Having Particular Biasing Arrangement Patents (Class 330/261)
  • Patent number: 12267047
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a first input stage with a differential input transistor pair and a second gain stage having an output node coupled to a load. A node in the first gain stage is coupled to the output node in the second gain stage. A feedback line couples the output node to the control node of a first transistor of the differential input transistor pair. Current mirror circuitry is coupled to a current flow path through a further transistor in the second gain stage and includes a sensing node configured to produce a sensing signal indicative of the current supplied to the load. The sensing signal at the sensing node is directly fed back to the control node of the first transistor of the differential input transistor pair to provide a zero in the loop transfer function that is matched to and tracks and cancels out a load-dependent pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alessandro Bertolini, Germano Nicollini
  • Patent number: 12255654
    Abstract: A slew rate acceleration circuit in a buffer circuit, is configured at least to detect a current flowing through a load stage of the buffer circuit, compare a value of the detected current with a reference value, and supply an adjusting driving voltage to an output stage of the buffer circuit based on results of the comparison for increasing a slew rate of the buffer circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Magnachip Mixed-Signal, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dukmin Lee, Kyeongwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 12218641
    Abstract: In one example an amplifier includes a bias circuit, an open-loop gain stage including a first PMOS having a gate coupled to a first node, a source coupled to a second node, a drain coupled to a third node, and a bulk coupled to the bias circuit, a second PMOS having a gate coupled to a ground node, a source coupled to the second node, a drain coupled to a fourth node, and a bulk coupled to the bias circuit, a first NMOS having a drain and a gate coupled to the third node and a source coupled to a fifth node, a second NMOS having a drain coupled to the fourth node, a gate coupled to the third node, and a source coupled to the fifth node, an adjustable resistor coupleable between the third and fourth nodes, and a buffer stage coupled to the open-loop gain stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Sudheer Prasad
  • Patent number: 12218633
    Abstract: A power amplifier circuit according to the present disclosure includes an amplifier circuit serving as a differential amplifier circuit configured to be activated by a supply voltage that is variable in accordance with amplitude of a signal, a bias circuit configured to output a bias to be supplied to the amplifier circuit, and first and second dispersion circuits respectively provided for a pair of differential signals outputted from the amplifier circuit and configured to control dependence of gain of the differential amplifier circuit on the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Goto, Yoshiki Kogushi, Yuri Honda, Kenichi Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 12219282
    Abstract: Provided is an image sensor including: a pixel section configured to include a plurality of pixels arranged therein; and an AD conversion unit configured to perform analog-to-digital (AD) conversion on a pixel signal on the basis of a result of comparison between a first voltage of a signal, which is obtained by adding, via capacitances, the pixel signal of the pixel and a reference signal that linearly changes in a direction opposite to the pixel signal, with a second voltage serving as a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Atsumi Niwa, Tomonori Yamashita, Takashi Moue, Yosuke Ueno
  • Patent number: 12204355
    Abstract: A constant voltage generator circuit includes a first amplifier circuit that drives a transistor controlling an output current based on a reference voltage; a second amplifier circuit that drives the transistor based on the reference voltage from the power source; a protection circuit that limit an output current flowing through the load from the transistor; and a control circuit that controls operation of the second amplifier circuit. The control circuit controls the second amplifier circuit to operate or not to operate based on a relationship between the output current and predetermined first or second threshold. The second amplifier circuit further includes a first operation voltage potential fixing circuit that fixes an operation voltage potential of an internal node of the second amplifier circuit during non-operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: NISSHINBO MICRO DEVICES INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Mii, Kohji Yoshii
  • Patent number: 12191864
    Abstract: A multiple operating-mode comparator system can be useful for high bandwidth and low power automated testing. The system can include a gain stage configured to drive a high impedance input of a comparator output stage, wherein the gain stage includes a differential switching stage coupled to an adjustable impedance circuit, and an impedance magnitude characteristic of the adjustable impedance circuit corresponds to a bandwidth characteristic of the gain stage. The comparator output stage can include a buffer circuit coupled to a low impedance comparator output node. The buffer circuit can provide a reference voltage for a switched output signal at the output node in a higher speed mode, and the buffer circuit can provide the switched output signal at the output node in a lower power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher C. McQuilkin, Andrew Nathan Mort
