from the output of the rectifying device, such as by damping the frequency response at the output of the rectifying device using a capacitor and a current source coupled to the output of the rectifying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Axiom Microdevices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ichiro Aoki, Setu Mohta, Morten Damgaard
  • Patent number: 7710162
    Abstract: A differential amplifier includes an amplification unit and a feedback unit. The amplification unit amplifies a voltage difference between a first input signal and a second input signal and outputs a first output signal and a second output signal. The feedback unit amplifies a voltage difference between a first feedback signal based on the first output signal and a second feedback signal based on the second output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Sung-Joo Ha
  • Patent number: 7710199
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for use in power amplifiers for reducing the peak voltage that transistors are subjected to. A power amplifier is provided with first and second switching devices and an inductor connected between the switching devices. The switching devices are driven such that the switching devices are turned on and off during the same time intervals. Differential RF power amplifiers are also provided with inductive networks coupled at various nodes of the power amplifiers. In some examples, techniques are used to stabilize differential power amplifiers by stabilizing common-mode feedback loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Black Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan M. Bocock, David Bockelman, Susanne A. Paul, Timothy J. Dupuis
  • Patent number: 7696824
    Abstract: A differential audio amplification apparatus with common mode rejection is shown, having a first input current path (401) and a second input current path (402) with a shunting input resistance (400) therebetween. The apparatus also has a first output current path (403) and a second output current path (404) with a shunting output resistance (405) therebetween. Differential amplifiers (412, 413) are provided with feedback connecting the input paths with the output paths and providing an output signal. The output shunting resistance (405) is controlled to provide gain control while maintaining common mode rejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Red Lion 49 Limited
    Inventor: David Joseph Mate
  • Patent number: 7692489
    Abstract: A differential two-stage Miller compensated amplifier system with capacitive level shifting includes a first stage differential transconductance amplifier including first and second output nodes and an output common mode voltage, a second stage differential transconductance amplifier including non-inverting and inverting inputs and outputs and an input common mode voltage, and a level shifting capacitor circuit coupled between the first and second output nodes and the non-inverting and inverting inputs for level shifting between the output common mode voltage of the first stage and the input common mode voltage of the second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel F. Kelly, Lawrence Singer, Steven Decker, Stephen R. Kosic
  • Patent number: 7688141
    Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier (TIA) includes N cascaded pairs of transconductance amplifiers, where N is an integer greater than 1. Each one of the N cascaded pairs includes a first transconductance amplifier having an input and an output, and a second transconductance amplifier having an input that communicates with the output of the first transconductance amplifier and an output. Each one of the N cascaded pairs includes a first resistance having first and second ends that communicate with the input and the output of the second transconductance amplifier, respectively. The TIA further includes a second resistance having a first end that communicates with the input of the first transconductance amplifier of a first one of the N cascaded pairs, and a second end that communicates with the output of the second transconductance amplifier of a last one of the N cascaded pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Farbod Aram
  • Patent number: 7679432
    Abstract: An operation amplifier (op-amp) and a circuit for providing dynamic current thereof are disclosed. The circuit can be applied to any current op-amp. The circuit comprises two transistors which are simultaneously or non-simultaneously turned on as the input signals respectively received by the first input and the second input of the op-amp get a transition, namely, as the op-amp is in the transient state, so as to increase the bias current at the first input terminal or/and the second input terminal of the op-amp by a dynamic current. Therefore, not only the internal slew rate of the op-amp can be accelerated by the circuit of the present invention, but also the power consumption of the op-amp can not be increased by the circuit of the present invention as the op-amp in the steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Ju-Lin Huang
  • Patent number: 7679443
    Abstract: System and method for common mode translation in continuous-time sigma-delta analog-to-digital converters. An embodiment includes a loop filter having an RC network coupled to a differential signal input, a Gm-C/Quantizer/DAC circuit (GQD) coupled to the loop filter, a common-mode level adjust circuit coupled to signal inputs of the GQD, and a tuning circuit coupled to the GQD and the common-mode level adjust circuit. The GQD evaluates an input signal provided by the RC network, computes a difference between a filtered input signal and the feedback quantization signal to generate an error signal, measures the error signal, and compensates for the error signal with sigma-delta noise-shaping. The common-mode level adjust circuit alters a common-mode level of a differential input signal to be substantially equal to a desired common-mode level and the tuning circuit provides a compensation voltage to the common-mode level adjust circuit based on a difference between the common-mode levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ayman A. Fayed, Russell Byrd, Baher Haroun
