Including Atomic Particle Or Radiant Energy Impinging On A Semiconductor Patents (Class 330/308)
  • Patent number: 11815395
    Abstract: There is proposed an optical power measurement circuit and an optical power meter which use a linear amplification circuit based on multiple transimpedance operational amplification lanes and which add a bootstrap circuit and a compensator circuit. 1) The bootstrap is used to reduce the effect of the photodiode capacitance and increases the amplifier's bandwidth. 2) The compensator circuit monitors the photodiode's voltage and reproduces its transient distortions, to then subtract it from the output and thereby reduce the measurement error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: EXFO Optics, SAS
    Inventor: Xavier Lambert
  • Patent number: 11754599
    Abstract: A measurement circuit comprises an input terminal to receive a current signal, a first circuit branch coupled to the first terminal and including one or more circuit elements to receive a portion of the current signal, a second circuit branch coupled to the first terminal and including one or more additional circuit elements to receive another portion of the current signal, a nonlinear circuit element coupling the first circuit branch to the second circuit branch, and a quantization circuit configured to produce an input current measurement of current in the first and second circuit branches, and to include current in the second circuit branch in the input current measurement according to a magnitude of the input current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Thomas, Joseph L. Sousa, Micah Galletta O'Halloran, Alex Robert Sloboda
  • Patent number: 11607703
    Abstract: A system for actuating a sensor of an agricultural sprayer may include a boom assembly and a sensor assembly supported on a portion of the boom assembly. The sensor assembly may include a field sensor movable relative to the portion of the boom assembly between an extended position and a retracted position, where the field sensor generates data indicative of one or more field conditions when in the extended position. The sensor assembly may further include a sensor actuator that moves the field sensor between the extended and retracted positions, and a controller that controls the sensor actuator to move the field sensor between the extended and retracted positions. The field sensor is spaced relative to the portion of the boom assembly by a larger distance when in the extended position than when in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Kevin M. Smith
  • Patent number: 11550041
    Abstract: A circuit for filtering a signal corresponding to a time of flight (TOF) of light from a laser reflected off an object to a photo detector, the circuit includes a preamplifier, a DC cancelation loop, and an AC cancelation loop. The preamplifier may be configured to receive the signal from the photo detector corresponding to an output of the laser reflected off an object remote from the laser and photo detector. The DC cancelation loop includes a current feedback DC servo loop. The AC cancelation loop includes a feedback network driven by a floating class AB output stage, and the preamplifier configured to drive the floating class AB output stage, wherein the preamplifier is driven by an error signal of the feedback network and creates an AC signal path with the feedback network and floating class AB output stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Sayyed Mahdi Kashmiri
  • Patent number: 11444581
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an amplifier for amplifying an electric current signal from an external light receiving element, and a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter has a resistor and a capacitor serial-connection in which multiple capacitive elements are serially connected. With respect to the resistor in the low-pass filter, one end thereof is connected to a power terminal to which the bias voltage is inputted, and the other end thereof is connected to an input terminal of the capacitor serial-connection and to a bias application electrode of the light receiving element through which the bias voltage is applied. With respect to the capacitor serial-connection in the low-pass filter, each connection terminal between two of the serially connected capacitive elements and an output terminal of the capacitor serial-connection, are connected to their respective capacitance terminals to which a ground potential as a reference for the bias voltage is connected selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihide Oka
  • Patent number: 11428790
    Abstract: An optical distance measurement system includes a transmission circuit and a receive circuit. The transmission circuit is configured to generate narrowband intensity modulated light transmission signals over a first band of frequencies and direct the narrowband light transmission signal toward a target object. The receive circuit is configured to receive reflected light off the target object, convert the reflected light into a current signal proportional to the intensity of the reflected light, filter frequencies outside a second band of frequencies from the current signal to create a filtered current signal, and convert the filtered current signal into a voltage signal. The second band of frequencies corresponds with the first band of frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Baher S. Haroun, Nirmal C. Warke, David P. Magee