  • Patent number: 12184248
    Abstract: A receiver topology for supporting various combinations of interband carrier aggregation (CA) signals, intraband non-contiguous CA and non-CA signals having different combinations of signals aggregated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Emre Ayranci, Miles Sanner, Phanindra Yerramilli
  • Patent number: 12184235
    Abstract: Disclosed is an amplifier having a high slew rate without increasing power consumption. The amplifier includes an input unit, a conversion unit, an amplification unit, a frequency compensation circuit, and a slew rate improvement circuit. Alternatively, the amplifier includes an input unit, a conversion unit, an amplification unit, a frequency compensation circuit, a first slew rate improvement circuit, and a second slew rate improvement circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: DB GLOBALCHIP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mun Gyu Kim, Yong In Park
  • Patent number: 12170525
    Abstract: An interface circuit that interfaces a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser. The apparatus includes a first cascode amplifier that receives as input positive and negative differential outputs of the DAC and provides a positive amplified output and a negative amplified output, and a second cascode amplifier having a positive input and a negative input. The positive input of the second cascode amplifier being coupled to the positive amplified output of the first cascode amplifier. The second cascode amplifier is configured to generate a positive amplified current and a negative amplified current at a negative amplified output. The positive amplified current and the negative amplified current are combined and a resulting output current is provided as input to an anode of the laser. A transformer is coupled between the negative amplified output of the first cascode amplifier and the negative input of the second cascode amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Juergen Hauenschild, Sachidanandam Sundarraju, Jan Louis Sundermeyer
  • Patent number: 12160204
    Abstract: A receiver circuit has a first stage circuit having a first stage input and a first stage output, the first stage output setting a first stage common mode voltage; a second stage circuit having a second stage input connected to the first stage output, and a second stage output setting a second stage common mode voltage; and a buffer circuit having a trip point voltage, connected to the second stage output. The first stage circuit can include circuit elements configured to establish the first stage common mode voltage so that the second stage common mode voltage matches the trip point voltage. The second stage circuit can include a self-biased amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shang-Chi Yang, Jhen-Sheng Chih
  • Patent number: 12160205
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit comprises a variable degeneration circuit connected to emitter terminals of transistors, and a variable negative capacitance circuit connected to differential output signal terminals. The variable degeneration circuit includes a variable capacitor and a resistor. The variable negative capacitance circuit, which is a variable current source, includes a transistor, a capacitor, and a variable current source. The variable negative capacitance circuit includes transistors, a capacitor, and variable current sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Teruo Jo, Munehiko Nagatani, Hideyuki Nosaka
  • Patent number: 12149211
    Abstract: A low noise amplifier (LNA) includes a pair of n-type transistors, each configured to provide a first transconductance; a pair of p-type transistors, each configured to provide a second transconductance; a first pair of coupling capacitors, cross-coupled between the pair of n-type transistors, and configured to provide a first boosting coefficient to the first transconductance; and a second pair of coupling capacitors, cross-coupled between the pair of p-type transistors, and configured to provide a second boosting coefficient to the second transconductance, wherein the LNA is configured to use a boosted effective transconductance based on the first and second boosting coefficients, and the first and second transconductances to amplify an input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: An-Hsun Lo, Wen-Sheng Chen, En-Hsiang Yeh, Tzu-Jin Yeh
  • Patent number: 12119340
    Abstract: A circuit (to shape a follower voltage for a follower circuit) includes a tie-low circuit and an anti-noise circuit. The tie-low circuit is connected between a follower node and a first reference voltage. The tie-low circuit is responsive to a second reference voltage. The follower node is connectable to the follower circuit. The anti-noise circuit is connected between the follower node and the second reference voltage. The anti-noise circuit is configured to protect the follower voltage at the follower node from otherwise being distorted by a noise voltage being coupled capacitively to the follower node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC CHINA COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Kai Zhou, Yaqi Ma, Wei Li, Yongliang Jin, CunCun Chen