  • Patent number: 7679445
    Abstract: Disclosed is a differential amplifier system that maintains high speed characteristics of the differential amplifier while providing stability from a common-mode loop by using dominant pole compensation. The disclosed system includes a first and second transconductance stage, a circuit having high impedance, and a compensation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Lawas, Kimo Y. F. Tam
  • Patent number: 7671674
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an amplifier circuit and system, and to a method of compensating a gain imbalance generated in a complementary amplifier stage with first and second amplifier means (22, 24) in a bridge configuration. A compensation offset current is generated in response to the values of input signals supplied to respective inputs of said first and second amplifier means, and the compensation offset current is injected to a junction node between the inputs of the first and second amplifier means (22, 24). Thereby, it can be ensured that the gain of the first and second amplifier means does not depend on the kind of input signals, i.e. balanced or unbalanced input signals. An automatic gain correction can thus be achieved and the requirement of additional control signals or control terminals for selection of gain control circuits depending on the kind of input source or input configuration of the amplifier circuit can be dropped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Arnold Jan Freeke
  • Patent number: 7671683
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has an amplifier circuit which includes a phase compensating capacitor and has a feedback loop, and a stability determining and adjusting circuit which measures an amplitude of a voltage outputted from the amplifier circuit at a predetermined plurality of frequencies and adjusts a capacitance value of the phase compensating capacitor on the basis of a ratio between measured values of the amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kenichi Agawa
  • Patent number: 7667538
    Abstract: A differential amplifier comprises terminals for receiving signals, and outputting a signal, and differential pairs, each having an input and output pair, the differential pairs supplied with currents, respectively, a load circuit connected to the differential pairs, an amplifier stage for receiving input, a signal of at least one connection node of the load circuit and output pairs of the differential pairs, the amplifier stage having an output connected to a terminal and a connection switching circuit for controlling switching between connection states of a first differential pair and second differential pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tsuchi
  • Patent number: 7659780
    Abstract: A gain control circuit including a resistor with a first terminal and a second terminal; an operational amplifier with an inverting terminal thereof electrically coupled to said first terminal of said resistor; a non-inverting terminal thereof; and an output terminal thereof; an amplifier circuit for transforming the voltage change of said operational amplifier output into a substantially exponential current change; wherein the output of said amplifier circuit is electrically coupled to said inverting terminal of said operational amplifier. The above described gain control circuit is able to perform wide bandwidth input signal buffering with linearity under low voltage and low power conditions. The circuit also offers low output impedances without the need of additional buffers and hence minimizing circuit size and manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chit Ah Mak, Chun Fai Wong, Lap Chi Leung, Xiaofei Kuang, Jennifer Shuet Yan Ho, David Kwok Kuen Kwong
  • Patent number: 7656219
    Abstract: A circuit and method for producing an output voltage that replicates an input voltage. A circuit comprises an amplifier stage configured to amplify a difference between an input voltage and a feedback voltage. An output stage is configured to produce an output voltage equal to the input voltage. The output stage configured to be driven by the difference between the input voltage and the feedback voltage. The output stage further comprises a main supply current path configured to provide a first current from a main supply source, the first current providing at least a portion of the output voltage, and a current management circuit configured to provide a second current from an auxiliary supply source, the second current providing any remaining portion of the output voltage not provided by the first current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Victor Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7656231
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating differential signals. The apparatus includes a first operational amplifier receiving a first signal, a second operational amplifier receiving a second signal, and a first transistor. The first transistor includes a first gate, a first terminal, and a second terminal. Additionally, the apparatus includes a second transistor. The second transistor includes a second gate, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. Moreover, the apparatus includes a first resistor coupled to the first terminal and the third terminal, and a second resistor coupled to the second terminal and the fourth terminal. Also, the apparatus includes a first current supplier coupled to the first terminal, a second current supplier coupled to the second terminal, a third current supplier coupled to the third terminal, and a fourth current supplier coupled to the fourth terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventors: Wenzhe Luo, Paul Ouyang
  • Patent number: 7652536
