Sum And Difference Amplifiers Patents (Class 330/69)
  • Patent number: 8384473
    Abstract: A voltage output device capable of preventing an increase in circuit scale includes an offset compensation function and is suitably applicable to a drive circuit for display devices. The voltage output device includes an operational amplifier having an inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal. Resistance values of a load resistor on the inverting input side and a load resistor on the non-inverting input side are maintained when the output voltage of the amplifier has changed while sequentially varying either one or both of the resistance values of the load resistor on the inverting input side and the load resistor on the non-inverting input side in a state that the inverting input terminal and the non-inverting input terminal are connected. The voltage output device is configured to output the output voltage of the amplifier with the inverting input terminal not connected to the non-inverting input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Lapis Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Ichikura
  • Publication number: 20130043942
    Abstract: A sensing device is provided. The sensing device successively operates in a plurality of operation periods and includes a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of differential amplifiers, and a plurality of sensing circuits. The first electrodes are disposed successively. The differential amplifiers at least comprise a first differential amplifier and a second differential amplifier. Each of the differential amplifiers comprises a first input terminal and a second input terminal. Each of the sensing circuits has an input terminal and an output terminal. The sensing circuits at least comprise first, second, and third sensing circuits. The input terminals of the sensing circuits are coupled to the first electrodes. The output terminals of sensing circuits are coupled to the differential amplifiers. The output terminal of at least one of the sensing circuits is coupled to both of the first differential amplifier and the second differential amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Shinji KONOSHITA, Yoshikazu Matsui, Kazuyuki Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20130038388
    Abstract: An auto-zero amplifier is disclosed, having an amplifying circuit, a switch, and a difference signal generating circuit. The amplifying circuit receives a first input signal for generating a first output signal, and receives a second input signal for generating a second output signal. The switch is coupled between the amplifying circuit and a capacitor. The switch is conducted for charging or discharging the capacitor to a voltage with the first output signal, and the switch is not conducted for keeping the capacitor at the voltage. The difference signal generating circuit is coupled with the amplifying circuit and the capacitor for generating a difference signal of the first output signal and the second output signal, a multiple of the difference signal, a part of the difference signal, and/or a digital output value for the difference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Shiueshr JIANG, An-Tung Chen, Jo-Yu Wang, Jen-Hung Chi
  • Publication number: 20130033312
    Abstract: A circuit for single ended to differential conversion is disclosed. The circuit comprises a source for providing a single ended signal; and a transformer for receiving the single ended signal. The transformer includes first and second inductors. The first and second inductors are mutually coupled. When the operating frequency changes, a phase difference of currents flowing through the inductors changes, and therefore a phase difference between effective impedance of the first and second inductors changes to maintain a substantially 180 degree phase difference due to the mutual coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Ralink Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Chiyuan LU
  • Publication number: 20130035679
    Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) amplifier having a direct response to an arbitrary signal source to output one or more electrosurgical waveforms within an energy activation request, is disclosed. The RF amplifier includes a phase compensator coupled to an RF arbitrary source, the phase compensator configured to generate a reference signal as a function of an arbitrary RF signal from the RF arbitrary source and a phase control signal; at least one error correction amplifier coupled to the phase compensator, the at least one error correction amplifier configured to output a control signal at least as a function of the reference signal; and at least one power component coupled to the at least one error correction amplifier and to a high voltage power source configured to supply high voltage direct current thereto, the at least one power component configured to operate in response to the control signal to generate at least one component of the at least one electrosurgical waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: TYCO Healthare Group LP
    Inventor: James H. Orszulak
  • Publication number: 20130033313
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Parker Vision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. SORRELLS, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 8369534
    Abstract: An audio host device has an electrical interface having a speaker contact, a microphone contact, and a reference contact. The reference contact is shared by a microphone and a speaker. The reference contact is also directly coupled to a power return plane of the audio host device. A difference amplifier is provided, having a cold input and a hot input. The hot input is coupled to the microphone contact. A switched attenuator circuit is also provided that has first and second states. In the first state, the attenuator circuit couples a sense point of the reference contact to the cold input, while in the second state the cold input is isolated from the reference sense point. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Johnson, Lawrence F. Heyl, Wendell B. Sander, Douglas M. Farrar
