With Periodic Switching Input-output (e.g., For Drift Correction) Patents (Class 330/9)
  • Patent number: 9614481
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for digitally-assisted feedback offset correction are provided herein. In certain configurations, an amplifier includes amplification circuitry for providing amplification to an input signal and chopping circuitry for compensating for an input offset voltage of the amplifier. Additionally, the amplifier further includes a digitally-assisted feedback offset correction circuit, which includes a chopping ripple detection circuit, a feedback-path chopping circuit, a digital correction control circuit, and an offset correction circuit. The chopping ripple detection circuit generates a detected ripple signal based on detecting an output ripple of the amplifier. Additionally, the feedback-path chopping circuit demodulates the detected ripple signal using the amplifier's chopping clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Evgueni Ivanov
  • Patent number: 9595922
    Abstract: Various apparatuses and methods are described where a signal is amplified using a chopper amplifier arrangement, and ripples caused by said chopper amplifier arrangement are reduced. In some cases, this reduction of ripples is performed by controlling a voltage offset of an amplifier of said chopper amplifier arrangement. In other embodiments, a detection of ripples or a chopping of the chopper amplifier arrangement is at least temporarily disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Maderbacher, Mario Motz
  • Patent number: 9590575
    Abstract: A differential amplifier stage may include: a first transistor having a gate terminal; a second transistor having a gate terminal; and a voltage limiting circuit coupled to the gate terminals of the first and second transistors, wherein the voltage limiting circuit limits a gate voltage supplied to at least one of the gate terminals of the first and second transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: José Moreira, Stephan Leuschner
  • Patent number: 9584079
    Abstract: There is provided an operational amplifier which is operable as well when an operating voltage decreases without creating a range where a circuit would not operate or reducing circuit gain. High-pass filters 102-105 provide output signals therefrom to bias-set input nodes of differential amplifiers Gm1-Gm4 to a potential within a common-mode range in which the respective differential amplifiers Gm1-Gm4 are operable. In this manner, the respective differential amplifiers Gm1-Gm4 can be operated effectively regardless of the possible decrease in a supply voltage, enabling normal amplifying operation. In addition, reduction in gain due to the reduced operational voltage is avoided. Therefore, it is preferably applicable to the application where digital and analog circuits are loaded together on the same IC chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Shinichi Ouchi
  • Patent number: 9564859
    Abstract: One example includes an OP-AMP circuit system. The system includes a signal amplification path comprising a signal amplification path comprising a signal amplifier and an output stage. The signal amplification path can be configured to amplify an input voltage received at an input to provide an output voltage via the output stage. The system also includes an offset-reduction path coupled to the input of the signal amplification path and to an output of the signal amplifier. The offset-reduction path includes a transconductance amplifier and at least one chopper that are configured to mitigate noise in the signal amplification path and a noise-filtering feedback path configured to provide chopper feedback with respect to an offset voltage associated with the offset-reduction path, the noise-filtering feedback path comprising a feedback path input coupled to the input of the transconductance amplifier via a resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vadim V. Ivanov, Vaibhav Kumar, Munaf H. Shaik
  • Patent number: 9515623
    Abstract: An embodiment of an amplifier includes N (N>1) switch-mode power amplifier (SMPA) branches. Each SMPA branch includes two drive signal inputs and one SMPA branch output. A module coupled to the amplifier samples an input RF signal, and produces combinations of drive signals based on the samples. When an SMPA branch receives a first combination of drive signals, it produces an output signal at a first voltage level. Conversely, when the SMPA branch receives a different second combination of drive signals, it produces the output signal at a different second voltage level. Finally, when the SMPA branch receives a different third combination of drive signals, it produces the output signal at a voltage level of substantially zero. A combiner combines the output signals from all of the SMPA branches to produce a combined output signal that may have, at any given time, one of 2*N+1 quantization states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Nanan, Jean-Jacques Bouny, Cedric Cassan, Joseph Staudinger, Hugues Beaulaton
  • Patent number: 9503115
    Abstract: A circuit for implementing a time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter is described. The circuit comprises a sampling clock generator configured to receive a reference clock signal having a first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Jaewook Shin, Hiva Hedayati
  • Patent number: 9496833
