Field Effect Transistor Patents (Class 341/136)
  • Publication number: 20090079604
    Abstract: An analog circuit architecture is fabricated with dual gate oxides and dual voltage supplies. In the analog circuit architecture, different kinds of devices/transistors with different gate oxide thicknesses are biased by different voltages, such that advantages of each device technology are mixed to enhance total performance of the analog circuit. For example, thin oxide 0.18 um transistors are biased at 1.8V for higher speed and lower power consumption, whereas thick oxide 0.35 um transistors are biased at 3.3V for a wider signal swing range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: HENRY TIN-HANG YUNG, CHAO-PING HUANG, Steve Wiyi Yang
  • Patent number: 7501966
    Abstract: A DAC cell comprising: two or more PMOS core devices coupled in series between a power supply and a steering node; a first core transistor coupled between the steering node and a complementary power supply line and controlled by a control signal; and a second core transistor coupled between the steering node and an output of the DAC cell and controlled by a logical inverse of the control signal, wherein the control signal and its logical inverse direct a current from the steering node to either the complementary power supply line or to the output of the DAC cell based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shine Chung, Fu-Lung Hsueh
  • Publication number: 20090051575
    Abstract: A driving apparatus for a display is provided. The driving apparatus for a display comprises a reference voltage generator, a digital-to-analog converter, and an output unit. The reference voltage generator generates a plurality of reference voltages, and receives a difference value between two adjacent reference voltages and generates a plurality of sub reference voltages. The digital-to-analog converter selects one of the reference voltages and outputs the selected reference voltage as a first analog signal. The digital-to-analog converter selects one of the sub reference voltages and outputs the selected reference voltage as a second analog signal. The output unit processes, by addition or subtraction, the first and second analog signals for output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Hyung-Min Lee, Gyu Hyeong Cho, Young-Suk Son, Yong-Joon Jeon, Jin Yong Jeon, Seung-Chul Jung
  • Publication number: 20090051576
    Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter, comprising: a first field-effect transistor; a second field-effect transistor; and adjusting means for adjusting a bulk voltage applied to at least one of the first and second field-effect transistors so as to tend to equalise respective switching delays of the transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Ian Juso Dedic, Darren Walker
  • Patent number: 7495594
    Abstract: A D/A converter with reduced power consumption is offered by reducing an amount of electric charges that is charged and discharged as D/A conversion is performed. A terminal of each of four capacitors C1, C2, C3 and C4 is connected to a common node. The capacitors C1, C2, C3 and C4 have capacitances C, C, 2C and 4C, respectively. A selection circuit SEL is provided with selection transistors ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5 and ST6, and selects and outputs either a first reference electric potential V1 or a second electric potential V2 according to a value of each bit of the digital signals D0, D1 and D2. Each of transfer transistors TT1, TT2 and TT3 transfers each of outputs of the selection circuit SEL to another terminal of corresponding each of the capacitors C2, C3 and C4, respectively, in response to a start pulse STP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Horibata
  • Publication number: 20090045993
    Abstract: A multi-channel current steering DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter), for example, a 2-channel current steering DAC, includes a plurality of current sources I1, I2, . . . corresponding to the number of bits of a digital input signal DS in each of channels A, B. Each of the plurality of current sources I1, I2, . . . is formed by two small-current sources (I11, I12), (I21, I22), . . . . In the case where a full-scale current is limited to a small value in any of the channels, one of the two divided current sources is turned off by switches Sa1, Sa2. Accordingly, a full-scale current of each channel can be adjusted with a common bias circuit without degrading the resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Michiko Tokumaru, Heiji Ikoma
  • Patent number: 7489310
    Abstract: A data line drive circuit is equipped with a single line driver and a gate voltage generation circuit. The single line driver is constructed such that N groups (where N is an integer 2 or larger) of series connections of drive transistors and switching transistors are connected in parallel. The gate voltage generation circuit includes two transistors constituting a current mirror circuit, a drive transistor, and a constant voltage generation transistor. The range of an output current Iout can be controlled by changing any of the design values of the parameters including: relative values Ka and Kb of the gain coefficient for the transistors, the source voltage VDREF of the gate voltage generation circuit, and the gate signal VRIN of the drive transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kasai
