Abstract:
An apparatus (and method) is provided that reduces thermal interference in the read signal of a disk drive. A variable or programmable resistance is used to change the transfer function of a filter in the read channel of the disk drive to filter the read signal. The filter has a first transfer function (first cut-off frequency) related to the programmed resistance during normal operation of the disk drive (i.e. when thermal interference is not detected). When thermal interference is detected in the read signal, the resistance is programmed to another value resulting in the filter having a second transfer function (second cut-off frequency). The resistance element includes a transconductance amplifier whose transconductance is variable or programmable to different values resulting in different programmable transfer functions (or one of a multitude of cut-off frequencies) for the filter. In the preferred embodiment, detection of thermal interference increases the cut-off frequency of the filter thereby filtering, or reducing the effects of, the thermal interference in the read signal.
Abstract:
A BiCMOS transconductor differential stage for high frequency filters includes an input circuit portion having signal inputs and a pair of MOS transistors having their respective gate terminals corresponding to the signal inputs. The differential stage has an output circuit portion having signal outputs and a pair of bipolar transistors connected together with a common base inserted between the inputs and the outputs in a cascode configuration. The differential stage includes a switching device associated with at least one of the bipolar transistors to change the connections between parasitic capacitors present in the differential stage. The switching device also has at least one added bipolar transistor connected in a removable manner in parallel with the corresponding bipolar cascode transistor. In a variant differential stage, there are also provided respective added MOS transistors connected in parallel with the MOS transistors of the input circuit portion to change the ratio W:L of each of the MOS transistors.
Abstract:
A decoder of a coded serial stream of digital data in a stream of decoded NRZ data has re-timing (BB, AA) flip-flops and a 2.times.1 multiplexer (MUX OUT) selectably providing a single-bit NRZ output stream or a dual-bit (NRZ0 and NRZ1) output streams, by exploiting the predecoded values (ND0 and ND1) produced by two decoding combinative logic networks (RC1 and RC2) that compose the decoder.
Abstract:
A transconductor stage for high-frequency filters of a type which comprises an input circuit portion having signal inputs and an output circuit portion, incorporates a pair of field-effect transistors having respective gate and source terminals in common, and has the output portion formed of a pair of bipolar transistors connected to the aforesaid field-effect transistors.
Abstract:
A one-time programmable circuit uses forced BJT hFE degradation to permanently store digital information as a logic zero or logic one state. The forced degradation is accomplished by applying a voltage or current to the BJT for a specific time to the reversed biased base-emitter junction, allowing a significant degradation of the junction without destroying it.
Abstract:
A one-time programmable circuit uses forced BJT hFE degradation to permanently store digital information as a logic zero or logic one state. The forced degradation is accomplished by applying a voltage or current to the BJT for a specific time to the reversed biased base-emitter junction, allowing a significant degradation of the junction without destroying it.
Abstract:
A voltage regulator includes an output node and first and second regulator circuits. The first regulator circuit generates a first regulated voltage on the output node when a supply voltage equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the second regulator circuit generates a second regulated voltage on the output node when the supply voltage is less than the predetermined threshold.
Abstract:
A driver circuit includes a CMOS stage and switch functionalities for performing certain tasks. One task is to selectively block exposure of the CMOS stage to reference voltage(s). Another task is to selectively protect the CMOS stage during transient operation. Yet another task is to block leakage current from flowing from the CMOS stage to ground.
Abstract:
An elementary cell structure for programmable time-continuous analog filters and in particular for the processing of analog signals in read/write operations on magnetic supports comprises an amplifier stage provided with a pair of structurally identical transconductance half-cells connected together in a common circuit node. With a cascade of cells of this type is provided a time-continuous analog delay line which is used in a transverse time-continuous analog filter. This filter comprises a cascade of identical delay lines connected through multiplier nodes to a final summation node. “Elementary cell structure for programmable time-continuous analog filters and in particular for read/write operations on magnetic supports and associated analog filter”
Abstract:
A temperature-compensated high-speed timing circuit, which is particularly advantageous in read-interface circuits for disk-drive interface. The voltage on the integrating capacitor is compared against a voltage defined by the drop, on a resistor, induced by a current which is the combination of a reference current from a reference current generator with a temperature-dependent current from another current generator.