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for multi-channel autozero and chopper amplifiers are provided herein. In certain configurations, an amplifier includes at least three channels that operate using multiple phases, including at least a non-inverting chop phase, an inverting chop phase, and an autozero phase. The amplifier further includes an autozero and chopping timing control circuit, which at least partially interleaves or staggers timing of the channels' phases. For example, in certain configurations, when one or more of the channels are being autozeroed at a certain time instance, at least some of the remaining channels operate in the non-inverting chop phase or the inverting chop phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Kusuda
  • Patent number: 9484870
    Abstract: A device includes an operational-amplifier including an amplifier-part amplifying signals and transmitting amplified signals to a first and a second nodes, and an output-part connected to the first and second nodes and outputting signals from a first and a second outputs. The device includes a first and a second chopper switches and a first and second phase-compensation capacity elements. A first capacitance switch switches between a first connection-state and a second connection-state. In the first connection-state, the first phase-compensation-capacity element is connected between the first node and the first output and the second phase-compensation-capacity element is connected between the second node and the second-output. In the second connection state, the first phase-compensation-capacity element is connected between the second-node and the second output and the second phase-compensation-capacity element is connected between the first node and the first output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinji Nakatsuka, Shigeo Imai, Yosuke Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9479125
    Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a common mode output voltage in an instrumentation amplifier is provided. In one aspect, the common mode output voltage is increased or decreased with respect to the common mode input voltage to enable high amplification of the signal input to the instrumentation amplifier. Moreover, the common mode output voltage can be driven to (or approximately to) a target voltage value such as, but not limited to, half the supply, even if the common mode input voltage is close to supply or ground rail voltage. Thus, a high amplification of the differential input voltage can be obtained and utilized for various applications requiring rail to rail input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SEMTECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Olivier Nys, Francois Krummenacher
  • Patent number: 9467094
    Abstract: Phase-dependent operational amplifiers (“op-amps”) employing phase-based frequency compensation, and related systems and methods are disclosed. A phase-dependent op-amp is provided configured to provide output voltage based on inputs switched by clock signal. The op-amp employs a frequency compensation system having multiple frequency compensation circuits. The frequency compensation circuit corresponding to the clock phase is selected by selection circuit and coupled to the voltage output node. The op-amp charges each frequency compensation circuit during the clock phase to store voltage approximately equal to output voltage. When transitioning to a clock phase, output voltage of op-amp does not have to charge frequency compensation circuit. Voltage of frequency compensation circuit stored during clock phase is approximately equal to output voltage of op-amp for clock phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Burt Lee Price, Dhaval Rajeshbhai Shah, Yeshwant Nagaraj Kolla
  • Patent number: 9461595
    Abstract: An apparatus includes voltage-to-current conversion circuitry comprising a first voltage-to-current converter and a second voltage-to-current converter. The apparatus also includes a capacitor coupled to the first voltage-to-current converter and to the second voltage-to-current converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCOPORATED
    Inventors: Jingxue Lu, Matthew David Sienko, Ankit Srivastava, Manu Mishra
  • Patent number: 9432004
    Abstract: Gain offset and voltage offset compensation for a controllable gain element of a circuit is effected in response to a gain offset value and voltage offset value. A current operating condition of the circuit is sensed and compared to a nominal operating condition. If the current operating condition is outside the nominal operating condition by more than a threshold, a calibration operation to set the gain and voltage offset values is performed. The gain offset value is selected as a function of the sensed current operating condition. With respect to the voltage offset, differential input terminals of the controllable gain element are shunted and the output is measured. The measured output value of the controllable gain element is applied as the voltage offset value. The operating conditions at issue may be one or more of supply voltage and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Felix Kim, Mark A. Lysinger, Scott V. Ho
  • Patent number: 9413568
    Abstract: According to at least one example embodiment a two phase calibration approach is employed for calibrating an input/output interface having multiple single-ended receivers. During a first phase, amplifier offset calibration is applied to each of the multiple single-ended receivers. During a second phase, reference voltage calibration is applied to a single-ended receiver of the multiple single-ended receivers to determine a calibration reference voltage value. The calibration reference voltage value is then employed in each of the multiple single-ended receivers during an active phase of the input/output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Cavium, Inc.
