Abstract:
A latch (300) includes a current source (320), an input amplifier (316), and a latch output circuit (336). The current source is configured to output a current based on a voltage source (332). The input amplifier is configured to receive a differential analog input signal (308) including a first differential input (308-1) and a second differential input (308-2) and selectively provide the current based on the first differential input and the second differential input. A latch output circuit (336) is configured to selectively output a differential digital (312) output signal including a first differential output (312-1) and a second differential output (312-2). The latch output circuit includes an over voltage protection circuit (304) configured to receive the current output from the input amplifier (316), receive the voltage source limit (396), and output a modified differential digital output signal (312) based on a comparison between a voltage corresponding to each of the first differential output (312-1) and the second differential output (312-2) and the voltage source limit (396).
Abstract:
A coupler comprises a first line (31) and a second line (32) which is broadside coupled to the first line (31) in a first and a second section (42, 53). The capacitance between the first and the second line (31, 32) per length unit of the first line (31) is larger in the first section (42) in comparison to the second section (53). The first and the second line (31, 32) form a first turn (40).
Abstract:
An amplifier (1) includes an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) (7) and a switched capacitor output stage (8). The ADC (7) converts an analogue signal into a digital signal containing a sequence of symbols. The switched capacitor output stage (8) charges and discharges a capacitor to produce charge pulses at an output (3). During discharge, switches selectively couple the capacitor to the output (3) in opposite directions to produce charge pulses of opposing polarity. The values of the symbols in the digital signal are used to decide the polarity of charge pulses. In this manner, amplification can be achieved without introducing a direct current (DC) component to the signal at the output (3).
Abstract:
A switch-capacitor ("SC") amplifier includes a two-stage operational amplifier ("OP-AMP"), an input SC network, and a feedback SC network. The two-stage OP-AMP includes a first OP-AMP stage having an output coupled to an input of a second OP-AMP stage. The input SC network is coupled to an input of the first OP-AMP stage. The feedback SC network is configured to selectively couple the output of the first OP-AMP stage to the input of the first OP-AMP stage during a first phase of operation of the SC amplifier and to couple an output of the second OP-AMP stage to the input of the first OP-AMP stage during a second phase of operation of the SC amplifier.
Abstract:
A near field RF communicator has an antenna circuit (120) to receive a modulated radio frequency signal by inductive coupling and demodulation circuitry (130 or 131) to extract the modulation from a received modulated radio frequency signal inductively coupled to the antenna circuit. The demodulation circuitry has a virtual earth input comprising a current mirror. The demodulation circuitry may be formed by an amplifier (115 or 116) and a demodulator (114) coupled to an output of the amplifier. The amplifier may be a single input amplifier (116) coupled to an output of the antenna circuit or may be a differential amplifier (115) having first and second inputs to receive the modulated radio frequency signal from first and second outputs of the antenna circuit, with each amplifier input providing a virtual earth input.
Abstract:
A near field RF communicator has an antenna circuit (120) to receive a modulated radio frequency signal by inductive coupling; and demodulation circuitry (130, 131 or 132) to extract the modulation from a received modulated radio frequency signal inductively coupled to the antenna circuit. The demodulation circuitry has a first modulated signal input (118) to receive a first modulated radio frequency signal from a first output (J2) of the antenna circuit and a second modulated signal input (119) to receive a second modulated radio frequency signal from a second output (Jl) of the antenna circuit. The demodulation circuitry extracts modulation from a received modulated RF signal using both the first and second modulated radio frequency signals. The demodulation circuitry may have a differential amplifier and a demodulator or may have one or more differential mixers.
Abstract:
An electrical circuit (1) for conversion from differential to single-ended is described, comprising: a differential amplifier stage (2) having a first (IN+) and a second (IN") input; a first (5) and a different second charging circuit (6) of the differential stage that can be operatively coupled, respectively, with an output (OUT*) of the conversion circuit (1) and with an auxiliary output (AUXOUT*). The circuit also comprises a first (7) and a second (8) buffer circuit each functionally arranged between one of said outputs\and between one of said charging circuits. The buffer circuits being configured so as to minimise a difference between the relative impedances seen towards said outputs (OUT*, AUXOUT*).
Abstract:
A switched-capacitor amplifier arrangement and a method to amplify a signal are presented. A forward path has at least one switched capacitor (10) controlled by a clock signal, thus providing an amplification phase (1) of the forward path and an additional clock phase (2). According to the proposed principle, a damping means (22) is connected to the forward path, the damping means being designed for attenuation of the signal peak at the beginning (2p) of the amplification phase. This avoids an undesired feed forward effect at the beginning of the amplification phase of an SC circuit.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for implementing and/or using amplifiers and performing various amplification related operations are described. The methods are well suited for use with, but not limited to, switching type amplifiers. The methods and apparatus described herein allow for the use of switching amplifiers while reducing and/or compensating for distortions that the use of such amplifiers would normally create. The described methods and apparatus can be used alone or in combination with various novel signaling schemes which can make it easier to compensate for the non-ideal behavior of switching amplifiers in such a way as to enable practical application in wireless transmission and/or other applications.