With Periodic Switching Input-output (e.g., For Drift Correction) Patents (Class 330/9)
  • Patent number: 11095259
    Abstract: An integrated circuit, comprising an amplifier comprising a pair of inputs configured to receive a differential signal, a first resistor, a second resistor, wherein the first resistor and the second resistor are coupled in series with each other and coupled to a first input of the pair of inputs, a third resistor, a fourth resistor, wherein the third resistor and the fourth resistor are coupled in series with each other and coupled to a second input of the pair of inputs, and a first capacitor comprising a first end coupled to a first point between the first resistor and the second resistor, and a second end coupled to a second point between the third resistor and the fourth resistor, a second capacitor disposed between the first input and an output of the amplifier; and a third capacitor disposed between the second input and the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Baoyue Wei, Yuemiao Di
  • Patent number: 11057002
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for selecting one of a plurality of modes in which to operate an amplifier. The techniques include configuring input routing circuitry, coupled to first and second inputs of the amplifier, based on the selected one of the plurality of modes; selectively applying a resistance to an output of the amplifier, using feedback routing circuitry, based on the selected one of the plurality of modes; and selectively applying one of a plurality of reference voltages, using reference voltage routing circuitry, coupled to the first and the second inputs of the amplifier, based on the selected one of the plurality of modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Li Wang, Hanqing Wang, Tony Yincai Liu, Shurong Gu
  • Patent number: 11057042
    Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) device includes a current-steering DAC circuitry and a calibration circuitry. The current-steering DAC circuitry generates a first signal according to multiple least significant bits of an input signal, and generates a second signal according to multiple most significant bits of the input signal. The calibration circuitry performs a non-binary search algorithm to generate a calibration signal in response to a comparison result of the first signal and the second signal, in order to calibrate the current-steering DAC circuitry according to the calibration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Yang, Shih-Hsiung Huang, Liang-Huan Lei
  • Patent number: 11025215
    Abstract: Neuromodulation systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can use a feed-forward common-mode cancellation (CMC) path to attenuate common-mode (CM) artifacts appearing at a voltage input, thus allowing for the simultaneous recording of neural data and stimulation of neurons. In several embodiments of the invention, the feed-forward CMC path is utilized to attenuate the common-mode swings at Vin,CM, which can restore the linear operation of the front-end for differential signals. In several embodiments, the neuromodulation system may utilize an anti-alias filter (AAF) that includes a duty-cycles resistor (DCR) switching at a first frequency f1, followed by a DCR switching at a second frequency f2. The AAF allows for a significantly reduced second frequency f2 that enables the multi-rate DCR to increase the maximum realizable resistance, which is dependent upon the frequency ratio f1/f2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Hariprasad Chandrakumar, Dejan Markovic
  • Patent number: 11011977
    Abstract: A switched-capacitor converter is provided that includes an intermediate voltage generator having a flying capacitor. A sampling and hold circuit samples a top plate voltage for the flying capacitor and samples a bottom plate voltage for the flying capacitor to form an output voltage for the switched-capacitor converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: SILEGO TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Yi Cheng Chang, Julian Tyrrell
  • Patent number: 11012039
    Abstract: A signal processing circuit, which has a pair of input nodes and a pair of output nodes, includes a first switch pair, a second switch pair, an amplifier, a first compensation capacitor and a second compensation capacitor. The first switch pair is coupled between the pair of input nodes and a plurality of floating nodes. The second switch pair is coupled between the plurality of floating nodes and the pair of output nodes. The amplifier is coupled between the plurality of floating nodes and the pair of output nodes. The first compensation capacitor is coupled between a first floating node among the plurality of floating nodes and a first output node among the pair of output nodes. The second compensation capacitor is coupled between a second floating node among the plurality of floating nodes and the first output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Min Huang
  • Patent number: 10985720
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first amplifier having first and second inputs and first and second output, first and second input capacitors, a first feedback capacitor selectively coupled between the first input and the first output, and a second feedback capacitor selectively coupled between the second input and the second output. During a second phase of operation, the first and second feedback capacitors are decoupled from the output and the first amplifier is configured to sample an input common mode voltage, an output common mode voltage, and an input offset voltage of the first amplifier on the first and second input capacitors. During a first phase of operation, the first feedback capacitor is coupled between the input and the output, the second feedback capacitor is coupled between the input and the output, and the first amplifier is configured to amplify a differential input signal provided across the first and second inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Drinovsky, Karel Znojemsky
  • Patent number: 10979006