  • Patent number: 12034442
    Abstract: A system may include a first power domain defined by a first supply rail and a first ground rail, a second power domain defined by a second supply rail and a second ground rail, and a configurable switch coupled between the first ground rail and the second ground rail such that when the configurable switch is enabled, the first ground rail and the second ground rail are electrically shorted to one another and when the configurable switch is disabled, the first ground rail and the second ground rail are electrically isolated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventors: Donelson A. Shannon, Jianping Wen
  • Patent number: 12015389
    Abstract: A tapped transmission line for distributing an electrical signal, such as an RF signal, to multiple modules, and/or aggregating signals from multiple modules. Embodiments of the invention provide a tapped transmission line based on a transmission-line medium along which tap elements are dispersed, so that the tap elements have a predominantly capacitive loading of the transmission-line medium. Methods for compensating the loss of the transmission-line medium are presented as well. Applications for distribution of transmitted signals, of local oscillator signals, and to aggregation of signals from multiple oscillators are disclosed. The invention is particularly applicable to integrated circuits (IC, ASIC, RFIC), and to multichannel RF systems such as phased array and MIMO systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: VAYYAR IMAGING LTD.
    Inventors: Naftali Chayat, Nadav Mazor
  • Patent number: 12001234
    Abstract: In a described example, a circuit includes a first bipolar junction transistor (BJT) having a first base, a first emitter and a first collector. A second BJT has a second base, a second emitter and a second collector, in which the first collector is coupled to the second collector. A bandgap core circuit has first and second core inputs and a bandgap output. The first core input is coupled to the first emitter, the second core input is coupled to the second emitter, and the first and second bases are coupled to the bandgap output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Ahmed Essam Hashim
  • Patent number: 11983026
    Abstract: A voltage reference circuit included in a computer system includes two bipolar devices with two different current densities which are used to generate two base-emitter voltages, which are scaled using divider circuits. The voltage reference circuit also includes a feedback circuit that generates a reference voltage using the scaled base-emitter voltages and a feedback signal. The feedback signal is generated using the reference signal and combined with one of the scaled base-emitter voltages to compensate for variations in load current from the reference circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Matthias Eberlein
  • Patent number: 11949391
    Abstract: A first embodiment is directed to a circuit including a positive biasing circuit with a drive PMOS for biasing in subthreshold, a negative biasing circuit with a drive NMOS for biasing in subthreshold, and an amplification circuit coupled to the biasing circuits. The amplification circuit includes a first stage with a first boosting stage, a second stage with a second boosting stage, and a resistive element coupled between the first and second stages. A second embodiment is directed to a folded cascode operational amplifier wherein a value of the resistive element is selected to place at least one of a drive MOS in subthreshold. A third embodiment is directed to an integrated circuit with a resistive area neighboring a first boosting area and a second boosting area, the resistive area including a resistive element directly connected to a drive PMOS and a drive NMOS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei Shuo Lin
  • Patent number: 11942907
    Abstract: The amplifier includes an input circuit configured to convert an input signal into a current; an output circuit comprising at least one switching element for reducing a voltage change of an output end of the input circuit and configured to provide an output signal; and a biasing circuit connected to the at least one switching element to form a feedback loop for reducing the voltage change of the output end of the input circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hyeokki Hong, Jihun Lee, Gyuhyeong Cho, Cheheung Kim, Hyunwook Kang
  • Patent number: 11934216