  • Patent number: 8368464
    Abstract: The balanced output signal generator uses four interconnected plus-type second-generation current conveyors, a couple of load resistors and a single input resistor that can provide both current- and voltage-mode outputs. No matching conditions are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventor: Muhammad Taher Abuelma'atti
  • Publication number: 20130021097
    Abstract: Described is an inductive compensating network coupled between the differential inputs of an operational amplifier circuit. The inductive compensating network includes at least one inductive element having an inductance value selected so as to provide proper compensation of the operational amplifier circuit. Also described is a feedback compensation scheme which adjusts loop characteristics by introducing zeros into a system with the addition of inductive or capacitive elements in a feedback path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Douglas Jay Kozak Adams, Rahul Sarpeshkar
  • Patent number: 8358788
    Abstract: An audio host device has a connector having a speaker contact, a microphone contact, and a reference contact. The reference contact is shared by a microphone and a speaker. The reference contact is also directly coupled to a power return plane of the audio host device. A difference amplifier is provided, having a first cold input, a second cold input, and hot input. The first cold input is coupled to an output of the speaker amplifier, while the second cold input is coupled a sense point for the reference contact. The hot input is coupled to the microphone contact. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence F. Heyl, Timothy M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130015916
    Abstract: An auto-zero amplifier includes a main amplifier for amplifying an input signal; the main amplifier receives an offset-correction signal for cancelling an offset at a first common-mode level of the input signal. At the first common-mode level, the offset-correction signal is based on a first value stored using a first offset-storage element. When a change is detected in the input common-mode from the first level to a second level, the first offset-storage element is switched out and a second offset-storage element, having a second value based on the second common-mode level, is switched in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Quan Wan, Alasdair Alexander
  • Patent number: 8344802
    Abstract: An operational amplifier device includes an operational amplifier, a first transmission gate, and a first switch module. The operational amplifier includes an output stage, which has a first signal input terminal and a signal output terminal, and outputs an output voltage at the signal output terminal. The first transmission gate is coupled between the signal output terminal and a transmission output terminal, having a first transmission control terminal. The first switch module is utilized for controlling electrical connection between the first signal input terminal and the first transmission control terminal. During a first transmission period, the first switch module controls the first transmission control terminal to be coupled to the first signal input terminal, thereby conducting the first transmission gate to not only transmit the output voltage but also act as a Miller capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ju-Lin Huang, Peng-Yu Chen
  • Publication number: 20120326778
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to radio frequency (RF) amplification devices and methods for amplifying an RF input signal. To set the quiescent operating level of the RF output signal, a bias signal to be applied to the RF input signal is received prior to amplifying the RF input signal. The bias signal is amplified to generate the RF output signal at the quiescent operating level and a feedback signal is received that is indicative of the quiescent operating level of the RF output signal. Prior to amplifying the RF input signal, the bias signal level of the bias signal is adjusted such that the quiescent operating level is set to a reference signal level based on the feedback signal level. This allows for adjustments to be made to the quiescent operating level and maintain the quiescent operating level at a desired value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Praveen Varma Nadimpalli, Mike Landherr, Michael B. Thomas, Wonseok Oh
  • Publication number: 20120326785
    Abstract: An amplifier arrangement constituted of: a first input lead; a second input lead; a difference amplifier; a first buffer, the input of the first buffer coupled to the first input lead, the output of the first buffer coupled to a first input of the difference amplifier; a second buffer, the input of the second buffer coupled to the second input lead, the output of the second buffer coupled to a second input of the difference amplifier; and a transconductance amplifier, the non-inverting input and the non-inverted output of the transconductance amplifier coupled to the first input of the difference amplifier, the inverting input and the inverted output of the transconductance amplifier coupled to the second input of the difference amplifier. The input signals are thus buffered and the offset of the buffers are compensated for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSEMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kai KWAN, Peter KIM
  • Patent number: 8340312