    Abstract: A chopper-stabilized current feedback amplifier includes an input buffer having a non-inverting input and an inverting input. A first group of chopper circuits modulate current at the non-inverting and inverting inputs. The current feedback amplifier further includes a plurality of current mirrors coupled to the input buffer. A second group of chopper circuits modulate current in the current mirrors. The current feedback amplifier also includes phase detector circuitry coupled to the current mirrors and configured to detect a transition current in the current mirrors. The current feedback amplifier also includes a switched capacitor filter having an input coupled to the current mirrors. The switched capacitor filter is turned OFF responsive to the detection of the transition current by the phase detector circuitry. The current feedback amplifier also includes an output stage having an input coupled to the switched capacitor filter and is configured to produce an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Charles Parkhurst, Julio E. Acosta
  • Patent number: 10969244
    Abstract: A switch group selectively outputs a signal input from IC terminals and a reference voltage. Another switch group selectively outputs a signal input from IC terminals and a reference voltage. A differential amplifier amplifies a differential voltage between a signal output from the switch group and a signal output from the another switch group. The switch group and the another switch group include the same number of switches. When to select any of signals input from the IC terminals in the switch group, a reference voltage is selected in the another switch group. When to select any of signals input from the IC terminals in the another switch group, a reference voltage is selected in the switch group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Asaki Mizuta
  • Patent number: 10972113
    Abstract: Systems with object detection capabilities may include a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) system. The RADAR system or other portions of the systems may include analog-to-digital converter circuitry. The analog-to-digital converter circuitry may be implemented as pipeline analog-to-digital converter circuitry having multiple stages. Each stage may include multiplying digital-to-analog converter circuitry having a sampling network and amplifier circuitry. The amplifier circuitry may be shared be shared between multiple stages. The amplifier circuitry may include cascodes for switching between different input pairs from corresponding sampling networks in corresponding stages. The amplifier circuitry may generate amplifier outputs for a first sampling network while the other sampling network performs sampling operations. This may minimize non-amplification time for the amplifier circuitry reduce power consumption in the converter circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bharat Balar, Parthasarthy V Sampath
  • Patent number: 10958226
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a differential buffer may include a first input stage that compares a non-inverting portion of an input signal alternately to a non-inverting portion of an output and to an inverting portion of the output. Another embodiment of the differential buffer may also include a second input stage that compares the inverting portion of the input signal alternately to the inverting portion of the output signal and to the non-inverting portion of the output signal. Other embodiments of the differential buffer may include a feedback chopper switch that transfers the non-inverting portion of the output signal and the inverting portion of the output signal to the first input stage and to the second input stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jorg Jos Daniels, Dieter Jozef Joos
  • Patent number: 10937700
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor pattern doped with first impurities on a substrate, a first channel pattern on the first semiconductor pattern, second semiconductor patterns doped with second impurities contacting upper edge surfaces, respectively, of the first channel pattern, and a first gate structure surrounding at least a portion of a sidewall of the first channel pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mirco Cantoro, Yun-Il Lee, Hyung-Suk Lee, Yeon-Cheol Heo, Byoung-Gi Kim, Chang-Min Yoe, Seung-Chan Yun, Dong-Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 10892723
    Abstract: A semiconductor amplifier circuit comprising an input block adapted for receiving a voltage signal to be amplified, an integrator circuit having an integrating capacitor providing a continuous-time signal representative for the integral of the voltage signal, a first feedback path comprising: a sample-and-hold block and a first feedback block, the first feedback path providing a proportional feedback signal upstream of the current integrator. The amplification factor is larger than 1 for a predefined frequency range. Charge stored on the integrating capacitor at the beginning of a sample period is linearly removed during one single sampling period in such a way that the absolute value of the charge is smaller at the end of the sampling period than at the beginning of the sample period when the voltage signal to be amplified is equal to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Melexis Technologies SA
    Inventors: Johan Raman, Pieter Rombouts
  • Patent number: 10868502
    Abstract: A switched capacitor circuit includes a first main sampler circuit, a second main sampler circuit, a first replica sampler circuit, and a second replica sampler circuit. The first main sampler circuit samples a first input of a differential input, and generates a first output corresponding to the sampled first input based on a first reference voltage. The second main sampler circuit samples a second input of the differential input, and generates a second output corresponding to the sampled second input based on a second reference voltage. The first replica sampler circuit receives the first input, and holds the received first input based on the second reference voltage. The second replica sampler circuit receives the second input, and holds the received second input based on the first reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Woo Kim, Sun-Jae Park, Eun Seok Shin, Seunghoon Lee
  • Patent number: 10848115