    Abstract: A constant current generation circuit for optocoupler isolation amplifier and a current precision adjustment method are provided. The constant current generation circuit includes a start circuit, a current generation circuit and a precision adjustment and output circuit integrated into a same substrate. The start circuit can generate and output a first start current and a second start current. The current generation circuit includes a negative temperature change rate current generation circuit connected to a first start current output and a positive temperature change rate current generation circuit connected to a second start current output. The precision adjustment and output circuit outputs constant current meeting application requirements of optocoupler isolation amplifier by adjusting proportional precision of two currents output from a current generation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Hefei AICHUANGWEI Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Pan, Lei Qiu, Dianwu Li, Fenfen Ji, Wei Wang, Lei Han, Ke Wang
  • Patent number: 11901869
    Abstract: Disclosed is an amplifier capable of minimizing shortcircuit current of an output stage of a buffer upon transition of an output voltage while having a high slew rate without increasing power consumption. The amplifier includes an input unit, a conversion unit, an amplification unit, a frequency compensation circuit, and a short-circuit current minimization circuit. Alternatively, the amplifier includes an input unit, a conversion unit, an amplification unit, a frequency compensation circuit, a short-circuit current minimization circuit, and a slew rate improvement circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: DB HiTek, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun Gyu Kim, Yong In Park
  • Patent number: 11881825
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system that comprises an operational amplifier with adjustable operational parameters and a trimming module. The trimming module can adjust the operational parameters of the op-amp based on a memory value to compensate for an offset voltage of the op-amp. The trimming module can comprise successive approximation register (SAR) logic that controls the memory value. The SAR logic can be configured to detect a given memory value that causes an output voltage of the op-amp to be within a predetermined voltage interval when applying a predetermined common mode voltage to inverting and non-inverting inputs of the op-amp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vadim Valerievich Ivanov, Munaf Hussain Shaik, Srinivas Kumar Pulijala, Patrick Forster, Jerry Lee Doorenbos
  • Patent number: 11831281
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit is capable of electrically connecting to a capacitance variable capacitor whose electrostatic capacitance changes corresponding to an environmental change between a first and a second capacitances and determines whether the electrostatic capacitance of the capacitance variable capacitor has changed to exceed a reference capacitance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 11811400
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a circuit for improving linearity and channel compensation of PAM4 receiver analog front end, comprising a first stage and a second stage, the first stage comprising first to twentieth transistors, a first resistor, a pair of second resistors, a pair of first capacitors, and a pair of second capacitors. In the first stage circuit, the ninth and tenth transistors are directly coupled to the ground, eliminating the electrical connection to the bias current source. The Input terminals of the ninth and tenth transistors are coupled to the output signals of the preceding nineteenth and twentieth transistors, so that the ninth and tenth transistors serve as both input pairs and current source transistors. The overall current is limited by the thirteenth and fourteenth transistors, which results in a lower power supply voltage for the first stage consisting of the ninth through fourteenth transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: JOYWELL SEMICONDUCTOR (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yufeng Yao, Minqing Cai, Haonan Wang, Yunlong Ge, Seung Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 11808729
    Abstract: A sensor interface circuit (5) for an amperometric electrochemical sensor (3). The circuit includes: a current-to-voltage converter (9, Rf) connected to a first terminal (WRK) of the sensor (3) for converting an electric current through the sensor (3) to a voltage at an output terminal (10) of the current-to-voltage converter (9, Rf); a first amplifier (7) connected between a second terminal (REF) and a third terminal (CNTR) of the sensor (3) for maintaining a substantially fixed voltage difference between the first and second terminals (WRK, REF) of the sensor (3); a power supply (11) for powering the voltage converter (9, Rf) and for powering a first portion (31) of the first amplifier (7); and a negative voltage converter (17) configured to power a second portion of the first amplifier (7) through its low-side supply terminal (41), while a high-side supply terminal (39) of the second portion of the first amplifier (7) is configured to be connected to the power supply (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: EM MICROELECTRONIC-MARIN SA
    Inventor: Yonghong Tao
  • Patent number: 11777463
    Abstract: A system includes an instrumentation amplifier (INA) including a first transistor coupled to a first input node, and a second transistor coupled to a second input node. The INA also includes a resistor coupled between the first transistor and the second transistor. The INA includes a gain resistor network coupled to the resistor and to the first and second transistors, where the gain resistor network includes two or more gain resistors. The system also includes a voltage to current converter, where the voltage to current converter is coupled to the resistor and the gain resistor network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sudarshan Udayashankar, Viola Schaffer