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit with internal zeros provides a second pole in addition to a first pole and two zeros such that the second pole can prevent excessive gain at high frequency, so as to have high-frequency noise under control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Hung-Der Su, Jing-Meng Liu, An-Tung Chen, Pao-Chuan Lin
  • Patent number: 7652538
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for providing high speed operational amplifiers and, in particular, operational amplifiers having frequency compensation circuits that provide improved slew rates with low power dissipation when configured with feedback. Frequency compensation schemes are provided to enable dynamic configuration of frequency compensation circuits implementing miller compensation whereby nodal connections of compensation capacitors are changed during driver setup and driving periods such that compensation capacitors are connected to source voltages to rapidly charge/discharge compensation capacitors using supply source currents during setup period, while providing frequency compensation during the setup and driving periods to maintain circuit stability and prevent oscillation of an output voltage due to the feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoon-Kyung Choi
  • Patent number: 7649559
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for offset cancellation in an amplifier are disclosed, wherein the amplifier inputs may be exposed to large loads from an array of pixel columns coupled in parallel. During a cancellation phase, an amplifier offset may be canceled by selectively coupling a first amplifier output to a first amplifier input and a second amplifier output to a second amplifier input. During a portion of the cancellation phase, a buffer may use the first amplifier input to drive a first pixel signal. During a different portion of the cancellation phase, the buffer may use the second amplifier input to drive a second pixel signal. To sense the pixel columns during an amplification phase, the first and second pixel signals are coupled to the first and second amplifier inputs, respectively, with the result that the amplifier offset and the buffer offset are cancelled from the amplifier output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Alf Olsen
  • Publication number: 20100007420
    Abstract: An operational amplifier includes an input stage amplifier that receives an input signal, an output stage amplifier that amplifies a signal output from the input stage amplifier and outputs the signal, a capacitor that is connected between an input node and an output node of the output stage amplifier, and a charge and discharge control circuit that controls a charge and discharge current of the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi Nishimura, Yoshihiko Hori
  • Patent number: 7646242
    Abstract: A disclosed operational amplifier circuit with a multi-stage amplifier configuration provides fast-response and high withstand-voltage characteristics without using high withstand-voltage transistors as output transistors in its amplifying stages. The output voltage range of a differential amplifier circuit in a first stage is limited by voltage clamping based on a reverse withstand voltage of a bipolar diode. The output voltage range of an amplifier circuit in a second stage is limited by voltage clamping based on a reverse withstand voltage of another bipolar diode. A constant voltage circuit and an apparatus including such an operational amplifier circuit are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaaki Negoro
  • Patent number: 7639079
    Abstract: A wideband amplifier having an amplifier input terminal and an amplifier output terminal includes at least one transistor coupled to the amplifier input terminal and an impedance element coupled between the amplifier input terminal and the amplifier output terminal. A feedback signal is transmitted between the amplifier output terminal and the amplifier input terminal by way of the impedance element wherein the feedback signal varies in accordance with changes in an impedance of the impedance element so as to peak a frequency response of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Tienyu Chang, Jinghong Chen
  • Publication number: 20090310979
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes: a differential amplifier circuit into which a digital input signal and a reference signal are fed; a feedback circuit outputting an average of amplitude of the input signal; and a peak holding circuit outputting a signal held based on an output signal of the feedback circuit as the reference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC DEVICE INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Hara
  • Patent number: 7633338
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit comprises a first capacitance having one end that communicates with an input of a first amplifier stage. An amplifier has a first gain, an input that communicates with an opposite end of the first capacitance, and an output. A second capacitance has a first end that communicates with the output of the amplifier and an opposite end that communicates with an input of a second amplifier stage. A broadband buffer has an input that communicates with the output of the amplifier and an output that communicates with the one end of the second capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Marvell International, Ltd
    Inventor: Farbod Aram
  • Patent number: 7633344
    Abstract: In a double-loop negative feedback low noise amplifier having double negative feedback paths by a feedback transformer and a feedback resistor added to a cascode amplifier comprising transistors and a resistor, a phase compensation circuit comprising a capacitor and a resistor is added between the output terminal of the double-loop negative feedback low noise amplifier and the input terminal of the cascode amplifier, i.e., the input terminal of the input transistor, and a phase compensation circuit comprising a capacitor and a resistor is added to the upper-stage transistor of the cascode amplifier, i.e., the input terminal of the upper-stage transistor. Those phase compensation circuits enable a low noise negative feedback amplifier which maintains a high feedback loop gain to a high frequency band, has a wider bandwidth than a conventional one, and has a high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Icom Incorporated