    Abstract: An audio host device has an electrical interface having a speaker contact, a microphone contact, and a reference contact. The reference contact is shared by a microphone and a speaker. The reference contact is also directly coupled to a power return plane of the audio host device. A difference amplifier is provided, having a cold input and a hot input. The hot input is coupled to the microphone contact. A variable attenuator circuit is also provided having an input coupled to receive a signal from a sense point for the reference contact, and an output coupled to the cold input of the difference amplifier. A controller has an output coupled to control the variable attenuator. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Johnson, Lawrence F. Heyl
  • Publication number: 20120319769
    Abstract: Multiple-Input-Single-Output (MISO) amplification and associated VPA control algorithms are provided herein. According to embodiments of the present invention, MISO amplifiers driven by VPA control algorithms outperform conventional outphasing amplifiers, including cascades of separate branch amplifiers using conventional power combiner technologies. MISO amplifiers can be operated at enhanced efficiencies over the entire output power dynamic range by blending the control of the power source, source impedances, bias levels, outphasing, and branch amplitudes. These blending constituents are combined to provide an optimized transfer characteristic function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Rawlins, David F. Sorrells
  • Patent number: 8330537
    Abstract: A rail-to-rail buffer receiving a differential input signal and generating a differential output signal includes first and second amplifier circuits configured in a pseudo differential buffer structure and first and second comparators coupled to compare the respective part of the differential input signal and a first voltage and to generate select signals. Each of the first and second amplifier circuits includes first and second complementary differential input stages and the first and second comparators generate respective select signals to turn on only one of the first or the second differential input stage in each amplifier circuit depending on a value of the respective part of the differential input signal. In operation, the first and second complementary differential input stages of each amplifier circuit not being turned on at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Gururaj Ghorpade, Theertham Srinivas, D V J Ravi Kumar, Mehmet Aslan, K. Krishna Mahesh
  • Publication number: 20120302179
    Abstract: An analog envelope shaper within an envelope tracking power amplifier system detects an envelope voltage of a transmission signal and generates a shaped envelope amplifier control signal based upon a programmable threshold, below which the output does not fall, and a plurality of different voltages centered around a corresponding threshold input voltage, a selectable spacing of which controls the shape of the transition between negative clipping and linear regions of the envelope detector output function. The programmable features and the resulting piecewise linear shaping allow for tailoring of the envelope response to balance linearity and efficiency, without negating the efficiency benefits of envelope tracking power amplification. Since the analog envelope shaper employs no high speed data converter functions, the resulting power dissipation will be substantially less than digital designs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Brobston
  • Patent number: 8319550
    Abstract: A programmable-gain amplifier has a first input node coupled to receive a first input signal and a control input coupled to receive a gain select signal. The programmable-gain amplifier includes a differential amplifier having a first input and a first output and a plurality of capacitors. A first terminal of each of the plurality of capacitors is coupled to the first input of the differential amplifier, and a second terminal of each of the plurality of capacitors is coupled to the first input node during a sampling phase of the programmable-gain amplifier and selectively coupled to the first output of the differential amplifier, based on the gain select signal, during a gain phase of the programmable-gain amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ammisetti V. Prasad, James R. Feddeler
  • Publication number: 20120295556
    Abstract: A signal transceiver includes a first power amplifier coupled to a chip output port of a chip; an impedance transforming circuit; a switching circuit arranged to selectively couple the chip output port to a first port of the impedance transforming circuit; and a receiving amplifier coupled to a second port of the impedance transforming circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: George Chien, Chia-Hsin Wu, Tsung-Ming Chen, Yi-An Li
  • Publication number: 20120286859
    Abstract: A voltage level shifter for a direct coupling of an external voltage source to a common mode of a circuit may include an amplifier, a voltage-controlled current source, a first and second resistors. A first input of the amplifier may be connected to the common mode. A second input of the amplifier may, via the first and second resistors, receive a voltage indicative of the external voltage source. The output of the amplifier may indicate a voltage difference between the first and second inputs. The voltage-controlled current source may be controlled by the voltage difference to supply a current to a common node of the first and second resistors so that the voltage difference between the first and second inputs may be minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert LIBERT, Khiem Quang NGUYEN
  • Patent number: 8310278
    Abstract: A voltage detection circuit includes operational amplifiers, a battery, and a voltage circuit. The voltage circuit offsets the inverting input terminals and non-inverting input terminals of the operational amplifiers to the positive side with reference to a ground GND.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushika Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Shindo, Tsuneo Maebara, Keisuke Hata