    Inventors: Omer O. Yildirim, David Lin, Scott E. Meninger
  • Patent number: 9398891
    Abstract: An embodiment of an auscultation device can be constructed using, at least in part, electronic components to provide improved acquisition, processing, and communication of sound signals. An input device can be used for detecting sounds, and electrical signals representing the sounds can be processed and transmitted via one or more of a plurality of substantially contemporaneously available wired and/or wireless communications interfaces. Bluetooth and/or another form of wireless communication can be employed. Such embodiments can employ, at least in part, one or more of several commercially available wired and/or wireless receiver devices, such as, without limitation, headsets and headphones, mobile phones, PDAs and/or other handheld devices, desktop, laptop, palmtop, and/or tablet computers, speakers and/or other conventional and/or specifically configured computer devices and/or electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: TIBA MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: Merat Bagha
  • Patent number: 9385677
    Abstract: A differential amplifier circuit and method having a feed-in network coupling an input signal to an intermediate signal. An amplifier amplifies the intermediate signal by a gain factor to output an output signal to a load network. A feedback network configured in a negative feedback topology and couples the output signal to the intermediate signal. A gain enhancing network is configured in a positive feedback topology and couples the output signal to the intermediate signal. Preferably, an impedance of the gain enhancing network is approximately equal to an impedance of a parallel connection of the feed-in network and the feedback network times the gain factor minus one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventor: Chia-Liang (Leon) Lin
  • Patent number: 9361485
    Abstract: A transmission device for two electric pulse measurement signals includes a first measurement signal input, a second measurement signal input, a differential measurement signal output and a signal converter. The first measurement signal input serves for receiving a first single-ended measurement signal, the second measurement signal input for receiving a second single-ended measurement signal, wherein the signal converter is implemented, when receiving a first one of the single-ended measurement signals, to convert either the first single-ended measurement signal or the second single-ended measurement signal into a combined differential measurement signal and provide the same at the differential measurement signal output. Here, the differential measurement signal includes a first differential portion which may be allocated to the first single-ended measurement signal and a second differential portion which may be allocated to the second single-ended measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Voelker, Johann Hauer
  • Patent number: 9351653
    Abstract: A biopotential monitoring device includes a configurable receiver circuit having a plurality of channels for receiving a plurality of biopotential signals from a biological tissue via a plurality of inputs coupled with the electrodes, and each channel substantially removes a DC (direct current) offset from a corresponding one of the biopotential signals and then band-pass amplifies such corresponding biopotential signal at a configurable gain and particular frequency range based on frequency control signals. The device further includes a controller circuit for receiving commands for configuring frequency characteristics of each biopotential signal. The controller automatically generates the frequency control signals based on such commands and outputs such frequency control signals to the configurable receiver circuit. The controller outputs a representation of each biopotential signal to an analyzer device that is configured to analyze such biopotential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Intan Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Reid R. Harrison
  • Patent number: 9356568
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for chopper amplifiers are provided herein. In certain configurations, a chopper amplifier includes at least one differential transistor bank including a selection circuit and a plurality of transistors. The selection circuit can select a first portion of the transistors for operation in a first transistor group and a second portion of the transistors for operation in a second transistor group. During calibration, the chopper amplifier's input offset can be observed for different transistor configurations of the differential transistor banks. Although the transistors of a particular bank can be designed to have about the same drive-strength and/or geometry, the chopper amplifier can have a different input offset in different transistor configurations due to manufacturing mismatch between transistors, such as process variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jie Zhou, Arthur J. Kalb, Mark D. Reisiger
  • Patent number: 9319039
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a differential amplifier with duty cycle correction is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Eduard Roytman, Mahalingam Nagarajan, Pradeep R. Vempada
  • Patent number: 9312898
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling a received signal comprises a reception device, a mixer unit and a compensating unit. The reception unit can receive a received signal. The received signal has at least one signal component at a first frequency. Furthermore, the mixer unit can combine the received signal and a compensating signal using at least one active element in order to obtain a compensated received signal. In addition, the mixer unit can produce a mixer output signal on the basis of the compensated received signal and a local oscillator signal. In this case, the mixer output signal has a signal component, corresponding to the at least one signal component of the received signal, at a second frequency. The first frequency is higher than the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Christoph Wagner