  • Patent number: 7489261
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a compensating for nonlinearity resulting from a capacitance feedback in current cells of a single ended digital to analog circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Franz Kuttner
  • Patent number: 7482959
    Abstract: A D/A converter includes a plurality of current sources configured to be on or off according to input digital data; a constant voltage source configured to apply a constant voltage to the current sources; current supply wirings provided between the constant voltage source and the respective current source, the current supply wirings respectively having equal length from the constant voltage source to the respective current source; ground-side wirings summing up output currents from the plurality of current sources; and output terminals connected to the ground-side wirings, the output terminals outputting analogue data corresponding to the input digital data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akihide Sai, Takeshi Ueno, Takafumi Yamaji
  • Patent number: 7482957
    Abstract: The present invention provides a DAC constructed from a series of floating gate devices which are programmable to a series of predetermined values. Addressing one or more of the programmed floating gate devices will select from a wide variety of analog outputs. Reprogramming the floating gate devices, can provide a different variety of analog outputs. For example, the floating gate devices can be preprogrammed to a different range of outputs matching a range of perceptible signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Rongqing Dai, James S. Little, Kea-Tiong Tang
  • Patent number: 7474243
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch. The first switch is configured to latch a bit in a series of bits to provide a latched bit. The second switch is configured to conduct based on the latched bit. The third switch is configured to conduct based on the latched bit and a next bit in the series of bits. The next bit follows the latched bit in the series of bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Franz Kuttner
  • Patent number: 7471226
    Abstract: A radio frequency digital-to-analog converter with a programmable current output. In exemplary aspects of the invention, improved apparatus and methods for providing (i) current mirror matching, (ii) enhanced current pulse rising edge performance, (ii) reduced base voltage swing, and (iv) compensated high voltage swing, are provided. The foregoing apparatus and methods can be applied to any RF signal application (wireless or otherwise), including for example wireless cellular handsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics N.V.
    Inventors: Steven R. Norsworthy, Andrew Tham, Jason Rupert Redgrave, Aubrey Arthur Grey
  • Publication number: 20080309530
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed, such as a device including a floating-gate transistor, a quantizing circuit coupled to the floating-gate transistor, and a controller configured to vary a voltage of a gate of the floating-gate transistor when reading data from the floating-gate transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: R. Jacob Baker
  • Publication number: 20080309531
    Abstract: A data driver capable of generating data signals with desired voltage values. The data driver includes a first digital-analog converter including a plurality of first switches, the first digital-analog converter selecting two reference voltages from among a plurality of reference voltages by turning on two of the first switches corresponding to high level bits of data; and a second digital-analog converter for dividing the two reference voltages into a plurality of voltages and for supplying any one of the two reference voltages and the divided voltages corresponding to low level bits of the data as a data signal to an output terminal, wherein the second digital-analog converter includes a transistor turned on by a bias voltage to compensate for a turn-on resistance of the two of the first switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Sang Moo Choi, Yong Sung Park, Do Youb Kim
  • Patent number: 7443327
    Abstract: Source potentials of n output transistors are fixed by common fixed voltage, and sources are connected to a current output terminal. A drain and a gate of an input transistor are commonly connected to the drains and the gates of the output transistors respectively. A first current-to-voltage conversion unit is connected onto the drain side of the input transistor to convert current Im2 flowing through the input transistor into voltage Vx1. A second current-to-voltage conversion unit converts reference current Iref into voltage Vx2. The voltages Vx1 and Vx2 are input to a first error amplifier, and the first error amplifier adjusts gate voltages of the input transistor and output transistors. n switches are provided on a path through which output of the first error amplifier reaches the gate of the output transistor. A control unit controls on/off of the switch according to a digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taisuke Chida, Kunihiro Komiya