  • Publication number: 20120268202
    Abstract: A circuit for a charge amplifier for converting piezoelectric measurement signals continuously sets the output signal of the amplifier to a value close to zero, such that a reset switch becomes unnecessary. The amplifier includes a pulse generator that provides the output signal of the amplifier in the form of pulses, which are easy to transmit with low interference. The pulse frequency is proportional to the rate of change of charge. The pulses, which are added in a counter, represent a value proportional to the change in the charge since the last counter reset, which is proportional to the present measured value at the measurement element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Kistler Holding AG
    Inventors: Leo Amstutz, Kurt Neff
  • Publication number: 20120268086
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a power supply unit and a feedback control unit. The power supply unit is configured for generating an electric potential to be provided to a load. The feedback control unit detects the electric potential and adjusts relevant parameters of the electrical potential to achieve predetermined values. The feedback control unit includes a first feedback circuit and a second feedback circuit electrically connected in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: WEI-CHIEH CHOU, DUEN-YI HO, CHUN-JEN CHEN, TSUNG-SHENG HUANG
  • Publication number: 20120262231
    Abstract: Contactless differential coupling structures can be used to communicate signals between circuits located on separate chips or from one chip to a probing device. The contactless coupling structures avoid problems (breaks, erosion, corrosion) that can degrade the performance of ohmic-type contact pads. The contactless coupling structures comprise pairs of conductive pads placed in close proximity. Differential signals are applied across a first pair of differential pads, and the signals are coupled wirelessly to a mating pair of conductive pads. Circuitry for generating and receiving differential signals is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l
    Inventors: Mauro SCANDIUZZO, Luca Perilli, Roberto CANEGALLO
  • Publication number: 20120262320
    Abstract: Two T filters, one of which includes two resistive elements and one capacitive element and the other of which includes two capacitive elements and one resistive element, are inserted in a negative-feedback section of an operational amplifier, and a resistive element and a capacitive element are connected between each of intermediate nodes and a signal input terminal. A resistive element and a capacitive element which are connected to each other in parallel are connected between the signal input terminal and an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier. With this configuration, overall admittances where elements connected to the corresponding intermediate nodes are in parallel connection are equal to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Mitani, Kazuo Matsukawa, Masao Takayama, Koji Obata, Shiro Dosho
  • Patent number: 8289257
    Abstract: A circuit for reducing and offsetting the voltage swing of a differential pre-drive circuit. The circuit includes a first H-bridge of transistors receiving a differential pair of input signals. A swing resister is coupled to the H-bridge for reducing a voltage swing of the differential pair of input signals. The reduced swing is generated as a differential pair of output signals. Also, the differential pre-drive circuit includes an offset resistor that is coupled to the H-bridge. The offset resistor acts to offset the differential pair of output signals. As such, the differential pair of output signals having reduced swing and offset as applied to gates of output transistors in an output stage allow the output transistors to remain in the saturation operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Daniel L. Simon
  • Publication number: 20120256684
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals is individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20120257339
    Abstract: Techniques for amplifying a plurality of input voltages to generate a corresponding plurality of output voltages. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of input voltages is referenced to a common voltage comprising the average of the plurality of input voltages, without the need to reference an independently provided common voltage. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, techniques are provided for automatically measuring the input impedance between any two nodes corresponding to the plurality of input voltages. Further techniques are provided for coupling input nodes of the amplifier modules to a common reference voltage, and to the housing of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Kent W. Leyde, Tyler R. Hart, Khaled M. Boulos, Jason A. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20120242404
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a sample and hold amplifier that provides a preamplifier with a multi-stage zeroing architecture. The multi-stage architecture reduces effects of parasitic capacitance exponentially over prior attempts, which yields increased accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanjay RAJASEKHAR
  • Patent number: 8270630
    Abstract: An audio host device has a headset electrical interface in which a reference contact is shared by a microphone and a speaker. A variable or programmable gain amplifier, PGA, has a signal input coupled to a sense point for the reference contact. A first difference amplifier has its inputs coupled to a microphone contact and the PGA through a first gain stage; a second difference amplifier has its inputs coupled to the microphone contact and to the output of the PGA, through a second gain stage having a different gain than the first gain stage; a third difference amplifier has its inputs coupled to the microphone contact and the output of the PGA through a third gain stage having a gain in between that of the first and second gain stages. A controller monitors outputs of the first and second difference amplifiers and changes a gain setting of the PGA. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120229204