  • Patent number: 11418314
    Abstract: On the basis of the peak point of the integrated waveform of the reception signal for each one-bit time, a timing of resetting the integrated value of the reception signal for each one-bit time and a timing of determining whether a voltage of the reception signal for each one-bit time is high or low are indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kuwahara, Koji Shibuya, Tetsu Owada
  • Patent number: 11394357
    Abstract: Provided in the present invention is an automatic gain control method for a burst-mode transimpedance amplifier. A transistor is connected in parallel at either end of a feedback resistor of a transimpedance amplifier. A gate-source voltage of the transistor is controlled by detecting and then reversely amplifying an output voltage of the transimpedance amplifier. The present invention also provides a circuit implementing the method, obviates the need for support from any particular process, and is implementable using conventional components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: XIAMEN UX HIGH-SPEED IC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shaoheng Lin
  • Patent number: 11309846
    Abstract: A biosensor for an analyte monitoring system. In one embodiment, the biosensor includes a cascode common source transimpedance amplifier circuit, an analog to digital converter, and an output circuit. The cascode common source transimpedance amplifier circuit is configured to receive an electrical current generated by an electrochemical reaction of an analyte on a test strip. The cascode common source transimpedance amplifier circuit is also configured to convert the electrical current to an analog voltage signal. The analog to digital converter is configured to convert the analog voltage signal to a digital voltage signal. The output circuit is configured to transmit a signal indicating a measured level of the analyte based on the digital voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Kavyashree Puttananjegowda, Sylvia Thomas
  • Patent number: 11290190
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatic amplifier gain setting of an optical amplifier, said apparatus comprising an optical channel counter, OCC, unit configured to detect a number of channels present in an optical transmission spectrum; a determination unit configured to determine an average power per channel calculated by dividing a measured total power of a signal input and/or signal output of the optical amplifier by the number of channels detected by said optical channel counter, OCC, unit and a gain adjustment unit configured to adjust the amplifier gain of said optical amplifier automatically depending on a calculated power difference between a predetermined desired power per channel and the determined average power per channel provided by said determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING SE
    Inventors: Sorin Tibuleac, Steven Searcy
  • Patent number: 11201589
    Abstract: A combined mixer and filter circuitry is disclosed. The combined mixer and filter circuitry comprises a mixer comprising a first input, a second input and an output. The combined mixer and filter circuitry further comprises a filter comprising an active inductor and a first capacitor. The active inductor comprises a transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal and a resistor connected between the first terminal of the transistor and a voltage potential. The first capacitor is connected between the third terminal and a signal ground and the second terminal of the transistor is connected to the second input of the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Ufuk Ă–zdemir
  • Patent number: 11183976
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a high-voltage output stage. The high-voltage output stage includes an output terminal, a high-side output circuit, a low-side output circuit, and a feedback circuit. The high-side output circuit sources current to the output terminal, and includes a high-side input transistor, a first high-side cascode transistor coupled to the high-side input transistor, and a second high-side cascode transistor coupled to the first high-side cascode transistor and the output terminal. The low-side output circuit sinks current from the output terminal, and includes a low-side input transistor, a first low-side cascode transistor coupled to the low-side input transistor, and a second low-side cascode transistor coupled to the first low-side cascode transistor and the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Steven Graham Brantley, Munaf Hussain Shaik, Bhuvanesh Radhakrishnan Kulasekaran
  • Patent number: 11029406