  • Patent number: 11689168
    Abstract: A trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) may include an input stage and an output driving stage. The input stage may include a pair of input PMOS transistors, a pair of input NMOS transistors, and a pair of differential voltage input nodes. The output driving stage may include a pair of output circuits, each may include a first pair of PMOS and NMOS transistors electrically connected in parallel, a second pair of PMOS and NMOS transistors electrically connected in series, a pair of capacitors electrically connected in series, a differential output node, a third PMOS transistor, and a fourth pair of NMOS transistors cross-coupled between the pair of output circuits of the output driving stage. The structure can lead to a reduced noise level and a reduced peak transient current level of the TIA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Beken Corporation
    Inventors: Haiyan Zhou, Ronghui Kong, Jiazhou Liu
  • Patent number: 11677654
    Abstract: A network TAP includes four serial transceivers on a printed circuit board. Each serial transceiver has a medium-dependent interface and a serial differential interface that includes a differential input and a differential output. A passive tap circuit arrangement is configured to be operative at up to 10 Gbps or a higher data rate and configures the differential output signal from the differential output of the first serial transceiver as two single-ended signals that are received respectively by the respective differential inputs of the second and third serial transceivers. It also configures the differential output signal from the differential output of the second serial transceiver as two single-ended signals that are received respectively by the respective differential inputs of the first and fourth serial transceivers. In one embodiment according to the present invention, the four serial transceivers are pluggable transceiver modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventor: Ziqiang He
  • Patent number: 11668767
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic field sensor circuit including at least one coil for measuring a magnetic field, a first stage amplifier circuit coupled to the coil and having a first transfer function with a pole at a first frequency, and a second stage amplifier circuit coupled to an output of the first stage amplifier circuit and having a second transfer function with a zero at the first frequency. In some embodiments, a temperature dependent frequency drift of the pole of the first transfer function corresponds to a temperature dependent frequency drift of the zero of the second transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Mario Motz, Qinwen Fan, Amirhossein Jouyaeian, Kofi Makinwa
  • Patent number: 11664774
    Abstract: An operational amplifier includes a single-stage amplifier and a current controller. The single-stage amplifier receives an input signal, and amplifies the input signal to generate an output signal, wherein the single-stage amplifier includes a voltage controlled current source circuit that operates in response to a bias voltage input. The current controller receives the input signal, and generates the bias voltage input according to the input signal. The bias voltage input includes a first bias voltage, a second bias voltage, a third bias voltage, and a fourth bias voltage. None of the first bias voltage, the second bias voltage, the third bias voltage, and the fourth bias voltage is directly set by the input signal of the single-stage amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Lin, Kuan-Ta Chen
  • Patent number: 11658627
    Abstract: A first embodiment is directed to a circuit including a positive biasing circuit with a drive PMOS for biasing in subthreshold, a negative biasing circuit with a drive NMOS for biasing in subthreshold, and an amplification circuit coupled to the biasing circuits. The amplification circuit includes a first stage with a first boosting stage, a second stage with a second boosting stage, and a resistive element coupled between the first and second stages. A second embodiment is directed to a folded cascode operational amplifier wherein a value of the resistive element is selected to place at least one of a drive MOS in subthreshold. A third embodiment is directed to an integrated circuit with a resistive area neighboring a first boosting area and a second boosting area, the resistive area including a resistive element directly connected to a drive PMOS and a drive NMOS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
    Inventor: Wei Shuo Lin
  • Patent number: 11652459