  • Patent number: 9312825
    Abstract: An amplifier input stage comprising first and second p-type transistors, wherein sources of the first and second p-type transistors are connected to a first node, a drain of the first p-type transistor is connected to a first output of the amplifier input stage, a drain of the second p-type transistor is connected to a second output of the amplifier input stage, a gate of the first p-type transistor is configured to receive a first signal of an input stage differential input signal and a gate of the second p-type transistor is configured to receive a second signal of the input stage differential input signal; first and second n-type transistors, wherein sources of the first and second n-type transistors are connected to a second node, a drain of the first n-type transistor is connected to a third output of the amplifier input stage, a drain of the second n-type transistor is connected to a fourth output of the amplifier input stage, a gate of the first n-type transistor is configured to receive the first sign
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventor: Roberto S. Maurino
  • Patent number: 9294037
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for autozero amplifiers are provided herein. In certain configurations, an autozero amplifier includes at least three transconductance stages and an autozero timing control circuit configured to control an autozero sequence of the transconductance stages. The autozero timing control circuit can stagger autozeroing of the transconductance stages, such that a relatively small amount of the amplifier's amplification circuitry is connected to or disconnected from the amplifier's signal path at any given time. For example, in certain configurations, when one of the transconductance stages in autozeroed over a particular time interval, the remaining transconductance stages can operate in parallel to provide amplification during that time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Roberto S. Maurino, Venkata Aruna Srikanth Nittala, Abhilasha Kawle, Sanjay Rajasekhar
  • Patent number: 9294049
    Abstract: Fast-settling capacitive-coupled amplifiers are disclosed. The amplifiers use two Capacitive Coupled paths embedded in a Multipath Hybrid Nested Miller Compensation topology. One path is a direct high frequency path and the other path is a slower stabilization path. This combination results in a flat frequency response to and through the chopper frequency, and a fast settling response. Various exemplary embodiments are disclosed, including operational amplifier and instrumentation amplifier configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Johan Hendrik Huijsing, Qinwen Fan, Kofi Afolabi Anthony Makinwa, Daihong Fu, Jun Wu, Lixia Zhou
  • Patent number: 9264080
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a component of a receiver path to receive and process an incoming signal. At least one element of the component is controllable based on a DC output of the component, to compensate for a second order intermodulation product of the apparatus. As one example, the component is a differential amplifier including a first transistor and a second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Mark May
  • Patent number: 9257950
    Abstract: A charge preamplifier for converting an electric charge generated in a charge source sensor into a voltage signal, including: a phase inverting amplifier including an input related to the charge source sensor, and an output for providing the voltage signal; a storage capacitor connected between the input and the output of the phase inverting amplifier; a reset system connected to the input of the phase inverting amplifier, for providing to the storage capacitor a discharging current as a function of a control signal, and a control element including: a first input connected to the output of the phase inverting amplifier, for withdrawing the voltage signal, a second input subjected to a reference voltage, a set of components configured and arranged to generate a control signal proportional to the deviation between the voltage signal and the reference voltage, the proportionality coefficient being lower than one in a high frequency band, an output connected to the reset system to provide thereto the control sign
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Francis Lugiez, Olivier Gevin
  • Patent number: 9252830
    Abstract: A communications device may include a first transmit path having a first band pass filter operating at a first frequency band having a first bandwidth, and a second transmit path having a second band pass filter operating at a second frequency band having a second bandwidth. The second frequency band may be adjacent the first frequency band and the second bandwidth may be less than the first bandwidth. The communications device may include a third receive path operating at a third frequency band having a third bandwidth, and a fourth receive path operating at a fourth frequency band having a fourth bandwidth. The fourth frequency band may be adjacent the third frequency band, and the fourth bandwidth may be less than the third bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Brian Bremer, Jyothsna Kunduru
  • Patent number: 9252726
    Abstract: An operational amplifier has two paths, a high frequency path and a low frequency path. In addition, it has three main sections of stages. A stage converts input voltage to an amplified output voltage, a stage converting an input voltage in to an output current and a final stage where the outputs of the two previous sections are supplied as inputs. Among them, the final stage acts as a voltage follower to a signal applied to its plus (+) input and as a transimpedance amplifier for a signal applied to its minus input (?). In this configuration, a path for low frequencies and a path for high frequencies are created in a single operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventor: Takashi Narita