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit pulses of light and a scanner configured to scan the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard of the lidar system. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect a portion of the emitted pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The receiver includes an aluminum-indium-arsenide-antimonide (AlInAsSb) avalanche photodiode (APD) configured to: receive a pulse of light of the portion of the emitted pulses of light scattered by the target and produce an electrical-current pulse corresponding to the received pulse of light. The lidar system further includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target based at least in part on a round-trip time of flight for the received pulse of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Luminar, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph G. LaChapelle
  • Patent number: 10852437
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a high dynamic range analog front-end receiver for long range LIDAR with a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) include a clipping circuit to prevent saturation of the TIA. The output of the clipping circuit is connected via a diode or transistor to the input of the TIA and regulated such that the input voltage of the TIA remains close to or is only slightly above the saturation threshold voltage of the TIA. The regulation of the input voltage of the TIA can be improved by connecting a limiting resistor in series with the diode or transistor. A second clipping circuit capable of dissipating higher input currents and thus higher voltages may be connected in parallel with the first clipping circuit. A resistive element may be placed between the first and second clipping circuits to further limit the input current to the TIA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES GLOBAL UNLIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Yalcin Alper Eken, Alp Oguz
  • Patent number: 10819299
    Abstract: A circuit includes a front end section configured to receive input current signals; a programmable gain amplifier section coupled to the front end section, the programmable gain amplifier section including a plurality of inverters connected in series without a resistor disposed therebetween; and an output buffer section coupled to the programmable gain amplifier section and configured to output voltage signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kadaba Lakshmikumar, Alexander Christopher Kurylak, Manohar Nagaraju, Richard Van Hoesen Booth
  • Patent number: 10804859
    Abstract: Transimpedance amplifiers with feedforward current are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an amplifier system includes a transimpedance amplifier that amplifies an input current received at an input to generate an output voltage at an output. The amplifier system further includes a controllable current source that is coupled to the output of the transimpedance amplifier, and operable to provide a feedforward current that changes in relation to the input current of the transimpedance amplifier. By providing a feedforward current in this manner, gain and speed performance of the transimpedance amplifier is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Nicholas Fiedler Basilico, Yoshinori Kusuda
  • Patent number: 10700653
    Abstract: Methods form amplifier device structures that include first-third amplifier devices. The first amplifier device produces an intermediate signal. The second amplifier device is connected to an input of the first amplifier device and produces an amplified inverted output signal. The third amplifier device inverts the intermediate signal to produce an amplified non-inverted output signal that is complementary to the amplified inverted output signal. A resistor feedback loop is connected to the input and output of the first amplifier device. A gain ratio of the gain of the third amplifier device to the gain of the second amplifier device matches a resistance ratio of the source resistance of the input signal to the resistance of the resistor added to the source resistance. Also, DC loop circuits are connected to the first-third amplifier devices, and each of the DC loop circuits connects an amplifier device output to an amplifier device input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Konstantinos Manetakis, Thomas G. McKay
  • Patent number: 10686412
    Abstract: A high-speed low-noise trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) with fast overdrive recovery is suitable for use in light detection and ranging (LIDAR) receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph Adut
  • Patent number: 10574195
    Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier (TIA) structure includes an input node with a variable inductance component serving to reduce variation in peak amplitude over different gain conditions. According to certain embodiments, an inductor at the TIA input has a first node in communication with a Field Effect Transistor (FET) drain, and a second node in communication with the FET source. A control voltage applied to the FET gate effectively controls the input inductance by adding a variable impedance across the inductor. Under low gain conditions, lowering of inductance afforded by the control voltage applied to the FET reduces voltage peaking. TIAs in accordance with embodiments may be particularly suited to operate over a wide dynamic range to amplify incoming electrical signals received from a photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: INPHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tom Broekaert
  • Patent number: 10554961