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a switched capacitor circuit comprises: an inverting amplifier for removing the offset by using a chopper stabilization circuit; a sampling unit which is connected between an input terminal and the inverting amplifier; and a feedback unit which is connected to the inverting amplifier in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University
    Inventors: Gunhee Han, Youngcheol Chae, Inhee Lee, Dongmyung Lee, Seunghyun Lim, Ji Min Cheon
  • Publication number: 20120229205
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit capable of reducing load of a circuit at the previous stage by providing increased input impedance producing less noises. The amplifier circuit includes a fully-differential operational amplifier composed of an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal receiving a signal different from a signal to be input to the inverting input terminal, an inverting output terminal with the same polarity of the inverting input terminal, and a non-inverting output terminal with reverse polarity; an input impedance element with one end connected to the inverting input terminal; an input impedance element with one end connected to the non-inverting input terminal; and positive feedback impedance elements, with one end of connected to the other end of the input impedance element and the other end connected to the inverting output terminal or to the non-inverting output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Kazuo Koyama
  • Publication number: 20120229215
    Abstract: An amplifier assembly includes an input signal determiner that determines a first input signal and a second input signal based on an initial signal having an amplitude and an initial frequency. Amplifiers amplify the first and second input signal to form first and second output signals having a phase offset with respect to one another. The first and second amplified output signals are fed to a common coupling element that forms a useful signal and a loss signal, such that a total power of the useful signal and loss signal is independent of the phase offset, the power of the useful signal has a maximum corresponding to a predetermined value of the phase offset, and the partial power of the useful signal decreases with a deviation of the phase offset from the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Oliver Heid
  • Publication number: 20120229214
    Abstract: A differential amplifier circuit comprises a differential pre-amplifying stage which is designed to allow an input signal with a first common mode voltage range, and to generate an output which has a narrower common mode voltage variation. This pre-amplifier stage is designed to accept a large common mode input voltage and to process the signal so that it can be amplified by a main amplifying stage which is designed to allow an input signal with a smaller common mode voltage range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Sunil Kasanyal
  • Publication number: 20120223772
    Abstract: A multilevel class-D differential amplifier which can be operated in at least three modes includes a first power stage and a second power stage. In an idle mode, an output of the first power stage varies between a first voltage level and a second voltage level, wherein an output of the second power stage varies between the first voltage level and the second voltage level. In a PWM mode, the output of the first power stage varies between the first voltage level and the second voltage level, wherein the output of the second power stage varies between the first voltage level and the second voltage level. In a Multi-Level mode, the output of said first power stage varies between said second voltage level and a third voltage level, wherein said output of said second power stage is fixed at said first voltage level, and wherein said differential signal between said outputs of said power stages is pulse width modulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventor: Cristian Cerutti
  • Patent number: 8258865
    Abstract: A signal generating apparatus comprises an amplifier, which comprises differential input terminals for receiving a first input signal, a common mode output signal adjusting terminal for receiving a second input signal, and an output terminal. The signal generating apparatus may provide two or more differential output signals according to the first input signal, and provide two or more common mode output signals according to the second input signal. The amplifier provides an output signal comprising one of the differential output signals and one of the common mode output signals at the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Chen-Chih Huang, Yu-Chang Chen, Wei-Chou Wang, Sheng-Huang Tsao
  • Patent number: 8258864
    Abstract: A pre-amplifier circuit can be cascaded and drive a latch for use in a precision analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The pre-amplifier has a main section and a feedback section connected by feedback resistors that do not produce voltage drops in the main section. Offset is stored on offset capacitors during an autozeroing phase and isolated by transmission gates during an amplifying phase. The offset capacitors drive the gates of feedback transistors that drive output nodes in the main section. Autozeroing sink transistors in the feedback section operate in the linear region while current sink transistors in the main section operate in the saturated region. Kickback-charge isolation transistors may be added for charge isolation. The output may also be equalized by an equalizing transmission gate. A very low power-supply voltage is supported even for high-speed operation with offset cancellation, due to the folded feedback resistor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwai Chi Chan, Yat To (William) Wong, Ho Ming (Karen) Wan, Kam Chuen Wan, Kwok Kuen (David) Kwong