    Abstract: There is provided a chopper stabilized amplifier with an input bias current reduced. The chopper stabilized amplifier includes a main amplifier and a correction circuit. The correction circuit includes a second gm amplifier of a full differential type. A first selector and the second gm amplifier are coupled to each other without DC blocking capacitors. The differential input state of the second gm amplifier is configured with a depletion-type transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naohiro Nomura, Takatoshi Manabe
  • Patent number: 10840862
    Abstract: A chopper stabilized amplifier includes a first transconductance amplifier, first chopping circuitry coupled to an input of the first transconductance amplifier for chopping an input signal and applying the chopped input signal to the input of the first transconductance amplifier, and second chopping circuitry coupled to an output of the first transconductance amplifier for chopping an output signal produced by the first transconductance amplifier. A ping-pong notch filter is connected to an output of the second chopping circuitry and performs an integrate and transfer function on a chopped output signal produced by the second chopping circuitry to filter ripple voltages. The ping-pong notch filter includes parallel connected first and second notch filters, each of which has an input coupled to the output of the second chopping circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Fan, Meng Wang
  • Patent number: 10840863
    Abstract: A technique for receiving a DC or low frequency input signal using a chopper-stabilized amplifier includes chopping an input signal using a chopper clock signal to generate a chopped input signal. The input signal has a first voltage range and the chopper clock signal has a second voltage range. The chopper clock signal has peak-to-peak voltage over a period of the chopper clock signal. The peak-to-peak voltage is less than the first voltage range and is less than the second voltage range. A frequency of the input signal is at least an order of magnitude less than a frequency of the chopper clock signal. The second voltage range may be greater than or equal to the first voltage range. The technique may include generating a bias signal based on a voltage reference signal and an output signal having the first voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Bernard Kasha
  • Patent number: 10826449
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high accurate measurement circuit, and the feature is using bias switching circuit for compensating front end offset, and the back end offset of amplifier is also cancelled. In the real measurement environment, offset exists in the amplifier of the measurement circuit has, and non-ideal effects also exist in the interface between measurement terminal and the measurement circuit, such as leakage current of chip package pins or mismatch of the circuit. The above non-ideal effects belong to front end offset and cannot be compensated by the prior arts. The disclosed structure uses the bias switch circuit and uses different switching method in the two measurement timings. By subtracting the measurement results for the two measurement timings, the front end offset is compensated, and the back end offset of the amplifier is also cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HYCON TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Po-Yin Chao, Hung-Wei Chen, Shui-Chu Lee
  • Patent number: 10826454
    Abstract: The present invention proposes an audio signal muting apparatus setting and adjusting a time for removing pop noise and muting an audio signal based on the set and adjusted timing. Further, the present invention proposes a digital signal converting apparatus for muting an analog audio signal based on a timing for removing pop noise when converting a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal in connection with an audio signal reproducing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: DREAMUS COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeong Ho Lee, Seung Ho Yu, Ji Heon Ahn, Woo Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 10797664
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for a chopper instrumentation amplifier. For a variety of applications, such as testing the resistance of connections between layers of a memory, it may be desirable to provide a high gain instrumentation amplifier. A chopper instrumentation amplifier may provide a high gain while allowing a wide range of common input voltages and a canceling an offset on the amplifier. An example chopper instrumentation amplifier of the present disclosure may include a plurality of amplifiers including chopper amplifiers and non-chopper amplifiers. The chopper amplifiers may use chopper circuits to cancel out an offset voltage of the amplifiers. Low pass filters may be used to minimize the impact of the chopper amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Ide
  • Patent number: 10756685
    Abstract: A chopper amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier path with chopper circuitry, a switched-capacitor filter, and multiple gain stages. The chopper amplifier circuit also includes a second amplifier path with a feed-forward gain stage. A chopping frequency of the chopper circuitry is greater than a threshold frequency at which the second amplifier path is used instead of the first amplifier path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bharath Karthik Vasan, Vadim Valerievich Ivanov, Piyush Kaslikar, Srinivas K. Pulijala
  • Patent number: 10727799
    Abstract: A variable gain amplifier includes a pair of amplification and recentering branches. Each branch includes: a resistive element of variable resistance configured to be driven by a variable gain controller; a digitally-driven variable current source configured to be driven by a compensation current driver unit; a first transistor comprising a gate terminal coupled to an input terminal of the variable gain amplifier, and a source terminal coupled to a first terminal of the resistive element; and a second transistor comprising a gate terminal coupled to a drain terminal of the first transistor, and a source terminal coupled to an output terminal of the variable gain amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.A.