    Abstract: In various aspects, volumetric display systems are disclosed together with methods for forming images. The volumetric display systems herein described are designed to generate high-quality and three-dimensional images with multiple-degree angle views and user interface. The images are generated from photoluminescent materials, often fluorescent materials, that are embedded in a three-dimensional solid display medium and excited by a pulsed laser beam. The excited fluorescent materials emit light that transmits through the display medium toward the viewer or viewers to create an image. The image can be dynamic when sequentially projected with other images. The disclosed systems can generate three-dimensional images with a single light source and without a high-power laser system operating on air or gas medium and interacting destructively with the imaging media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventor: Kevin Vora
  • Patent number: 10490536
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a driving substrate, a plurality of micro light-emitting devices, and a common electrode. The micro light-emitting devices are separately arranged on the driving substrate, and each of the micro light-emitting devices includes an epitaxial structure, a first type electrode, and a second type electrode. The first type electrode and the second type electrode are disposed on opposite surfaces of the epitaxial structure. The common electrode is disposed on the driving substrate and located between the second type electrodes of the micro light-emitting devices, and the common electrode exposes an upper surface of each of the second type electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: PlayNitride Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Ling Wu, Yi-Min Su
  • Patent number: 10432319
    Abstract: One example of a receiver includes a first stage, a second stage, a third stage, and an automatic gain controller. The first stage amplifies an input signal to provide a first signal. The second stage amplifies or attenuates the first signal to provide a second signal based on a tunable gain of the second stage. The tunable gain is adjusted in response to a differential signal. The third stage amplifies the second signal to provide an output signal. The automatic gain controller provides the differential signal based on a comparison between a peak voltage of the output signal and the sum of a common mode voltage of the output signal and an offset voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Kehan Zhu, Cheng Li, Marco Fiorentino
  • Patent number: 10270538
    Abstract: A circuit may include amplifier circuitry configured to receive a current signal at an amplifier input node, convert the current signal to a voltage signal, and output the voltage signal at an amplifier output node. The circuit may also include overload circuitry configured to receive a replica DC input voltage and a replica DC output voltage. The overload circuitry may be further configured to detect that the current signal exceeds a threshold level based on the replica DC input voltage and the replica DC output voltage. In addition, the overload circuitry may be configured to, in response to and based on detecting that the current signal exceeds the threshold level, direct DC current of the current signal through a DC shunt path and direct AC current of the current signal through an AC shunt path. The AC shunt path may be different from the DC shunt path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Theron Lee Jones, Richard Dean Davis
  • Patent number: 10145910
    Abstract: A system activates a switch between a disengaged state and an engaged state, receives, via the second optical excitation source, a light signal includes a high intensity signal provided by the second optical excitation source, and causes at least one of the photocomponent or the optical detection circuit to operate in a non-saturated state responsive to the activation of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth Michael Jackson, Gregory Scott Bruce, Wilbur Lew
  • Patent number: 10063200
    Abstract: Feedback circuit for power amplifier. In some embodiments, a radio-frequency amplifier can include a bipolar junction transistor configured to amplify a signal, and having an input and an output. The radio-frequency amplifier can further include a feedback circuit implemented between the output and input of the bipolar junction transistor. The feedback circuit can include a parallel assembly of a field-effect transistor and a resistive element such that the resistive element is bypassed when the field-effect transistor is ON and an overall resistance of the feedback circuit includes the resistive element when the field-effect transistor is OFF. Such a feedback circuit can be configured to be capable of providing a plurality of resistance values between the output and input of the bipolar junction transistor to facilitate different gains of the bipolar junction transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Cheng Pang Wu, Yu-Jui Lin, Peter Phu Tran
  • Patent number: 9954622