  • Patent number: 9246446
    Abstract: A chopper amplifier includes a chopper modulator to modulate a certain detection signal and a bias voltage by a certain control signal and output a chopper modulation signal, a first differential amplifier to differentially amplify the chopper modulation signal from the chopper modulator and output a differential modulation signal, a chopper demodulator to demodulate the differential modulation signal from the first differential amplifier by the control signal and output a demodulation signal, a second differential amplifier to extract a detection signal component from the demodulation signal, and a plurality of filters connected at an input terminal of the second differential amplifier and having different cutoff frequencies from each other relative to the demodulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Nagahisa
  • Patent number: 9219451
    Abstract: Provided is an operational amplifier circuit capable of operating with lower current consumption. An amplifier stage, a FIR filter, and a sample and hold circuit are connected in series, thus enabling reduction of an input offset voltage and amplification of an input signal voltage without using an integral circuit. Current consumption of the operational amplifier circuit is reduced because the integral circuit is not used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Tomioka
  • Patent number: 9207696
    Abstract: Multi-stage amplifiers, such as linear regulators, configured to provide a constant output voltage subject to load transients, are described. The multi-stage amplifier includes a first amplification stage which activates or deactivates a first output stage in response to an input voltage at an input node. The first output stage is configured to source a current at an output node of the multi-stage amplifier from a high potential, when activated. Furthermore, the multi-stage amplifier includes a second amplification stage configured to activate or to deactivate a second output stage in response to the input voltage at the input node. The second output stage is configured to sink a current at the output node of the multi-stage amplifier to a low potential, when activated. The first amplification stage and the second amplification stage are configured to activate the first output stage and the Second output stage in a mutually exclusive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Frank Kronmueller, Ambreesh Bhattad
  • Patent number: 9203363
    Abstract: The present disclosure relate to a sensor system having a low offset error. In some embodiments, the sensor system comprises a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal, which is provided to a main signal path having a first chopping correction circuit and a second chopping correction circuit. The first and second chopping correction circuit chop the sensor signal at first and second frequencies to reduce offset errors, but in doing so generate first and second chopping ripple errors. A first digital offset feedback loop generates a first compensation signal, which is fed back into the main signal path to mitigate the first chopping ripple error. A second digital offset feedback loop generates a second compensation signal, which is fed back into the main signal path to mitigate the second chopping ripple error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Mario Motz, Manfred Bresch
  • Patent number: 9203352
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first amplifier circuit and a second amplifier circuit. The second amplifier circuit includes an input coupled to an output of the first amplifier circuit. A pass gate circuit is coupled between first and second inputs of the first amplifier circuit. The pass gate circuit is on during calibration of the second amplifier circuit to short together signals at the first and the second inputs of the first amplifier circuit. The pass gate circuit is off during a normal mode of the first and the second amplifier circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Tim Tri Hoang, Rabindranath Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 9203351
    Abstract: A system for cancelling offset includes a gain circuit. The gain circuit may include a transistor circuit connected to a pair of input nodes and configured to convert an input signal to an output signal so that the output signal has a gain compared with the input signal. The gain circuit also may include a pair of output nodes configured to receive the output signal from the transistor circuit. The gain circuit is configured to cause a voltage change at one of the output nodes relative to another output node, in response to the gain circuit receiving a feedback offset correction signal. This effectively cancels at least a portion of an offset in the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: MegaChips Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Itagaki, Sarath Chandrasekhar Venkatesh Kumar, Anand Gopalan, Shankarram Athreya
  • Patent number: 9197238
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion system and method includes, for example, a comparator for sampling an analogy quantity during a sampling period and for performing a series of bit-wise conversions on the sampled analog sample during a conversion period, where each bit-wise conversion occurs during a respective bit-wise conversion cycle in which successive bits of a sample are successively determined during a respective bit conversion cycle and in which a predetermined number of bit-wise conversions are to be performed. A clock generator is arranged for generating a clock signal for clocking the converter during the conversion period, wherein each bit conversion cycle includes a reset period having a first length and an amplification period having a second length, wherein one of the first and second lengths is dynamically selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Krishnaswamy Nagaraj, Joonsung Park, Ajay Kumar