    Inventor: Renald Boulestin
  • Patent number: 10725066
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an interface circuit for a capacitive accelerometer sensor for measuring an acceleration value sensed by the sensor. The interface circuit comprises a plurality of electrical switches and three programmable capacitors. Two of the programmable capacitors are arranged to implement gain trimming of the interface circuit, while one of the programmable capacitors is arranged to implement acceleration range selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: EM Microeletronic-Marin SA
    Inventors: Yonghong Tao, Sylvain Grosjean, Jean-Michel Daga
  • Patent number: 10727794
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an amplifier, an input port, a first modulator circuit connected to the input port, and a correction circuit. The correction circuit is configured to determine a common mode voltage of the input port and receive a first clock signal. The correction circuit is further configured to manipulate, based at least in part upon the common mode voltage of the input port, the first clock signal to generate a second clock signal. The second clock signal is produced for the first modulator circuit. The correction circuit is further configured to determine whether the second clock signal is out of phase with a third clock signal, and, based upon a determination that the second clock signal is out of phase with the third clock signal, reset the second clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Serban Motoroiu, James Nolan
  • Patent number: 10707909
    Abstract: A radio frequency circuit includes a switching circuit, an amplifying circuit, and a potential stabilizing circuit. The switching circuit includes a switch disposed on a path connecting a first terminal, to which a radio-frequency signal is input, to a second terminal, from which the radio-frequency signal is output, a first capacitor disposed between the first terminal and the switch, and a second capacitor disposed between the switch and the second terminal. The amplifying circuit includes an amplifier disposed between the switching circuit and the second terminal, a third capacitor disposed between the switching circuit and the amplifier, and a fourth capacitor disposed between the amplifier and the second terminal. The potential stabilizing circuit is connected to a first node which is located between the switching circuit and the amplifying circuit and which is located on a path connecting the second capacitor to the third capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10686461
    Abstract: A top-plate sampling analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit includes a first ADC stage and a residue amplifier coupled to the first ADC stage. The residue amplifier comprises a first transistor with a control terminal, a first current terminal, and a second current terminal. The residue amplifier also comprises a second transistor with a control terminal, a first current terminal, and a second current terminal. The residue amplifier also comprises a linearity adjustment circuit coupled to a second current terminal of at least one of the first transistor and the second transistor. The linearity adjustment circuit comprises at least one switch that changes its state as a function of an input sampling phase and a gain phase of the residue amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sai Aditya KrishnaSwamy Nurani, Arun Mohan, Shagun Dusad, Neeraj Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 10673398
    Abstract: An electronic circuit comprises an input stage, a gain stage operatively coupled to the input stage, a primary output stage operatively coupled to the gain stage, a replica output stage operatively coupled to the gain stage in parallel to the primary output stage, and a clock circuit. The clock circuit operates the electronic circuit in multiple phases including a sampling phase to disconnect the primary output stage and the replica output stage from the gain stage to obtain an offset voltage, an active phase to reconnect the primary output stage to apply the offset voltage to reduce an offset at the primary output stage, and an intermediate phase to first reconnect the replica output stage to the gain stage prior to the active phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michele Piccardi
  • Patent number: 10673389
    Abstract: Chopper amplifiers with high pass filters for suppressing chopping ripple are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a chopper amplifier includes an input chopping circuit, an amplification circuit, a low frequency content detection circuit, and an output chopping circuit electrically connected in a cascade. The low frequency content detection circuit operates in combination with a transconductance or other gain circuit as a high pass filter that filters input offset voltage and/or low frequency noise of the amplification circuit, thereby suppressing output chopping ripple from arising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Linear Technology Holding LLC
    Inventors: Alex R. Sloboda, Gregory L. DiSanto, Andrew K. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10649478
    Abstract: An integrated circuit component receives an input signal via an external signal conduction path during a first interval and transmits an output signal via the external signal conduction path during a second interval. The integrated circuit component terminates the input signal and the output signal within one or more termination elements having an impedance in accordance with a characteristic impedance of the external signal conduction path to obviate signal termination within another integrated circuit component to which the output signal is destined and from which the input signal is sourced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, John Eric Linstadt
  • Patent number: 10635064
    Abstract: A process variable transmitter for sensing a process variable of an industrial process includes a process variable sensor configured to sense a current process variable of the industrial process. Measurement circuitry is configured to compensate the sensed process variable as a function of at least one previously sensed process variable characterized by a Hysteron basis function model. Output circuitry provides a transmitter output related to the compensated sensed process variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT INC.