    Abstract: A TIA converts a current signal received at its terminal to a voltage signal. The TIA includes an amplifier that includes an input node connected to the terminal and that converts a current signal received at the input node to a voltage signal; a first diode whose cathode is connected to the terminal; a second diode whose anode is connected to the terminal; a first current source connected to an anode of the first diode, the first current source supplying a first forward current to the first diode; a second current source connected to a cathode of the second diode, the second current source supplying a second forward current to the second diode; and a controller that controls forward currents respectively generated by the first current source and the second current source in accordance with an increase and decrease in the voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Sugimoto, Taizo Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 9948401
    Abstract: A circuit may include amplifier circuitry configured to receive a current signal at an amplifier input node, convert the current signal to a voltage signal, and output the voltage signal at an amplifier output node. The circuit may also include overload circuitry configured to receive a replica DC input voltage and a replica DC output voltage. The overload circuitry may be further configured to detect that the current signal exceeds a threshold level based on the replica DC input voltage and the replica DC output voltage. In addition, the overload circuitry may be configured to, in response to and based on detecting that the current signal exceeds the threshold level, direct DC current of the current signal through a DC shunt path and direct AC current of the current signal through an AC shunt path. The AC shunt path may be different from the DC shunt path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Theron Lee Jones, Richard Dean Davis
  • Patent number: 9893681
    Abstract: A method and circuit are provided for implementing enhanced CMOS inverter based optical Transimpedance Amplifiers (TIAs). A transimpedence amplifer (TIA) includes a photo-detector, and the TIA is formed by a first TIA inverter and a second TIA inverter. The first TIA inverter has an input from a cathode side of the photo-detector and the second inverter has an input from an anode side of the photo-detector. A replica TIA is formed by two replica inverters, coupled to a respective input to a first operational amplifier and a second operational amplifier. The first operational amplifier and the second operational amplifier have a feedback configuration for respectively regulating a set voltage level at the cathode side of the photo-detector input of the first inverter and at the anode side of the photo-detector input of the second inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew B. Frank, Raymond A. Richetta
  • Patent number: 9859986
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a photodetector element (11) that converts an optical signal into an electric current signal; a transimpedance amplifier (12a) that converts the electric current signal into a voltage signal; a differential amplifier (12d) that converts the voltage signal into a differential signal, by performing differential amplification of a difference between the voltage signal and a threshold voltage; an LOS detection circuit that detects a no-signal section of the optical signal; and an MCU that repeatedly executes offset cancellation processing, the offset cancellation processing including threshold voltage change processing in which the threshold voltage is changed such that an offset voltage of the differential signal is reduced, the MCU 13 skipping the threshold voltage change processing in the no-signal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Tanaka, Minako Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9768747
    Abstract: Methods and systems for accurate gain adjustment of a transimpedance amplifier using a dual replica and servo loop is disclosed and may include, in a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) circuit comprising a first TIA, a second TIA, and a third TIA, each comprising a configurable feedback impedance, and a control loop, where the control loop comprises a gain stage with inputs coupled to outputs of the first and second TIAs and an output coupled to the configurable feedback impedance of the second and third TIAs: configuring a gain level of the first TIA by configuring its feedback impedance, configuring a gain level of the third TIA by configuring a reference current applied to an input of the first TIA, and amplifying a received electrical signal to generate an output voltage utilizing the third TIA. The reference current may generate a reference voltage at one of the inputs of the gain stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Barabas, Joseph Balardeta, Simon Pang, Scott Denton
  • Patent number: 9762186
    Abstract: A Regulated Cascode (RGC)-type burst mode optic pre-amplifier having an extended linear input range. The burst mode optic pre-amplifier comprises an RGC-type Trans Impedance Amplifier (TIA), wherein a current path is added in the circuit of the RGC-type TIA to control a linearity state of the RGC-type TIA, and a main voltage gain is controlled in other circuit blocks after the RGC-type TIA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Young Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 9584075