  • Patent number: 9195253
    Abstract: A signal transmission circuit includes an isolation circuit, first and second grounded gate circuits, first and second MOS transistors, and a comparator. The isolation circuit such as a thin-film transformer outputs complementary first and second output signals, based on an input signal. The first and second grounded gate circuits receive and amplify the first and second output signals, respectively. The first and second MOS transistors are connected between a power supply node and the first and second grounded gate circuits, respectively, for adjusting the first and second output signals. The comparator compares output from the first grounded gate circuit with output from the second grounded gate circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Morokuma, Jun Tomisawa
  • Patent number: 9186202
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system is provided. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. A power source operably couples to the electrosurgical generator and is configured to deliver power to one or more types of loads connected to the electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical generator includes a controller including a microprocessor coupled to the electrosurgical generator and configured to control the output of the electrosurgical generator. A fiber optic connection circuit is in operative communication with the controller and includes one or more types of logic devices and one or more types of fiber optic channels. The fiber optic connection circuit is configured to mitigate leakage current associated with at least one of a plurality of components operatively associated with the electrosurgical generator by providing isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: James A. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9190961
    Abstract: A Programmable-Gain Amplifier (PGA) has a digital value that programmably adjusts the gain of the analog amplifier. A variable capacitor has several switched sub-capacitors that are enabled by the digital value. Enabled sub-capacitors are switched between a sampled input and a virtual ground on one terminal, and connect to a summing node on the other terminal. The summing node connects to the inverting input of an op amp either through a switch or through a double-sampling capacitor that stores an offset. A feedback capacitor is in parallel with a sampling capacitor during a second clock phase when direct-charge transfer occurs, reducing power consumption of the amplifier. The feedback capacitor samples the sampled input during the first clock phase. The PGA gain is proportional to the sum of capacitances of enabled sub-capacitors. The gain can be adjusted for sensor inputs to an Analog Front-End (AFE), such as for an electro-cardiogram (ECG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science & Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Ho Ming (Karen) Wan, Kwai Chi Chan, Tin Ho (Andy) Wu
  • Patent number: 9172332
    Abstract: Provided is an operational amplifier circuit having a high tolerance for clock phase difference fluctuations. An FIR filter is used to add an input signal of the FIR filter to a signal obtained by delaying the input signal of the FIR filter. In this manner, chopper noise can be removed. Thus, the operational amplifier circuit may have a high tolerance for clock phase difference fluctuations regardless of the phase difference between clocks for controlling a chopper circuit and the FIR filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Tomioka
  • Patent number: 9172873
    Abstract: An image sensor array that has a buffer amplifier, having a capacitor which receives photogenerated energy from a photodetector, and stores the photo generated energy in a capacitor of the buffer amplifier. A reset across the buffer amplifier is applied at a time which is sufficient to allow the amplifier to settle transiently prior to applying the clamp voltage. There is also a source follower that is enabled to operate at a time just before snapshot operation, and then turned off when the snapshot is over, to save on power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Forza Silicon Corporation
    Inventors: Guang Yang, Jonathan Bergey
  • Patent number: 9166541
    Abstract: A signal processing circuit includes a chopper amplifier that has a differential amplifier circuit that amplifies differential input signals Vsp(t) and Vsm(t), and an adder circuit that generates an addition signal Vfil(t) by addition of the chopper output signal Vsub(t) that the chopper amplifier generates. Differential signals inputted into the differential amplifier circuit are interchanged for every first phase period and second phase period, and the adder circuit generates the addition signal by addition of the chopper output signal in the first phase period and in the second phase period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Funato, Toshio Kumamoto, Tomoaki Yoshizawa, Kazuaki Kurooka
  • Patent number: 9160116
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a connector, including: a first interface, a second interface, and a signal boost circuit, where at least one of the first interface and the second interface includes a power supply contact head, and the power supply contact head is configured to power the signal boost circuit; and a casing, where the signal boost circuit is arranged inside the casing and concatenated between the first interface and the second interface, and the signal boost circuit performs signal amplification processing on a differential signal received by the first interface and outputs the signal over the second interface, and the first interface and the second interface are arranged on different surfaces outside the casing. Further, the present invention discloses an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Congtu Xiao, Zhigang Zhao