    Inventor: Charles Ray Willcox
  • Patent number: 10630245
    Abstract: A six phase capacitively coupled chopper amplifier. Two phases provide a zeroing phase to zero the feedback capacitors and set the input common mode value. Two phases provide a passive transfer of an input charge from the input capacitors to the zeroed feedback capacitors. The final two phases are chopping and amplification phases. The zeroing phases address the input common mode without the need for biasing resistors. The passive transfer phases resolve the glitching that occurs if the feedback capacitors have to be recharged on each cycle of the chopping clock. Resolving the glitching and the charge time allows the frequency of the amplifier to increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Dimitar Trifonov, Biraja Prasad Dash, Ravinthiran Balasingam
  • Patent number: 10541702
    Abstract: Input stages for an analog to digital converter wherein charge for charging parasitic capacitances in the input stage, and particularly in the input switch is sourced from a node which means that it does not have to pass through the input RC filter. This has the effect that the input RC filter can be of lower bandwidth, and/or have a larger resistor value, with the consequent result that there is lower power dissipation in the ADC drive circuitry. In one example this effect is realized by providing a separate input into which charge to charge the parasitic capacitances can be fed from external circuitry. In another example an operational amplifier having high (ideally infinite) input impedance can be used to feed charge to the input switch from the input to the RC filter, or from the node between the resistor and capacitor of the filter, again without unsettling the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Rares Andrei Bodnar, Christopher Peter Hurrell
  • Patent number: 10523231
    Abstract: A pipelined analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit includes a first ADC stage and a residue stage coupled to the first ADC stage. The residue stage includes a dynamic integrator configured to provide transconductance, wherein the dynamic integrator includes a boost circuit configured to boost an output impedance of the transconductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sai Aditya KrishnaSwamy Nurani, Shagun Dusad, Visvesvaraya Appala Pentakota
  • Patent number: 10497296
    Abstract: An operational amplifier circuit includes an operational amplifier and a control circuit. The operational amplifier includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal connected with the second input terminal. The operational amplifier amplifies a signal provided through the first input terminal, and outputs the amplified signal through the output terminal. The control circuit generates switching signals. In response to the switching signals, the operational amplifier resets the output terminal to a preset voltage, charges the reset output terminal, and compares a voltage of the output terminal charged with a reference voltage provided through the first input terminal to output a comparison voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Yong Jeong, Jeongah Ahn, Hajun Lee
  • Patent number: 10476450
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reconfigurable amplifier and an amplification method thereof, the amplifier includes an input selector, a first amplifying circuit, and a second amplifying circuit. The input selector is configured to select one of a voltage input and a current input based on a voltage measurement mode and a current measurement mode. The first amplifying circuit includes a first load element, and is configured to apply a voltage corresponding to the voltage input to the first load element in the voltage measurement mode and receive the current input in the current measurement mode and block a current flowing through the first load element. The second amplifying circuit is configured to mirror a current flowing through the first amplifying circuit in response to one of the voltage input and the current input and generate an output voltage based on the mirrored current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: JongPal Kim
  • Patent number: 10432158
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for a chopper instrumentation amplifier. For a variety of applications, such as testing the resistance of connections between layers of a memory, it may be desirable to provide a high gain instrumentation amplifier. A chopper instrumentation amplifier may provide a high gain while allowing a wide range of common input voltages and a canceling an offset on the amplifier. An example chopper instrumentation amplifier of the present disclosure may include a plurality of amplifiers including chopper amplifiers and non-chopper amplifiers. The chopper amplifiers may use chopper circuits to cancel out an offset voltage of the amplifiers. Low pass filters may be used to minimize the impact of the chopper amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Ide
  • Patent number: 10381992
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first signal swapper including a first terminal coupled to a first current source, a second terminal coupled to a second current source, a third terminal coupled to a first current terminal of a first transistor, and a fourth terminal coupled to a third current terminal of a second transistor. The first signal swapper couples the first and second terminals to the third and fourth terminals responsive to a first control signal. First and second switches couple to a gate of the first transistor. The first switch receives the input oscillation signal and the second switch receives a first reference voltage. Third and fourth switches couple to a gate of the second transistor. The third switch receives the input oscillation signal and the fourth switch receives the first reference voltage. A second signal swapper couples to the first signal swapper and to the first and second transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: George Reitsma