    Abstract: Differential amplifier circuitry including: first and second main transistors of a given conductivity type: and first and second auxiliary transistors of an opposite conductivity type, where the first and second main transistors are connected along first and second main current paths passing between first and second main voltage reference nodes and first and second output nodes, respectively, with their source terminals connected to the first and second output nodes, respectively, and with their gate terminals controlled by component input signals of a differential input signal; and the first and second auxiliary transistors are connected along first and second auxiliary current paths passing between first and second auxiliary voltage reference nodes and the first and second output nodes, respectively, with their drain terminals connected to the first and second output nodes, respectively, and with their gate terminals controlled by the component input signals of the differential input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventors: Armin Jalili Sebardan, Alistair John Gratrex
  • Patent number: 11611320
    Abstract: A differential operational transconductance amplifier, or DOTA, intended to be used in zero-drift precision operational amplifiers as chopper amplifier stage is disclosed. The DOTA is configured to function with a low-voltage power supply and to have good performance based on circuitry configured to provide a constant gain over a range of common-mode voltages, or VCM. The DOTA further includes bias circuitry configured to respond to the common mode voltage in order to prevent large currents, which can result from the constant gain circuitry, from negatively affecting performance. The DOTA further includes current sources that are configured to prevent temperature variations from negatively affecting performance. The DOTA further includes VCM-driven bias voltages used to optimize the operating point of the differential output stage. The DOTA uses input and input replica transistors having medium threshold voltage, which results in capability to operate at low supply voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Cornel D. Stanescu
  • Patent number: 11557340
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes receiving, between a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, a supply voltage, receiving a data signal, generating, by a voltage generator in a branch of a plurality of branches, a branch current as a function of a respective driving signal and of a regulated voltage, each branch connected between the positive input terminal and the negative input terminal, selectively activating the voltage generator as a function of a respective enabling signal and providing, between a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal, the regulated voltage to one or more driving circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Michele La Placa, Fabio Enrico Carlo Disegni, Federico Goller
  • Patent number: 11378993
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that relate to automatically limiting an output current of a voltage regulator circuit responsive to detecting that the voltage regulator is in a current overload mode. In one example, a voltage regulator circuit includes an amplifier stage and a current limiter stage electrically connected to an output of the amplifier stage. The amplifier stage is configured to output a DC voltage based on a reference voltage and feedback from an output voltage. The current limiter stage is configured to operate in a quiescent mode and an overload mode. In the quiescent mode, the current limiter stage is configured to operate as a buffer stage that forms a closed feedback loop to an input of the amplifier stage. In the overload mode, the current limiter stage is configured to act as a current source that clamps an output current to a designated current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Colin Dyer
  • Patent number: 11362669
    Abstract: Provided is a track-and-hold circuit capable of reducing the power consumption of a differential amplifier circuit while preserving the broadband nature (without narrowing the bandwidth). In the track-and-hold circuit 1 including a differential amplifier circuit 10, a switch circuit 20, and a hold capacitor C21, the differential amplifier circuit 10 includes a first resistor R11 having one end connected to a collector electrode of a first transistor Q11 constituting a differential pair, a second resistor R12 having one end connected to the collector electrode of a second transistor Q12 constituting the differential pair, and a third resistor R13 to which the other end of the first resistor R11 and the other end of the second resistor R12 are connected and which is connected between the other ends and a power supply VCC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fukuyama, Naoki Miura, Hideyuki Nosaka
  • Patent number: 11303312
    Abstract: Techniques maintaining receiver reliability, including determining a present attenuation level for an attenuator, wherein the attenuation level is set by a gain controller, determining a relative reliability threshold based on the present attenuation level, receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal, determining a voltage level of the received RF signal, comparing the voltage level of the received RF signal to the relative reliability threshold to determine that a reliability condition exists, and overriding, in response to the determination that the reliability condition exists, the present attenuation level set by the gain controller with an override attenuation level based on the present attenuation level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sarma Sundareswara Gunturi, Jagannathan Venkataraman, Jawaharlal Tangudu, Narasimhan Rajagopal, Eeshan Miglani