    Abstract: A method and circuit are provided for implementing enhanced CMOS inverter based optical Transimpedance Amplifiers (TIAs). A transimpedence amplifer (TIA) includes a photo-detector, and the TIA is formed by a first TIA inverter and a second TIA inverter. The first TIA inverter has an input from a cathode side of the photo-detector and the second inverter has an input from an anode side of the photo-detector. A replica TIA is formed by two replica inverters, coupled to a respective input to a first operational amplifier and a second operational amplifier. The first operational amplifier and the second operational amplifier have a feedback configuration for respectively regulating a set voltage level at the cathode side of the photo-detector input of the first inverter and at the anode side of the photo-detector input of the second inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew B. Frank, Raymond A. Richetta
  • Patent number: 9571045
    Abstract: A method and circuit are provided for implementing enhanced CMOS inverter based optical Transimpedance Amplifiers (TIAs). A transimpedance amplifier (TIA) includes a photo-detector, and the TIA is formed by a first TIA inverter and a second TIA inverter. The first TIA inverter has an input from a cathode side of the photo-detector and the second inverter has an input from an anode side of the photo-detector. A replica TIA is formed by two replica inverters, coupled to a respective input to a first operational amplifier and a second operational amplifier. The first operational amplifier and the second operational amplifier have a feedback configuration for respectively regulating a set voltage level at the cathode side of the photo-detector input of the first inverter and at the anode side of the photo-detector input of the second inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew B. Frank, Raymond A. Richetta
  • Patent number: 9560301
    Abstract: A circuit includes a signal line and a pixel unit cell. The pixel unit cell includes one or more light sensing elements, a conversion circuit, and a selection switch between the conversion circuit and the signal line. In the pixel unit cell, the conversion circuit is configured to convert charge carriers from the one or more light sensing elements to a voltage signal at an output node of the conversion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Yamashita, Jhy-Jyi Sze
  • Patent number: 9537458
    Abstract: Provided herein is a feedback amplifier including an amplifier circuit configured to amplify an input signal input from an input terminal and output the amplified input signal to an output terminal; a feedback circuit configured to apply a feedback resistance value to a signal output to the output terminal, and to control a gain of the amplifier circuit by adjusting the input signal by a bias voltage applied with a feedback resistance value determined; a packet signal sensor configured to generate a fixed resistance control signal for controlling a fixed resistance value included in the feedback resistance value through a comparison between the output from the output terminal with a minimum signal level; and a fixed resistance controller configured to control the fixed resistance value included in the feedback resistance value in response to the fixed resistance control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sang Heung Lee, Dong Min Kang, Seong Il Kim, Ho Kyun Ahn, Hyung Sup Yoon, Jong Won Lim, Chull Won Ju
  • Patent number: 9490757
    Abstract: A method and circuit are provided for implementing an enhanced bias configuration for CMOS inverter based optical Transimpedance Amplifiers (TIAs). An operational amplifier is provided in a feedback configuration that forces an input of the CMOS inverter to a set voltage level by regulation of the inverter power supply. A photo-detector sees a more stable bias voltage, and the responsivity of the photo-detector is more robust and the TIA has improved performance across process corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew B. Frank, Jonathan E. Proesel, Raymond A. Richetta
  • Patent number: 9425901
    Abstract: In order to be able to receive any digital optical signals in the bandwidth range from zero bits per second to the high Gbits/second range with as little circuit complexity as possible and to be able to process said signals with the least possible energy requirement for reprocessing, the invention proposes a circuit arrangement as well as a method for receiving digital optical signals by means of at least one light-receiving component connected upstream of at least one signal input port, particularly by means of at least one photodiode, wherein the unipolar current signal coming from the light-receiving component through the signal input port is transformed into a bipolar current signal by means of a compensation current provided by at least one current source, the value of said current being defined by means of at least one digital register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SILICON LINE GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Groepl, Holger Fritsche, Holger Hoeltke
  • Patent number: 9407218