  • Patent number: 10355644
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for amplifying multiple input signals to generate multiple output signals. An example system includes a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel. The first channel is configured to receive one or more first input signals, process information associated with the one or more first input signals and a first ramp signal, and generate one or more first output signals. The second channel is configured to receive one or more second input signals, process information associated with the one or more second input signals and a second ramp signal, and generate one or more second output signals. The first ramp signal corresponds to a first phase. The second ramp signal corresponds to a second phase. The first phase and the second phase are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tingzhi Yuan, Yaozhang Chen, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10348258
    Abstract: A single-stage differential operational amplifier including an input stage formed by a pair of input transistors having control terminals connected to a respective first and second input, first conduction terminals coupled to a respective first and second output and second conduction terminals coupled to receive a polarization current. An output stage is formed by a pair of output transistors in diode configuration and having control terminals coupled to a relative first conduction terminal and connected to a respective first and second output, and second conduction terminals connected to a reference line. A coupling stage is interposed between the first conduction terminals of the output transistors and the first and second outputs to define the diode configuration of the output transistors and a gain value of the operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Zamprogno, Maurizio Bongiorni, Pasquale Flora
  • Patent number: 10348248
    Abstract: Improvement in linearity is achieved at low costs in a power amplifier module employing an envelope tracking system. The power amplifier module includes a first power amplifier circuit that amplifies a radio frequency signal and that outputs a first amplified signal, a second power amplifier circuit that amplifies the first amplified signal on the basis of a source voltage varying depending on amplitude of the radio frequency signal and that outputs a second amplified signal, and a matching circuit that includes first and second capacitors connected in series between the first and second power amplifier circuit and an inductor connected between a node between the first and second capacitors and a ground and that decreases a gain of the first power amplifier circuit as the source voltage of the second power amplifier circuit increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiichiro Takenaka, Masahiro Ito, Masakazu Hori, Mitsuo Ariie, Hayato Nakamura, Satoshi Arayashiki, Hidetoshi Matsumoto, Tsuyoshi Sato, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10340868
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a first input branch circuit including a first sampling capacitor, a second input branch circuit including a second sampling capacitor, an averaging capacitor, and a subtraction capacitor, a feedback capacitor, and an operational amplifier. The first sampling capacitor samples an input voltage in a first time period and outputs a first voltage. The second sampling capacitor samples the input voltage in the first time period and outputs a second voltage. The averaging capacitor takes an average of the second voltage in the second time period and outputs a third voltage. The subtraction capacitor receives the third voltage in the first time period. The subtraction capacitor subtracts the first voltage from the third voltage and outputs a fourth voltage in the second time period. The operational amplifier is connected to the feedback capacitor and amplifies the fourth voltage. The first and second time periods are repeated alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Obata, Kazuo Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 10243520
    Abstract: A fully balanced differential difference amplifier includes a first differential input stage that receives an input voltage and a second differential input stage that receives a common-mode voltage. A first resistive-degeneration group is coupled to the first differential input and a second resistive-degeneration group is coupled to the second differential input. A differential output stage generates an output voltage. A first switch is coupled in parallel to the first resistive-degeneration group and a second switch is coupled in parallel with the second resistive-degeneration group. The first and second switches are driven into the closed state when the voltage input assumes a first value such that said first input stage operates in the linear region, and are driven into the open state when the voltage input assumes a second value, higher than the first value, such that the first input stage operates in a non-linear region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrea Barbieri, Sergio Pernici