  • Patent number: 7436340
    Abstract: A current-cell type D/A converter using a timing generating circuit for converting a digital code to the corresponding differential voltage Vout between a first analog voltage and a second voltage includes a plural of current cells and a plural of switch-control-signal generating circuits generating each of switch-control signals being provided each of the above current cells. Each of the above current cells includes the switching NMOSs, and the constant-current sources of the NMOSs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7425909
    Abstract: A low-noise programmable current source includes an output digital to analog converter for providing an output load current; and a control circuit, responsive to an input defining a predetermined load current for generating, for the digital to analog converter, a control word and a control voltage; the control word and the control voltage drive the digital to analog converter to produce the predetermined load current and the control voltage sets the compliance voltage of the digital to analog converter to minimize current noise in the digital to analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Rose, Richard E. Schreier
  • Patent number: 7423571
    Abstract: A resistor-string digital/analog converter circuit includes a plurality of resistors configured to divide a predetermined voltage, a plurality of MOS transistors configured to divide a voltage generated across one resistor of the plurality of resistors, a control circuit configured to control a connection between the one resistor and the plurality of MOS transistors so as to supply to the plurality of MOS transistors the voltage generated across the one resistor, and a gate potential generating circuit. The gate potential generating circuit generates a plurality of mutually different gate potentials and supplies the plurality of generated gate voltages, respectively, to a plurality of gates of the plurality of MOS transistors, so that the resistance values of MOS resistance of the plurality of MOS transistors are equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Asami Saito, Satoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7423569
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system for controlling current characteristics in a transceiver having a transmitter. The method includes identifying a phase control signal from an adjacent current cell preceding the particular current cell in time and logically ORing the phase control signal from the preceding cell with a phase control signal from the particular current cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Yee Ling Cheung, Kevin T. Chan, Jan Mulder
  • Patent number: 7417572
    Abstract: A multiple-input follower amplifier is coupled through a configuration of switching devices to an upper reference voltage at a number of its inputs and to a lower reference voltage at the remaining number of its inputs to form a voltage interpolator. The output of the voltage interpolator is a voltage between the upper and lower reference voltages proportional to the number of inputs coupled to each reference voltage. The voltage interpolator may be constructed so that the interpolated voltage may be selected through a reduced number of signal lines, such as by a row/column selection scheme. A voltage reference circuit providing the upper and lower reference voltages may also implement a row/column selection mechanism, thereby allowing a decoding scheme common to both a voltage reference circuit and a voltage interpolator in a digital-to-analog converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems
    Inventors: Stephen Williams, Eric Naviasky, William Evans
  • Publication number: 20080198054
    Abstract: A digital to analog converter is provided comprising a charge sharing circuit, a discharging circuit and a voltage boosting circuit. The charge sharing circuit sequentially receives first to (N-1)th bits of serial digital signals. The charge sharing circuit shares and stores charges between a first capacitor and a second capacitor according to a charging voltage, a ground voltage, a first clock signal and serial data signals. The discharging circuit discharges the charge sharing circuit according to a reset signal. After the voltage boosting circuit receive the (N-1)th digital signal, the charge boosting circuit whether to boost a first terminal and a second terminal of the second capacitor or not based on an Nth digital signal. After the voltage boosting circuit receives the Nth serial digital signal, the charge sharing circuit outputs an analog signal from the second terminal of the second capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: TPO DISPLAYS CORP.