  • Patent number: 9148098
    Abstract: A differential amplifier circuit includes a differential amplification unit suitable for amplifying difference between signals of an input terminal and a complementary input terminal, receiving the same voltage level through the input terminal and the complementary input terminal at a measurement period, and receiving an input signal and a complementary input signal through the input terminal and the complementary input terminal, respectively, at an operation period, an offset control unit suitable for generating offset information using an output of the differential amplification unit at the measurement period, and an offset compensation unit suitable for compensating for an offset of the differential amplification unit in response to the offset information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Hyung-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9136808
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus and method are disclosed. A common mode signal extraction unit is configured to extract a common mode signal from input signals inputted to a differential amplifier. A common mode signal adjustment unit is configured to adjust a gain and a phase of the common mode signal and to output the adjusted common mode signal to the differential amplifier. An optimal set determination unit is configured to determine an optimal gain and phase to be applied to the common mode signal based on an output signal from the differential amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: JongPal Kim
  • Patent number: 9130518
    Abstract: A circuit including an amplifier, a transistor, and first, second and third resistances. The amplifier includes an input and an output. The amplifier receives an input signal. A cycle of the input signal includes first and second pulses. The input signal is asymmetrical such that the first pulse has a different peak magnitude than the second pulse. The transistor is connected to the input and the output. The first, second, and third resistances are each connected to the input of the amplifier. The second resistance receives a first input voltage. The third resistance receives a second input voltage. The input signal is based on the first resistance and the first and second input voltages. The amplifier corrects some asymmetry of the input signal to provide an output signal. An amount of asymmetry of the output signal is based on (i) the input signal, and (ii) a state of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Steve Fang, Qiang Tang, Myung Jae Yoo
  • Patent number: 9130519
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for combined linear, low-noise buffer and sampler for ADC (analog to digital converter) have been disclosed. In one implementation components contributing to sampling errors are included in a feedback path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mansour Keramat, Ali Meaamar
  • Patent number: 9118305
    Abstract: In one example implementation, the present disclosure provides a direct current (DC) restoration circuit for restoring the DC component of a synchronization signal provided over an alternating current (AC) coupled link from a transmitting circuit to a receiving circuit. During a period of inactivity in the synchronization signal, the synchronization signal may experience a drift towards the common mode, and may affect the ability for the synchronization signal to properly trigger the receiving circuit. The DC restoration circuit is configured to hold the synchronization signal steady during the period of inactivity, and allow the AC component of the synchronization signal pass through to the receiving circuit during the period of activity to alleviate the problem of baseline drift in the synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Brad P. Jeffries, Peter Derounian
  • Patent number: 9110121
    Abstract: A spinning current Hall sensor configured to provide a sequence of input signals in response to a bias current being applied to a sequence of terminals of Hall sensing elements of the Hall sensor, the terminals of the Halls sensing elements configured to be interconnected in a sequence of configurations between a bias current supply and ground, with the bias current supply being connected to and applying the bias current to a different one of the terminals of each configuration. A chopping circuit demodulates the sequence of input signals to provide a corresponding sequence of demodulated positive and negative signals, with a residual offset calibration signal for the spinning current Hall sensor being based on the sequence of demodulated positive and negative signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Mario Motz
  • Patent number: 9077301
    Abstract: A circuit can include operational amplifier having a first input, a second input, and an output, first and second resistors in series between the output of the op-amp and a ground, and multiple switches configurable to toggle the circuit between a positive phase and a negative phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventor: Wayne C. Goeke
  • Patent number: 9071208
    Abstract: A signal amplification circuit includes an input terminal; a first chopper modulation circuit; a first amplifier having an amplification circuit and a chopper demodulation circuit, a capacitance feedback circuit having a second chopper modulation circuit, a first switch constituting a voltage follower circuit with the amplification circuit; a second switch; a second amplifier to convert the differential output signal from the second output terminal into a single-end signal; and a filter to pass at least a predetermined frequency component of the chopping frequency from the single-end signal from the second amplifier to output an output signal of the signal amplification circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Nagahisa