    Inventor: Kouichiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7633337
    Abstract: A feedback-type variable gain amplifier including a first field effect transistor, a feedback circuit, and a load circuit. The first field effect transistor receives an input voltage signal through an input node, amplifies the input voltage signal, and outputs the amplified input voltage signal through an output node. The feedback circuit is coupled between the input node and the output node, and generates feedback impedance that is changed in response to a control signal. The load circuit is coupled between the output node and a voltage source, and generates load impedance that is changed in response to the control signal to cancel a change of input impedance due to a change of the feedback impedance. Therefore, since the input impedance is not changed when the gain of the amplifier is changed, a voltage standing wave ratio is good, and a range of gain control is broad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Il-Ku Nam, Young-Jin Kim, Hyun-Won Mun
  • Patent number: 7629848
    Abstract: An operational amplifier is provided with an extended common mode input range. This operational amplifier includes an input stage, a common mode feedback circuit, a current mirror, a replica input stage, and an output stage. The input stage couples to the CMFB circuit and replica input stage. The input stage is operable to receive a feedback signal from the CMBF circuit. This feedback signal is based on comparing a common mode voltage to a common mode reference voltage. The current mirror, coupled to the CMFB circuit and input stage, mirrors currents within the input stage as input to the CMFB circuit. The replica input stage, which is also coupled to the CMFB circuit, uses an input common mode (INCM) voltage to adjust current flow within the replica input stage. This allows a current within the CMFB circuit to be a function of the INCM. The output stage couples to the input stage and is operable to provide an amplified signal corresponding to a first differential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Wu
  • Patent number: 7626458
    Abstract: An amplifier driver circuit (10) includes first (11-1) and second (11-2) feedback amplifiers including first (14-1) and second (14-2) upper current mirrors, respectively, and first (16-1) and second (16-2) lower current mirrors, respectively, first (12-1) and second (12-2) amplifier input stages receiving a common mode input signal, and first (18-1) and second (18-2) amplifier output stages coupled to outputs of the first and second amplifier input stages, respectively. Each current mirror has an input (IN) and first (OUT1) and second (OUT2) outputs. Upper bias terminals of the first (12-1) and second (12-2) amplifier input stages are coupled to the inputs (IN) of the first (14-1) and second (14-2) upper current mirrors, respectively, and are cross-coupled to the second outputs (OUT2) of the second (16-2) and first (16-1) lower current mirrors, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul G. Damitio, Ahmad Dashtestani
  • Publication number: 20090289714
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an operational amplifier. In one embodiment, the present invention is an operational amplifier including a transimpedance input stage, the transimpedance input stage including a first stage connected to a first resistor and a second resistor, and an output stage connected to the transimpedance input stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Zachary M. Griffith, Miguel E. Urteaga, Mark J.W. Rodwell
  • Publication number: 20090284315
    Abstract: An operational amplifier includes, between an input and an output of an operational amplifier (an operational amplification stage) 10, a feedback capacitor 34 connected in negative feedback, a phase control circuit 100 having a resistor element (a resistor unit) 30 connected in series to the feedback capacitor 34. Load capacitors (load units) 32 are connected on the output side of the operational amplifier 10 and driven by an output signal from the operational amplifier 10. In a case that the capacitance values of the load capacitor 32 and 33 are increased and the phase margin of the operational amplifier becomes excessive in comparison with the optimum value, a resistance value RO of the resistor element 30 is increased to control the phase margin of the operational amplifier so as to fall within the optimum range, and thus accelerated settling properties are realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Satoshi Kobayashi, Junji Nakatsuka
  • Patent number: 7619478
    Abstract: An operational amplifier includes a differential amplifier connected between an input and an output port of the operational amplifier, a phase compensator capacitance connected between the differential amplifier and the output port, a switching transistor for controlling the connection between the phase compensator capacitance and the differential amplifier, a detection transistor responsive to a potential difference between the input and output ports to be rendered conductive, and a control transistor responsive to the detection transistor for controlling the switching transistor. The operational amplifier has its slew rate improved without detracting from stability against oscillation and continuity of the output waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Yamazaki, Takeki Ebina
  • Patent number: 7605657