    Inventors: Wei-Cheng Lin, Kai-Chieh Yang, Keiichi Sano, Fang-Hsing Wang, Ting-Yu Chang
  • Publication number: 20080198050
    Abstract: In a delta-sigma modulator including first and second subtractors, first and second integrators, a quantizer, and a DA converter, a first feedback circuit includes first charge holding circuits which hold charges of the analog signal from the DA converter for different sampling intervals, can change a feedback amount of the analog signal from the DA converter, and outputs the analog signal from each first charge holding circuits to the second subtractor. A second feedback circuit includes second charge holding circuits which hold charges of the analog signal from the second integrator for different sampling intervals, can change a feedback amount of the analog signal from the second integrator, and outputs an analog signal from each of the second charge holding circuits to the second subtractor. A controller switches an order of filter characteristic of the delta sigma modulator by changing feedback amounts of the first and second feedback circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Taiji AKIZUKI, Tomoaki Maeda, Masahiko Sagisaka
  • Patent number: 7411535
    Abstract: A D/A conversion circuit in accordance with the present invention, which is provided with a switch swD, allows a writing operation of a voltage (a true gradation voltage) to be performed at a higher speed by first applying a first voltage (a voltage close to the true gradation voltage), which is supplied without passing through a resistor element, to an output line and then applying a second voltage (the true gradation voltage), which is supplied via the resistor element, to the output line. Thus, the present invention can provide a D/A conversion circuit capable of writing display data to liquid crystal cells with higher precision at higher speed, and a semiconductor device utilizing such a D/A conversion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7403148
    Abstract: The linearity of switched-capacitor, pipeline digital to analog converters is improved by balancing the settling behavior of its pre-charge switches. In more detail, a switched capacitor DAC includes a number of substantially identical cells, one cell for each bit of an input digital word. A number of switch driver circuits are used to apply respective switch control signals to turn respective switches on and off. Advantageously, the switch control signals differ by an amount determined to equalize the gate-to-source voltage difference between different switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Edgewater Computer Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriele Manganaro
  • Patent number: 7400279
    Abstract: Circuits and methods may be improved by using ADCs that compensate for the effect of comparator input offset on comparator decisions. Offset compensation may be implemented in an ADC by using an amplifier section between the input of the ADC and a comparator section of the ADC to amplify the signals supplied to the comparator inputs and thereby reduce the effect of comparator offset on the comparator decision. The comparator section may be an autozeroing comparator section that is capable of performing an offset reduction operation to store offset compensation values at capacitors provided at its inputs. The amplifier section may be an autozeroing amplifier section having one or more amplifier stages that are capable of performing an offset reduction operation to store offset compensation values at capacitors provided at their inputs. Offset compensation may also be implemented using an autozeroing comparator section without a preceding amplifier section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Alexander Krymski
  • Publication number: 20080158030
    Abstract: An integration type A/D converter in which a dynamic range is enlarged while keeping a simple circuit configuration is provided. Offset potential of an integrator is to be variable. Specifically, offset potential in proportion to input potential is supplied to the integrator. Since an operation point of the integrator is changed in accordance with the input potential, a dynamic range can be enlarged. Further, reference potential input to the integrator in discharging is to be variable. Specifically, reference potential having a constant difference from the offset potential is input to the integrator. Accordingly, time necessary for discharging and the input potential are in proportion, so that a simple circuit configuration which is one feature of the integration type ADC can be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke KAWAE
  • Patent number: 7394416
    Abstract: An analog-digital converter includes an analog switch on a semiconductor substrate, the analog switch having a P-channel transistor and an N-channel transistor; and a capacitive element having a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are formed in a region in a layer different from a layer of the analog switch, the region extending over the analog switch. The first electrode and the second electrode have a comb-shaped pattern different from an arrangement pattern of the source regions and the drain regions of the P-channel transistor and the N-channel transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Komatsu, Ichiro Yamane
  • Patent number: 7385545
    Abstract: An n bit D/A decoder is formed using P-type and N-type transistor switches, instead of convention CMOS switches. Each P-type and N-type switch may be formed of fewer transistors than those used to form a CMOS switch, thereby reducing the overall transistor count. The decoder may be used to decode digital values to non-linear GAMMA corrected analog output voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: ATI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kongning Li, Charles Leung, Grigori Temkine, Milivoje Aleksic, Steven Turner, Greg Vansickle, Kevin O'Neil