  • Patent number: 11217992
    Abstract: A system includes a power supply source and a power control circuit coupled to the power supply source, in which the power control circuit includes a pass field-effect transistor (FET). The system also includes a short-to-ground protection circuit coupled to an output of the pass FET. The short-to-ground protection circuit includes a sense circuit configured to detect when a magnitude and a change rate of a voltage drop at the output of the pass FET is greater than respective thresholds. The short-to-ground protection circuit also includes a control node at the output of the sense circuit. The sense circuit is configured to induce a control current at the control node in response to the magnitude and the change rate of a voltage drop at the output of the pass FET being greater than respective thresholds. The control current is used to turn off the pass FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kae Ann Wong, Siang Tong Tan, Luis Ariel Malave-Perez, Mikko Topi Loikkanen, Mitsuyori Saito, Angelo William Pereira
  • Patent number: 11128280
    Abstract: A filter can perform two filtering processes. The filter includes a switching circuit, a first filter circuit, and a second filter circuit. The first filter circuit is coupled to the switching circuit. The second filter circuit is coupled to the switching circuit. The first filter circuit performs a first filtering process on an input signal according to a state of the switching circuit. The first filter circuit and the second filter circuit work together to perform a second filtering process on the input signal according to the state of the switching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yun-Tse Chen, Kai-Yin Liu
  • Patent number: 10999055
    Abstract: A SerDes system is provided. The SerDes system includes channel circuits, a PLL circuit, first and second buffers, and first and second capacitors. Each channel circuit is coupled to the first and second clock lines. The PLL circuit generates a first differential signal including first and second clock signals. The first buffer buffers the first clock signal. The second buffer and buffers the second clock signal. The first capacitor receives the buffered first clock signal and outputs a third clock signal to the first clock line. The second capacitor receives a buffered second clock signal and outputs a fourth clock signal to the second clock line. A swing of a second differential signal comprising the third clock signal and the fourth clock signal is smaller than a swing of the first differential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SHANGHAI ZHAOXIN SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yulin Deng, Xinwen Ma
  • Patent number: 10944600
    Abstract: A data transmission circuit includes: a main driver circuit suitable for driving data to an output line; an amplitude equalization window generator circuit suitable for detecting the data transitioning from a first level to a second level; an auxiliary driver circuit suitable for driving the output line with the second level in response to a detection result of the amplitude equalization window generator circuit; and a phase equalization window generator circuit suitable for detecting whether the data consecutively has the first level, wherein the main driver circuit changes a time point of driving the data in response to a detection result of the phase equalization window generator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: SK hynix Inc., Seoul National University R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Suhwan Kim, Joo-Hyung Chae
  • Patent number: 10862435
    Abstract: An impedance circuit includes a first impedance terminal, a second impedance terminal, a first transistor, a second transistor, a low frequency signal blocking element, and a current-voltage transform circuit. The first transistor is coupled to the first impedance terminal, and controlled by a first voltage. The second transistor is coupled to the first impedance terminal, and controlled by a second voltage. The low frequency signal blocking element is coupled to the first transistor and the second impedance terminal. The current-voltage transform circuit is coupled to the first impedance terminal. The current-voltage transform circuit adjusts a terminal voltage at the first terminal of the current-voltage transform circuit according to a current flowing through the current-voltage transform circuit. The impedance circuit provides impedance between the first and the second impedance terminals according to the terminal voltage and the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: RichWave Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Sheng Chen, Hung-Chia Lo, Tien-Yun Peng
  • Patent number: 10700674