    Abstract: A multi-mode amplifier arrangement comprises an amplifier having a plurality of field effect transistors selectable in response to a control signal at a control terminal, said plurality of field effect transistors coupled to an input terminal to receive a signal to be amplified, said amplifier arranged between a supply terminal and a ground terminal. A tunable current source is coupled to the amplifier to provide in operation of the amplifier a constant drain current through the plurality of field effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Werner Schelmbauer
  • Patent number: 7598811
    Abstract: Current-controlled CMOS (C3MOS) fully differential integrated wideband amplifier/equalizer with adjustable gain and frequency response without additional power or loading. A novel approach is presented by which adjustable amplification and equalizer may be achieved using a C3MOS wideband data stage. This may be referred to as a C3MOS wideband data amplifier/equalizer circuit. This employs a wideband differential transistor pair that is fed using two separate transistor current sources. A switchable RC network is communicatively coupled between the sources of the individual transistors of the wideband differential transistor pair. There are a variety of means by which the switchable RC network may be implemented, including using a plurality of components (e.g., capacitors and resistors connected in parallel).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Cao
  • Patent number: 7592870
    Abstract: A low noise, low power differential two-stage amplifier includes a first stage comprising a pair of electrical devices that sense an input signal difference across the pair of electrical devices; and a control feedback loop operatively connected to the first stage, wherein the first stage in combination with the control loop feedback is adapted to place an exact copy of the signal across a first pair of resistive components, wherein the first pair of resistive components are adapted to generate a differential signal current, wherein the control feedback loop is adapted to ensure that the differential signal current goes a second pair of resistive components to generate a voltage output. Preferably, the first and second pair of resistive components are in ratio to produce the exact copy of the signal with some gain at an output of the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Newport Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Dejun Wang, Hassan Elwan
  • Patent number: 7592848
    Abstract: An offset adjusting apparatus adjusting an offset of an output signal output from an output terminal of an operational amplifier including one input terminal to which an input signal is to be input via a first resistor and the other input terminal to which a reference voltage is to be applied, the operational amplifier being connected between the one input terminal and the other output terminal, the offset adjusting apparatus comprising: an adjustment resistor configured to be capable of adjusting a resistance value, the adjustment resistor including one end to which an adjustment voltage for adjusting the offset is to be applied and the other end connected to the one input terminal of the operational amplifier; and a controlling unit configured to control the adjustment voltage applied to the adjustment resistor based on a DC level of the output signal to remove the offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7583146
    Abstract: A balanced, differential, cross-coupled amplifier including an input stage for receiving a differential input and including an input transconductance differential pair and a feedback transconductance differential pair; and an output stage responsive to the input stage for providing a differential output; the differential input being connected to one input of the input transconductance differential pair and one input of the feedback transconductance differential pair, the differential output being fed back to one input of the input transconductance differential pair and one input of the feedback transconductance differential pair for balancing the currents in the transconductance differential pairs over the input range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimo Y. F. Tam, Kenneth A. Lawas
  • Patent number: 7576610
    Abstract: A class AB operational amplifier is provided that includes first and second input transistors respectively coupled between first and second internal nodes and a first common node, first and second input stage load transistors diode connected and respectively coupled between a first voltage reference and the first and second internal nodes, first and second output transistors coupled in series between the first voltage reference and a second voltage reference, a tail current generator coupled between the first common node and the second voltage reference, an adaptive bias block coupled between the first and second voltage references and coupled to the first common node, and a positive feedback network coupled between the first voltage reference and the first and second internal nodes. Also provided is an integrated circuit having at least one such operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Francesco Maria Dalena
  • Patent number: 7576603
    Abstract: Operational amplifier circuitry drives a device which may be run with a combination of output signals fewer in number than the output signals delivered from plural output circuits. Each output circuit adjusts the gain of an input signal supplied to its operational amplifier. An output selector selects and outputs output signals from the output circuits necessary for driving the device. A decision circuit compares an output signal not selected with a reference signal to adjust the gain of the output circuits to thereby cancel the offset of the operational amplifier. The operational amplifier has sets of feedback elements different in number between the sets formed by capacitances. Switching is made from one set to another until the decision circuit makes an acceptable decision. Offset may thus be canceled during the operational amplification even in case capacitive or resistance element is connected in circuit outside the operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Higuchi