  • Patent number: 7379000
    Abstract: The present invention provides a DAC constructed from a series of floating gate devices which are programmable to a series of predetermined values. Addressing one or more of the programmed floating gate devices will select from a wide variety of analog outputs. Reprogramming the floating gate devices, can provide a different variety of analog outputs. For example, the floating gate devices can be preprogrammed to a different range of outputs matching a range of perceptible signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Rongqing Dai, James S. Little, Kea-Tiong Tang
  • Patent number: 7375671
    Abstract: A digital to analog converter that receives a digital signal and that converts the digital signal to an analog input signal is provided. The converter may include a group of most significant bits. The group is decoded to drive a plurality of equivalent most significant segments. The converter may also include a second group of bits. The second group is decoded to drive a second plurality of equivalent segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: James Lee Brubaker
  • Patent number: 7372388
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an A/D converter making it possible to reduce the power consumption of an output interface. The A/D converter includes an output current value designation register that holds a value sent from an upper-level unit, and an output current value designation circuit that controls a constant current source, which supplies a constant current to a low-voltage differential signal output circuit, according to the value held in the output current value designation register so as to designate an output current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventor: Shinichi Amemiya
  • Publication number: 20080106447
    Abstract: A method of Digital to Analogue conversion of an input signal Do for suppressing the effect of clock-jitter in a Delta-Sigma analogue to digital converter, or class D amplifier, comprises charging a capacitor to a reference voltage value (Vref) during a first phase (?) of a clock signal, discharging the capacitor during a second phase (?2) of the clock signal, wherein the discharge is regulated by a biased transistor, responsive to the voltage on the capacitor, in a first part of the second phase to provide an approximately constant discharge current, and regulated in a second part of the second phase for rapidly discharging the capacitor before the end of the second phase; and providing an output (Ud, OUT) as a function of the discharge current and the input signal Do. The output signal Ud, may be applied as a feedback signal to a loop filter in a Delta-Sigma converter. Alternatively, the output may represent the output of a Class D amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Hashem Zare-Hoseini, Izzet Kale, Richard Charles Spicer Morling
  • Patent number: 7358885
    Abstract: A receiver (300) includes a mixing digital-to-analog converter (DAC) (118A), a direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS) (132) and a dynamic element matching (DEM) circuit (304). A DAC of the mixing DAC (118A) is implemented as a segmented DAC having a thermometer encoded DAC section (120A) and a binary encoded DAC section (120B). The DDFS (132) includes outputs configured to provide bits associated with a digital LO signal to inputs of a switching section (124A, 124B) of the mixing DAC (118A). The DEM circuit (304) is coupled between the outputs of the DDFS (132) and the inputs of the switching section (124A) that are associated with the thermometer encoded DAC section (120A). The DEM circuit (304) is configured to scramble the bits provided to the thermometer encoded DAC section (120A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Maxim, Richard A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7345609
    Abstract: A digital to analog converter including a first current source (3) to which a first digital signal (28,31) is applied for conversion to an analog signal, wherein the first digital signal has a predetermined clock cycle. The digital to analog converter further comprising a second dummy current source (30) associated with the first current source to which a second digital signal (29,32) is applied. The second digital signal is derived from the first digital signal so that in any one clock cycle either the first or the second current source switches. This arrangement has the advantage that the dynamic behavior of the converter is not signal dependent, but dependent only on the clock cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Joseph Briaire
  • Patent number: 7324034
    Abstract: The linearity of switched-capacitor, pipeline digital to analog converters is improved by balancing the settling behavior of its pre-charge switches. In more detail, a switched capacitor DAC includes a number of substantially identical cells, one cell for each bit of an input digital word. A number of switch driver circuits are used to apply respective switch control signals to turn respective switches on and off. Advantageously, the switch control signals differ by an amount determined to equalize the gate-to-source voltage difference between different switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Edgewater Computer Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriele Manganaro
  • Patent number: 7321326
    Abstract: A current source cell of one embodiment according to the present invention comprises: first and second transistors which are complementarily switched by a control signal; a constant current source which is commonly connected to one ends of current paths of the first and second transistors; third and fourth transistors which are respectively connected between the other ends of the current paths of the first and second transistors and first and second output terminals, and which being in normally conducting states; and an inversion amplifier having an input terminal which is commonly connected to the one ends of the current paths of the first and second transistors, and having output terminal which is commonly connected to control terminals of the third and fourth transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shigeo Imai