  • Publication number: 20120212291
    Abstract: A radio frequency amplification stage comprising: an amplifier for receiving an input signal to be amplified and a power supply voltage; and a power supply voltage stage for supplying said power supply voltage, comprising: means for providing a reference signal representing the envelope of the input signal; means for selecting one of a plurality of supply voltage levels in dependence on the reference signal; and means for generating an adjusted selected power supply voltage, comprising an ac amplifier for amplifying a difference between the reference signal and one of the selected supply voltage level or the adjusted selected supply voltage level, and a summer for summing the amplified difference with the selected supply voltage to thereby generate the adjusted supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: NUJIRA LIMITED
    Inventor: Martin Paul Wilson
  • Patent number: 8248158
    Abstract: A chopper stabilized amplifier may include a modulation circuit that performs a digital conversion on an input signal so as to convert the input signal into a first modulated signal by using a modulation signal, the modulation signal being a rectangular wave having a predetermined frequency, an operational amplifier circuit that amplifies the first modulated signal so as to convert the first modulated signal into a second modulated signal, and a demodulation circuit that performs analog conversion on the second modulated signal so as to convert the second modulated signal into an output signal by using a demodulation signal, the demodulation signal having a waveform that corresponds to the differences between frequency components of the first modulated signal and the second modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Osawa
  • Publication number: 20120206198
    Abstract: A differential amplifier replicates the input stage and cross-connects the inputs, so that the input-to-output delay will be balanced in an averaged sense. The outputs of each of the two input stages are then summed after an open loop delay matched inversion has taken place. The result is a reduction in the duty cycle distortion of the receiver amplifier over process voltage and temperature (PVT) variation. This is enabled by the fact that a full swing CMOS delay cell can be made to have good delay matching over PVT, whereas the input stage to a differential amplifier may, depending on architecture, have poor delay matching because of impedance mismatches within the amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Cavium, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Meninger
  • Publication number: 20120206197
    Abstract: A differential amplifier amplifies the difference between a signal input to the non-inverting terminal via a capacitor and a signal input to the inverting terminal. A switch switches whether to input the signal to the non-inverting terminal via the capacitor. A resistance is connected between the non-inverting terminal and the inverting terminal. An offset voltage corrector corrects the offset voltage of the differential amplifier based on the output signal of the differential amplifier during a correction period in which the switch is controlled not to input the signal to the non-inverting terminal via the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8237497
    Abstract: An amplifier processes a differential input received at a differential input port. The amplifier includes a first amplifier circuit and a second amplifier circuit. The first amplifier circuit is disposed in a first signal path between a first input node and a first output node of the amplifier, and arranged to amplify a first input signal received at the first input node and accordingly generate a first amplified signal to the first output node. The second amplifier circuit is disposed in a second signal path between a second input node and a second output node of the amplifier, and arranged to amplify a second input signal received at the second input node and accordingly generate a second amplified signal to the second output node. A driving capability of the first amplifier circuit is different from a driving capability of the second amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventor: Sung-Han Wen
  • Publication number: 20120194268
    Abstract: A differential voltage sensing method for achieving input impedance matching comprises the steps of: providing a first bio-potential signal to a first variable resistor for generating a first signal; providing a second bio-potential signal to a second variable resistor for generating a second signal; differentially amplifying first and second signals for generating a third signal; selecting an operation band of the third signal for generating first and second logic signals; and dynamically adjusting one of the impedances of the first and second variable resistors according to the first and second logic signals, wherein each of the first and second bio-potential signals has a common signal voltage level and a differential signal voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Wen Ying CHANG, CHENG HUNG CHANG, YING JU CHEN
  • Publication number: 20120188009