    Abstract: A multi-stage transimpedance amplifier (TIA) which includes a common gate amplifier configured to receive a current signal, the common gate amplifier is configured to convert the current signal into an amplified voltage signal. The multi-stage TIA further includes a capacitive degeneration amplifier configured to receive the amplified voltage signal, the capacitive degeneration amplifier is configured to equalize the amplified voltage signal to form an equalized signal. The multi-stage TIA further includes an inverter configured to receive the equalized signal, the inverter is configured to increase a signal strength of the equalized signal to form an output signal. The multi-stage TIA further includes a feedback configured to receive the output signal, wherein the feedback is connected to an input and an output of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsung-Ching Huang, Chan-Hong Chern, Ming-Chieh Huang, Chih-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 9197174
    Abstract: An analog baseband filter for a radio transceiver is provided. An analog baseband filter for a multi-mode multi-band radio transceiver includes a current-voltage conversion amplifier converting a current received at the analog baseband filter into a voltage and adjusting a gain of an output voltage of the current-voltage conversion amplifier using a plurality of resistors, and a source follower circuit compensating for temperature for the output voltage of the current-voltage conversion amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Kwon Kim, Jong-Woo Lee, Jae-Hyun Lim
  • Patent number: 9191242
    Abstract: A differential signal detecting device includes a secondary amplifier; a front-end receiver and a final amplifier which are respectively connected to the secondary amplifier; and a signal outputter which is connected to the final amplifier. The front-end receiver receives two externally inputted channels of differential signals and an externally inputted reference threshold voltage, differentiates and transduces the two channels of differential signals. The secondary amplifier receives and amplifies the signals which are outputted by the front-end receiver, and outputs the signals amplified again. The final amplifier differentiates and amplifies the signals outputted by the secondary amplifier and outputs the two channels of differentiated signals. The signal outputter receives the two channels of differentiated signals which are outputted by the final amplifier and processes the two channels of differentiated signals with a logical conjunction before outputting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: IPGoal Microelectronics (Sichuan) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fangping Fan
  • Patent number: 9178474
    Abstract: Provided is a feedback amplifier. The feedback amplifier includes: an amplification circuit unit amplifying a burst packet signal inputted from an input terminal and outputting the amplified voltage to an output terminal; a feedback circuit unit disposed between the input terminal and the output terminal and controlling whether to apply a fixed resistance value to a signal outputted to the output terminal; a packet signal detection unit detecting a peak value of a burst packet signal from the output terminal and controlling whether to apply the fixed resistance value; and a bias circuit unit generating a bias voltage, wherein the feedback circuit unit determines a feedback resistance value to change the fixed resistance value in response to at least one control signal and adjusts a gain by receiving the bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sang-Heung Lee, Seong-il Kim, Dong Min Kang, Jong-Won Lim, Chull Won Ju, Hyung Sup Yoon, Jae Kyoung Mun, Eun Soo Nam
  • Patent number: 9130682
    Abstract: A circuit sets an output potential at a radio frequency (RF) output of a pin photoreceiver that includes an ohmic terminal resistor connected between a supply voltage and the RF output. The circuit includes a control loop with an ohmic replication resistor having a resistance approximately equal to a resistance of the ohmic terminal resistor. The control loop further includes a sub-circuit configured to measure a voltage difference across the ohmic replication resistor and to reproduce the voltage difference as the supply voltage at an output terminal of the control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Heinz-Gunter Bach
  • Patent number: 9065407
    Abstract: A high speed transimpedance amplifier includes an inverting unit, at least one gain module, and a feedback resistor. The inverting unit has an input terminal coupled to a photodiode for receiving an input voltage, and an output terminal for outputting a first voltage. The at least one gain module has an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the inverting unit for receiving the first voltage, and an output terminal for outputting an output voltage. Each gain module includes a first gain inverting unit and a second gain inverting unit which are coupled to each other. The first gain inverting unit and the second gain inverting unit dominate bandwidth of the high speed transimpedance amplifier. The feedback resistor is coupled to the input terminal of the inverting unit and the output terminal of the at least one gain module for determining a transimpedance of the high speed transimpedance amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: TM Technology Inc.