  • Patent number: 7307567
    Abstract: The present invention provides a digital-analog converter having: a DEM logic device (10) for generating at least two digital output data items (13, 14) from the digital input data (11) on the basis of a predetermined algorithm to determine an initial cell and a final cell in the array arrangement (22), between which there are situated cells (24) with energy sources (30) to be activated; a decoder device (16) for decoding the at least two digital output data items (13, 14) from the DEM device (10) into actuation signals (17, 17?, 18, 18?, 19, 19? 20, 20?, 21, 21?) in order to activate the cells (24) which are to be activated; and an array arrangement (22) of cells (23) for outputting at least one quantized analog signal (25, 25?) on the basis of the actuation signals (17, 17?, 18, 18?, 19, 19? 20, 20?, 21, 21?). The present invention likewise provides a method for digital-analog conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Franz Kuttner
  • Patent number: 7292172
    Abstract: A current driven D/A converter sets an OFF control voltage (BIAS3) for turning off NMOS transistors M12P, M12N, M22P, M22N, M32P and M32N at a voltage close to an ON control voltage (BIAS2). This makes it possible to reduce the swing of the control voltage (ON control voltage-OFF control voltage) of the NMOS transistors, and hence to reduce the noise due to charge injections through parasitic capacitances, and noise of a ground voltage or power supply voltage due to flowing of discharge currents from the parasitic capacitances to the ground or power supply at turn off of the transistors, thereby being able to offer a high performance current driven D/A converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Osamu Matsumoto, Takahiro Miki, Yasuo Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7292167
    Abstract: An apparatus for error compensation of a self calibrating current source adapted for compensating errors of at least one self calibrating current source. The compensation apparatus includes an imitative self calibrating current source, a current source reference apparatus and an error compensation apparatus. The imitative self calibrating current source is used to simulate the structure of the self calibrating current source to generate an error bias signal as the error of the self calibrating current source. The current source reference apparatus is used to generate an ideal bias signal. The error compensation apparatus generates a compensation bias signal to compensate errors of the self calibrating current source according to the difference of the error bias signal and the ideal bias signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Jin-Sheng Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7248196
    Abstract: 2N?1 four-terminal phase-reversing switches are arranged in one or more columns of cascaded switches, wherein a frequency having a given relative phase ? is applied as an input of the top switch in a cascade. A particular configuration of 2N?1 different reference-values, determined by a preselected N-Bit binary code, is applied to the respective 2N?1 switches so that (1) whenever the amplitude value of an applied analog signal reaches a value equal to the reference value applied to any switch, that switch will switch to reverse the phase at its output from the phase at its input, and (2) cause the switching of the phase at the output at each switch ordinally situated in a column below that switch. The respective output phases from a certain subset of N switches of the 2N?1 switches define the binary values of the preselected N-Bit binary code output from the A/D converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: MMTC, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Sterzer, Daniel D. Mawhinney
  • Patent number: 7236115
    Abstract: A circuit for reducing the maximum magnitude of the total current on each of a plurality of buses for an amplifier stage in a folding analog to digital converter. Each amplifier stage bus couples multiple transconductance circuits to a load. Also, each of the transconductance circuits is configured to output a separate transconductance current to its respective bus. Separate current source circuits are configured to provide a separate source current locally at the output of each of the transconductance circuits such that substantially less than the full amount of each transconductance current reaches the respective bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Menkus, Robert Callaghan Taft
  • Patent number: 7224300
    Abstract: The present invention provides a DAC constructed from a series of floating gate devices which are programmable to a series of predetermined values. Addressing one or more of the programmed floating gate devices, will select from a wide variety of analog outputs. Reprogramming the floating gate devices, can provide a different variety of analog outputs. For example, the floating gate devices can be preprogrammed to a different range of outputs matching a range of perceptible signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Rongqing Dai, James S. Little, Kea-Tiong Tang
  • Patent number: 7224301
    Abstract: The present invention provides a DAC constructed from a series of floating gate devices which are programmable to a series of predetermined values. Addressing one or more of the programmed floating gate devices, will select from a wide variety of analog outputs. Reprogramming the floating gate devices, can provide a different variety of analog outputs. For example, the floating gate devices can be preprogrammed to a different range of outputs matching a range of perceptible signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Rongqing Dai, James S. Little, Kea-Tiong Tang