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods reduce the likelihood of amplifier saturation due to propagated DC offsets, and reduce the recover from saturated stated when such saturation occurs. Advantageously, these attributes are beneficial for monitoring of bioelectric signals. A circuit uses an instrumentation amplifier connected as a high pass filter to attenuate large DC offsets and amplify small signals. The circuit can include an instrumentation amplifier electrically coupled with a first feedback circuit including at least one resistor and a second feedback circuit including an op-amp. The feedback circuit can also include a low-pass filter. The op-amp in the second feedback circuit can be configured as a non-inverting amplifier, an inverting amplifier, and/or an integrator circuit. Alternatively, the circuit can include an instrumentation amplifier with one feedback circuit including at least one resistor, and a coupling capacitor electrically coupled with a reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Alasdair Gordon Alexander, David James Plourde, Matthew Nathan Duff
  • Publication number: 20120182068
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, an amplifier circuit including first and second amplifiers configured to receive an input signal and to provide a differential output signal using a feedback loop including a transconductance amplifier. A non-inverting input of a first amplifier can be configured to receive an input signal. The feedback loop can be configured to receive the outputs from the first and second amplifiers and to provide a feedback signal to the non-inverting input of the second amplifier, for example, to reduce a DC offset error or to increase a dynamic range of the amplifier circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew M. Jordan, Hrvoje Jasa
  • Publication number: 20120169417
    Abstract: A current generating circuit for providing one or more than one load current is provided. The current generating circuit includes: one or more than one operational amplifier, coupled to a reference voltage source, wherein each positive input end of the one or more than one operational amplifier receives the reference voltage source; one or more than one semiconductor switch, used for controlling the output of the one or more than one load current, wherein each semiconductor switch is respectively coupled to a corresponding operational amplifier and a load, and the semiconductor switch operates according to signals outputted from the output end of the corresponding operational amplifier to output the corresponding load current; and a control unit, coupled to the one or more than one operational amplifier, for outputting a control signal to control the operation of the one or more than one operational amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: PRINCETON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20120161872
    Abstract: A comparator includes: a pre-amplification module, configured to generate two amplified differential signal reference currents according to an input voltage and a reference voltage; and a differential signal obtaining module, configured to obtain a differential signal according to the two amplified differential signal reference currents. The pre-amplification module includes a differential unit, an offset unit, and an amplification unit, where the differential unit is configured to generate two direct current bias currents according to the input voltage and the reference voltage; the offset unit is configured to generate an offset current of the two direct current bias currents according to the input voltage and the reference voltage, so as to reduce magnitude of the two direct current bias currents and obtain two differential signal reference currents; the amplification unit is configured to receive the two differential signal reference currents, and amplify the two differential signal reference currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Huawei Admintration Building
    Inventors: Shifu Pang, Ding Li
  • Publication number: 20120161994
    Abstract: A gain amplifier may have a differential amplifier with feedback capacitors; a switched input stage having first and second outputs coupled with the differential amplifier, and having: first and second capacitors, a first input receiving a first signal of a differential input signal; a second input receiving a second signal of the differential input signal; a first plurality of switches controlled by a first clock signal to connect the first terminals of the first capacitor with the first or second input, respectively and to connect the first terminals of the second capacitors with the second and first input, respectively; and a second plurality of switches controlled by a phase shifted clock signal to connect the second terminal of the first capacitor with a first or second input of the differential amplifier and connecting the second terminal of the second capacitor with the second or first input of the differential amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Vincent Quiquempoix, Philippe Deval, Fabien Vaucher
  • Patent number: 8203381
    Abstract: A voltage output device which is capable of preventing an increase in circuit scale and includes an offset compensation function that is suitably applicable in particular to a drive circuit for display devices such as liquid crystal display panels. The voltage output device includes an operational amplifier which has an inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal. Resistance values of a load resistor on the inverting input side and a load resistor on the non-inverting input side are maintained when the output voltage of the amplifier has changed while sequentially varying either one or both of the resistance values of the load resistor on the inverting input side and the load resistor on the non-inverting input side in a state that the inverting input terminal and the non-inverting input terminal are connected. The voltage output device is configured to output the output voltage of the amplifier with the inverting input terminal not connected to the non-inverting input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Lapis Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Ichikura