    Inventors: He-hong Zou, Chih-Yang Wang
  • Patent number: 9035696
    Abstract: An amplifier includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a TIA, and a compensation circuit. The TIA includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first current source connected to the first input terminal and an emitter of the first transistor, a second current source connected to the second input terminal and an emitter of the second transistor, a first load resistor connected to a collector of the first transistor, and a second load resistor connected to a collector of the second transistor. A bias voltage is supplied to bases of the first and second transistors, the compensation circuit adjusts a first load current and a second load current based on voltage signals, and the TIA outputs the voltage signals based on collector voltages of the first and second transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9030263
    Abstract: A TIA circuit and method are provided that merge the automatic gain control function with the bandwidth adjustment function to allow the TIA circuit to operate over a wide dynamic range at multiple data rates. The TIA circuit has an effective resistance that is adjustable for adjusting the gain and the bandwidth of the TIA circuit. The mechanism of the TIA circuit that is used to adjust the effective resistance, and hence the gain and bandwidth of the TIA circuit, is temperature independent, and as such, the performance of the TIA circuit is not affected by temperature variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Robinson, Vishant Tyagi, Peter Ho
  • Patent number: 8994457
    Abstract: A method of forming a circuit includes forming a transimpedance amplifier having a first input node and a second input node. The method also includes forming a feedback circuit having a first transistor having a drain terminal connected to the first input node, a source terminal, and a gate terminal, a second transistor having a drain terminal connected to the second input node, a source terminal, and a gate terminal, and a third transistor having a drain terminal connected to the source terminal of the first transistor and the source terminal of the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Proesel, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Clint L. Schow, Jose A. Tierno
  • Patent number: 8988114
    Abstract: Systems and methods for low-power voltage tamper detection are described. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit may include source-follower circuitry configured to produce a scaled down supply voltage. The integrated circuit may also include undervoltage detection circuitry coupled to the source-follower circuitry, the undervoltage detection circuitry configured to output a first signal having a first logic value if the scaled down supply voltage is greater than a low threshold voltage or a second logic value if the scaled down supply voltage is smaller than the low threshold voltage. Additionally or alternatively, the integrated circuit may include overvoltage detection circuitry coupled to the source-follower circuitry, the overvoltage detection circuitry configured to output a second signal having the first logic value if the scaled down supply voltage is smaller than a high threshold voltage or the second logic value if the scaled down supply voltage is greater than the high threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay K. Wadhwa, Alfredo Olmos, Fabio Duarte De Martin
  • Patent number: 8981853
    Abstract: A differential or pseudo-differential TIA includes an auxiliary differential amplifier input transistor pair cross-coupled to the output nodes to cancel undesired output signal components. The advantages of a classical differential topology are retained while performance at a high data rate is significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Wissam Yussef Sabri Eyssa, Enrico Stefano Temporiti Milani, Daniele Baldi
  • Patent number: 8970300
    Abstract: Improved preamplifier circuits for converting single-ended input current signals to differential output voltage signals, including first and second transimpedance amplifiers with input transistors operating according to bias currents from a biasing circuit, output transistors and adjustable feedback impedances modified using an automatic gain control circuit, as well as a reference circuit controlling the bias currents according to an on-board reference current and the single-ended input or the differential output voltage signals from the transimpedance amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Piepenstock, Gerd Schuppener, Frank Gelhausen, Ulrich Schacht
  • Patent number: RE45652
    Abstract: The invention relates to an amplifier capable of delivering a plurality of output signals, these output signals being controlled by a plurality of input signals. A multiple-input and multiple-output amplifier of the invention comprises a common input terminal, 4 signal input terminals, 4 signal output terminals, a common terminal amplifier, 4 active sub-circuits and a feedback network. Each active sub-circuit has a sub-circuit input terminal connected to one of the signal input terminals, a sub-circuit output terminal connected to one of the signal output terminals and a sub-circuit common terminal. The feedback network has four C terminals and one R terminal. Each of said C terminals of the feedback network is coupled to the sub-circuit common terminal of one of said active sub-circuits. The output terminal of the common terminal amplifier is coupled to said R terminal of the feedback network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic Broyde, Evelyne Clavelier