    Abstract: A differential comparator circuit is provided that includes a differential input pair, an active load, a pair of cross voltage generation devices and a pair of switches. The differential input pair has a pair of input terminals and a pair of first connection terminals. The active load has a pair of second connection terminals. The cross voltage generation devices are electrically coupled between the first connection terminals and the second connection terminals, wherein the cross voltage generation devices are configured to be electrically activated to establish a cross voltage therebetween in a reset phase and electrically deactivated to become a short circuit in an operation phase. The switches are configured to electrically couple the pair of input terminals respectively to the pair of first connection terminals in the reset phase and not electrically couple the pair of input terminals respectively from the pair of first connection terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp
    Inventors: Pai-Hsiang Hsu, Chao-Yu Meng
  • Patent number: 10498214
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an amplifier includes first, second, and third stages, and a feedback network. The first stage has a first passband and is configured to generate a first output signal in response to first and second input signals, and the second stage has a second passband that is higher in frequency than the first passband and is configured to generate a second output signal in response to third and fourth input signals. The third stage has a first input node coupled to receive the first output signal, a second input node coupled to receive the second output signal, and an output node. And the feedback network is coupled between the second input node and the output node of the third stage. For example, where the first, second, and third stages are respective operational-transconductance-amplifier stages, such an amplifier may be suitable for low-power applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventors: Seenu Gopalraju, Rhys Philbrick, Ruchi Parikh
  • Patent number: 10348253
    Abstract: A radio-frequency module includes a substrate, a low-noise amplifier circuit being a first amplifier circuit arranged in a first area in the substrate, a power amplifier circuit being a second amplifier circuit arranged in a second area in the substrate, and a duplexer being a component arranged between the first area and the second area in the substrate and having a heat generating property lower than that of the power amplifier circuit. The low-noise amplifier circuit includes a bias circuit configured to generate a bias current dependent on temperature characteristics of a first diode, a voltage generating circuit configured to generate a voltage dependent on temperature characteristics of a second diode as an operating voltage for the bias circuit, and an amplifier circuit configured to operate at an operating point determined by the bias current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasunobu Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 10340857
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the amplifier circuit includes a first and second differential amplifier. The first differential amplifier includes first and second transistors, a first current source, and a second current source that is configured to supply a current to the first and second transistors via a first switch element. The second differential amplifier includes third and fourth transistors, a third current source, and a fourth current source that is configured to supply a current to the third and fourth transistors via a second switch element. A first signal is input to the first and third transistors. The first switch elements are controlled by third and fourth signals, respectively. The third signal and the fourth signal are complementary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya Matsuno, Kazuyoshi Muraoka, Masami Masuda, Yuui Shimizu, Masatoshi Kohno, Masahiro Hosoya
  • Patent number: 10312861
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a multiplexer, including first, second, and third inputs, and an output; a first transistor, including a gate connected to the multiplexer, and first and second terminals; a first variable capacitor, including a first terminal connected to the first transistor, a second terminal, and an input; a first inductor, including a first terminal connected to the first transistor, and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the first variable capacitor; a second transistor, including a gate connected to the output of the multiplexer, a first terminal, and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the first inductor; a second inductor mutually coupled to the first inductor, including a first and second terminals; and a balun-bias switch, including first, second, and third inputs, and an output connected to the second terminal of the second inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Venumadhav Bhagavatula, Sriramkumar Venugopalan, Siddharth Seth, Siuchuang Ivan Lu, Sang Won Son
  • Patent number: 10263579
    Abstract: A differential amplifier includes a pair of cascode amplifiers. A voltage clamp is coupled to the pair of cascode amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventor: Dacheng Zhou
  • Patent number: 10103691
    Abstract: A power amplifier system includes a differential power amplifier and a bias circuit. The differential power amplifier is arranged for receiving a differential input pair to generate an output signal. The bias circuit is arranged for generating a bias voltage to bias the differential power amplifier, and the bias circuit comprises a source follower for receiving a reference voltage to generate the bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chien-Wei Tseng, Ming-Da Tsai