  • Patent number: 10116268
    Abstract: The amplifier circuit includes a pair of differential input stages coupled to an output stage where both a selected input stage and an unselected input stage are active with one of either a differential input signal or a reference voltage. A switching network couples a first input differential signal to a first differential input stage and a reference voltage to a second differential input stage when an amplifier input signal is less than a threshold voltage. The switching circuit also couples the second input differential signal to the second differential input stage and the reference voltage to the first differential input stage when the amplifier input signal is greater than the threshold signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Sharad Vijaykumar, Gerard Mora-Puchalt
  • Patent number: 10090022
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device with a high output voltage. A gate of a first transistor is electrically connected to a first terminal through a first capacitor. A gate of a second transistor is electrically connected to a second terminal through a second capacitor. One of a source and a drain of a third transistor is electrically connected to the gate of the first transistor through a third capacitor. One of a source and a drain of a fourth transistor is electrically connected to the gate of the second transistor through a fourth capacitor. The other of the source and the drain of the third transistor and the other of the source and the drain of the fourth transistor are electrically connected to a high potential power source. A third terminal is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shionoiri, Tomoaki Atsumi, Kiyoshi Kato, Takanori Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 10054619
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to measure a voltage across a two-state dipole. The systems and methods measure voltages across two measurement paths of operational circuitry at first and second sensor terminals. The operational circuitry is configured to decouple the first and second sensor terminal based on a dipole voltage. The systems and methods further estimate the dipole voltage based on the voltages of the two measurement paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Miguel Garcia Clemente, Philipp Leuner, Thomas Alois Zoels, Bertrand Bastien, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo
  • Patent number: 10033331
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip can include an operational amplifier with adjustable operational parameters. The IC chip can also include a trimming module configured to measure an output voltage of the operational amplifier in response to at least one of detecting that the operational amplifier has a positive supply voltage set to a level greater than a predetermined level and detecting a given common mode voltage at inverting and non-inverting inputs of the operational amplifier. The trimming module can also be configured to adjust the operational parameters of the operational amplifier based on the output voltage to trim the operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vadim Valerievich Ivanov, Jerry L. Doorenbos
  • Patent number: 10027285
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device according to related art, it is impossible to sufficiently correct an input offset of an operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9998698
    Abstract: A hybrid bonded image sensor has a photodiode die with macrocells having at least one photodiode and a bond contact; a supporting circuitry die with multiple supercells, each supercell having at least one macrocell unit bonded to the bond contact of a macrocell of the photodiode die. Each macrocell unit has a reset transistor adapted to reset photodiodes of the photodiode die macrocell. Each supercell has a differential amplifier configurable to receive a noninverting input from a photodiode and an inverting input, the differential amplifier providing an output, each differential amplifier has an amplifier reset transistor coupled to the differential amplifier output and the inverting input; a first capacitor coupled between the differential amplifier output and the inverting input, and a second capacitor coupled between the inverting input and a signal ground. The first and second capacitor of embodiments has controllable capacitance to adjust gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Song Xue
  • Patent number: 9991858
    Abstract: A receiver includes a signal receiving part suitable for outputting a signal corresponding to a reception signal that is received through an input terminal, and controlling a DC voltage of a signal to be outputted, according to an offset signal, an amplifying part suitable for amplifying and outputting an output of the signal receiving part, and a feedback control part suitable for controlling the offset signal according to an output of the amplifying part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: SK HYNIX INC., SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Sungphil Choi, Mino Kim, Suhwan Kim, Deog-Kyoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 9924096
    Abstract: A hall sensor device includes: an amplifier configured to amplify a detection signal of a hall sensor; and a current supplier configured to provide a compensation current to a feedback line of the amplifier according to an offset of the detection signal, to cancel the offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yo Sub Moon