Abstract:
An operational amplifier based circuit (100) has an operational amplifier (102), a feedback circuit (104), and a compensation circuit block (106). The feedback circuit (104) is coupled between an output port and an input port of the operational amplifier (102). The compensation circuit block (106) has circuits involved in stability compensation of the operational amplifier (102), wherein there is no stability compensation circuit driven at the output port of the operational amplifier (102).
Abstract:
An integrated operational transconductance amplifier, OTA, having a variable-ratio current mirror differential amplifier section including: having a differential pair of FETs including a transistor having a source coupled to a source of a second transistor and to an approximate current source, the two forming a differential input pair of FETs for the OTA, the corresponding drains of the input pair forming a pair of differential current branches; having an output voltage connection Vo coupled to one of the differential current branches; and having a variable ratio current mirror circuit (113,114,115), including: having a current sensing circuit (114) conducting current from one of the differential current branches that generates a current control voltage reflective of the quantity of current thus conducted; having a current mirror reflection circuit (115) that generates a current substantially reflective of the current control voltage in the other differential current branch; and having a circuit, proportionally controllable by a signal (CMCV) applied to a mirror ratio control node within the OTA, which aids either conducting current of the current sensing circuit, or producing current reflective of the current control voltage, such that a ratio between current conducted by the current sensing circuit and the current mirror reflection circuit is continuously variable over a range under control of the signal (CMCV) applied to the mirror ratio control node.
Abstract:
A regulated power supply circuit includes a voltage reference circuit arranged to generate a reference voltage and an output device responsive to a control signal to supply a load from a voltage source. A control circuit is arranged to compare an output voltage at the load with the reference voltage. The control circuit includes a comparator comprising a long-tailed transistor pair having a first input to which the reference voltage is applied, a second input to which the output voltage is applied, and an output connected to an input terminal of the output device. The control circuit applies a correction signal to the output device via a single semiconductor junction to regulate the output voltage, thereby minimising propagation delay in the control circuit. The circuit may include a primary voltage regulator arranged to supply the control circuit at a lower voltage than that of the voltage source.
Abstract:
A structure for preventing simultaneous conduction in the power transistors of an ouput circuit of an audio system includes an auxiliary device in each of the high side control and low side control circuits controlling the power transistors. The auxiliary device in the high side control circuit is turned on simultaneously with the high side power transistor to provide a control signal to the low side control circuit, thereby turning off the low side power transistor. Conversely, the auxiliary device in the low side control circuit is turned on simultaneously with the low side power transistor to provide a control signal to the high side control circuit, thereby turning off the high side power transistor. Thus, simultaneous conduction in the high and low side power transistors is prevented.
Abstract:
A structure for preventing simultaneous conduction in the power transistors of an ouput circuit of an audio system includes an auxiliary device in each of the high side control and low side control circuits controlling the power transistors. The auxiliary device in the high side control circuit is turned on simultaneously with the high side power transistor to provide a control signal to the low side control circuit, thereby turning off the low side power transistor. Conversely, the auxiliary device in the low side control circuit is turned on simultaneously with the low side power transistor to provide a control signal to the high side control circuit, thereby turning off the high side power transistor. Thus, simultaneous conduction in the high and low side power transistors is prevented.
Abstract:
According to an aspect of the invention, it is provided a magnetic operational amplifier having a differential stage (1) comprising a first magnetic field effect transistor MAGFET (11) and a differential signal conditioner, the differential signal conditioner comprising a charge stage (151), a differential input pair (153) connected to the charge stage (151) and a biasing current source (155) connected to the differential input pair (153); the magnetic field effect transistor MAGFET (11) being connected to the charge stage (151) as a second differential input pair and the differential signal conditioner comprising a second biasing current source (156) connected to the magnetic field effect transistor MAGFET (11).
Abstract:
A bias generation method or apparatus defined by any one or any practical combination of numerous features that contribute to low noise and/or high efficiency biasing, including: having a charge pump control clock output with a waveform having limited harmonic content or distortion compared to a sine wave; having a ring oscillator to generating a charge pump clock that includes inverters current limited by cascode devices and achieves substantially rail-to-rail output amplitude; having a differential ring oscillator with optional startup and/or phase locking features to produce two phase outputs suitably matched and in adequate phase opposition; having a ring oscillator of less than five stages generating a charge pump clock; capacitively coupling the clock output(s) to some or all of the charge transfer capacitor switches; biasing an FET, which is capacitively coupled to a drive signal, to a bias voltage via an "active bias resistor" circuit that conducts between output terminals only during portions of a waveform appearing between the terminals, and/or wherein the bias voltage is generated by switching a small capacitance at cycles of said waveform. A threshold voltage bias voltage generation circuit may A charge pump for the bias generation may include a regulating feedback loop including an OTA that is also suitable for other uses, the OTA having a ratio-control input that controls a current mirror ratio in a differential amplifier over a continuous range, and optionally has differential outputs including an inverting output produced by a second differential amplifier that optionally includes a variable ratio current mirror controlled by the same ratio-control input. The ratio-control input may therefore control a common mode voltage of the differential outputs of the OTA. A control loop around the OTA may be configured to control the ratio of one or more variable ratio current mirrors, which may particularly control the output common mode voltage, and may control it such that the inverting output level tracks the non-inverting output level to cause the amplifier to function as a high-gain integrator.
Abstract:
A signal amplifying circuit (24) includes level shifting input circuits (D1-D4) permitting input common-mode voltages (VIN1 and VIN2) of an amplifier and fault detection circuit (50) to vary between preset limits. The sense amplifier circuit (24) includes a DC offset buffer circuit (52) operable to receive an analog DC offset compensation signal and provide this signal to an input of the amplifier and fault detection circuit (50). The buffered DC offset compensation signal provided to the amplifier and fault detection circuit (50) is operable to reduce an aggregate DC offset voltage attributable to signal amplifying circuit (24) to a desired DC offset level. The amplifier and fault detection circuit (50) also includes a fault detection function whereby an output (VSENSE) of the amplifier circuit (50) is forced to a predetermined output state if either, or both, of the inputs (VIN1 and VIN2) of the sense amplifier circuit (24) are unconnected; i.e., floating. The output (VSENSE) of the amplifier and fault detection circuit (50) is provided to an output buffer circuit (54) operable to modulate the load current supplied to an output (VOUT1, VOUT2) thereof as a function of a difference between the amplifier output signal (VSENSE) and the output buffer output signal (VOUT1).