  • Patent number: 7221300
    Abstract: A system and method implement very high data rate baseband DACs suitable for wireless applications related to new standards (e.g. Ultra-Wide Band) using CMOS processes allowing an integrated solution with the deep-submicron CMOS digital baseband. A single CMOS block working at full speed is discarded in favor of several blocks, each working at a fraction of the original data rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul A. Fontaine, Ranjit Gharpurey, Anuj Batra, Jaiganesh Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7215268
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter including a plurality of multiple independent gate field effect transistors (MIGFET) that provide a plurality of digital output signals, is provided. Each MIGFET of the plurality of MIGFETs may have first gate for receiving an analog signal, a second gate for being biased, and a current electrode for providing a digital output signal from among the plurality of the digital output signals. Each MIGFET of the plurality of MIGFETs may have a combination of body width, channel length that is unique among the plurality of MIGFETs to result in a threshold voltage that is unique among the plurality of MIGFETs. A digital to analog converter including a plurality of MIGFETs is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed S. Moosa, Sriram S. Kalpat, Leo Mathew
  • Patent number: 7199728
    Abstract: A data communication system comprises a transmission line between first and second integrated circuits. An encoder on the first integrated circuit encodes an input data stream to produce a sequence of codewords, wherein codewords in the sequence are members of a set of codewords representing data in the input data stream, and the members of the set are substantially DC balanced, such as a Manchester encoded symbol set. An integrating circuit on the second integrated circuit integrates codewords by integrating for a first interval with a positive polarity within a particular symbol cell, and integrating for a second interval with a negative polarity within the particular symbol cell, to produce output representing the codewords. A sense circuit produces an output data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventors: William J Dally, John W Poulton
  • Patent number: 7199742
    Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter has a plurality of current cells. Each of the current cells has a level shifter and a current source. The level shifter connects to a first power terminal and a second power terminal to convert a first input signal and a second input signal into a first output signal and a second output signal. The current source has two cascaded MOS transistors connected to the first power terminal in series, a first MOS switch having a gate for receiving the first output signal, and a second MOS switch having a gate for receiving the second output signal. A voltage level of the first power terminal is greater than a voltage level of the second power terminal. When one of the current cells operates, one of the first MOS switch and the second MOS switch of the current source is turned on and operates in a saturation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Tzu-Chao Lin, Yuan-Hui Chen, Hai-Thanh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7193554
    Abstract: According to an aspect of present invention, a quantizer is provided with reduced power consumption and area. Such a feature is attained by providing the input signal and a reference signal on input terminals of a pre-amplifier, and coupling the differential output terminals of the pre-amplifier to the gate terminal of respective transistors. The drain/source currents of the transistors are provided to a current latch, which generates the comparison result. The latches and transistors are replicated conveniently to interpolate additional reference values. The width to length (W/L) of the channels in each replicated set are set to different values to cause the reference signal to be at corresponding strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Preetam Charan Anand Tadeparthy, Jomy G Joy
  • Patent number: 7158062
    Abstract: A switch having a first arrangement for providing a first set of first and second complementary intermediate signals; a second arrangement for providing a second set of third and fourth complementary intermediate signals; a third arrangement responsive to the first set of signals for providing complementary output signals; a fourth arrangement responsive to the second set of signals for providing complementary output signals; and a fifth arrangement for selectively activating the third means or the fourth arrangement in response to a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Albert E. Cosand
  • Patent number: 7158067
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter includes a resistor-divider network including a plurality of resistors, an arbel channel circuit configured to generate a voltage sawtooth signal as an output, a dc-offset disposed to couple a node of the resistor-divider network and the arbel-channel circuit. The converter further includes a voltage reference circuit configured to generate a reference voltage, and a differential comparator configured to compare the voltage sawtooth signal with the reference voltage to produce a digital output signal corresponding to the voltage sawtooth signal. Method of converting an analog signal to a digital signal is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Keir C. Lauritzen, Martin Peckerar, F. Keith Perkins, Angela M. Hodge-Miller