An active biconical antenna and a receive array comprising a combination of active biconical and Vivaldi antennas. In one configuration, the active biconical antenna includes upper and lower cones. Each cone has a respective truncated apex. First and second feed points are respectively connected to the truncated apexes of the upper and lower cones and to first and second conductors. The active biconical antenna further includes a buffer amplifier having respective input terminals connected to the first and second conductors. The buffer amplifier has an input impedance that is impedance matched to an antenna impedance at and above but not below a frequency f.sub.c and is higher than the antenna impedance at frequencies substantially less than f.sub.c. The buffer amplifier also has an output impedance that is impedance matched to a system impedance at frequencies both above and below f.sub.c. A length of the first and second conductors is less than a wavelength at the frequency f.sub.c.

An active biconical antenna and a receive array comprising a combination of active biconical and Vivaldi antennas. In one configuration, the active biconical antenna includes upper and lower cones. Each cone has a respective truncated apex. First and second feed points are respectively connected to the truncated apexes of the upper and lower cones and to first and second conductors. The active biconical antenna further includes a buffer amplifier having respective input terminals connected to the first and second conductors. The buffer amplifier has an input impedance that is impedance matched to an antenna impedance at and above but not below a frequency f.sub.c and is higher than the antenna impedance at frequencies substantially less than f.sub.c. The buffer amplifier also has an output impedance that is impedance matched to a system impedance at frequencies both above and below f.sub.c. A length of the first and second conductors is less than a wavelength at the frequency f.sub.c.

A method and apparatus are described for bio-impedance measurement using voltage to current conversion. In one example, a bio-impedance transducer includes an input stage to receive a bio-impedance signal having an oscillating voltage from two electrodes, the electrodes being coupled to a body, a resistance across the two electrodes to determine an alternating current of the bio-impedance signal, a gain stage coupled to the resistance to amplify the alternating current, a down converter coupled to the gain stage to convert the amplified alternating current to a direct current bio-impedance signal, and an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the down converter to convert the direct current bio-impedance signal to a digital bio-impedance signal.

Various embodiments of the present technology may provide methods and apparatus for a track-and-hold amplifier configured to sample and amplify an analog signal. Methods and apparatus for a track-and-hold amplifier according to various aspects of the present invention may provide an isolation circuit configured to isolate transient current in a track-and-hold capacitor during a track phase. According to various embodiments, selective activation of the isolation circuit provides a settling time that is independent of the gain of the amplifier.

Various embodiments of the present technology may provide methods and apparatus for a track-and-hold amplifier configured to sample and amplify an analog signal. Methods and apparatus for a track-and-hold amplifier according to various aspects of the present invention may provide an isolation circuit configured to isolate transient current in a track-and-hold capacitor during a track phase. According to various embodiments, selective activation of the isolation circuit provides a settling time that is independent of the gain of the amplifier.

A voltage supply circuit includes a rectifier circuit, a charging circuit, a feedback circuit and an energy storage circuit. The rectifier circuit is used to receive an input voltage to generate a rectified energy. The charging circuit is coupled to the rectifier circuit and has a modulation input terminal and an energy supply terminal. The modulation input terminal is used to receive a modulation voltage, and the energy supply terminal is used to selectively output a charging current according to the modulation voltage. The feedback circuit is used to receive a high voltage signal and a supply voltage, and output the modulation voltage to the modulation input terminal. The feedback circuit is used to adjust the modulation voltage according to a difference between the supply voltage and a reference voltage. The energy storage circuit is charged by the charging current to pull up the supply voltage.

A current-bootstrap comparator includes a receiving unit, a first current generation unit and a second current generation unit. The receiving unit receives a load voltage signal, a low threshold voltage and a high threshold voltage. The first current generation unit generates a first current. The second current generation unit generates a second current having a magnitude substantially same as a magnitude of the first current and a direction reverse to the first current. The first current and the second current are supplied to a next-stage circuit as a source current and a corresponding sink current, respectively, when the level of the load voltage signal is higher than the high threshold voltage or lower than the low threshold voltage. The magnitudes of the first current and the second current substantially equal zero when the level of the load voltage signal is between the high threshold voltage and the low threshold voltage.

A current-bootstrap comparator includes a receiving unit, a first current generation unit and a second current generation unit. The receiving unit receives a load voltage signal, a low threshold voltage and a high threshold voltage. The first current generation unit generates a first current. The second current generation unit generates a second current having a magnitude substantially same as a magnitude of the first current and a direction reverse to the first current. The first current and the second current are supplied to a next-stage circuit as a source current and a corresponding sink current, respectively, when the level of the load voltage signal is higher than the high threshold voltage or lower than the low threshold voltage. The magnitudes of the first current and the second current substantially equal zero when the level of the load voltage signal is between the high threshold voltage and the low threshold voltage.

An instrumentation amplifier that includes input capacitance cancellation is provided. The architecture includes programmable capacitors between the input stage and a current feedback loop of the instrumentation amplifier to cancel input capacitances from electrode cables and a printed circuit board at the front end. An on-chip calibration unit can be employed to calibrate the programmable capacitors and improve the input impedance.

An instrumentation amplifier that includes input capacitance cancellation is provided. The architecture includes programmable capacitors between the input stage and a current feedback loop of the instrumentation amplifier to cancel input capacitances from electrode cables and a printed circuit board at the front end. An on-chip calibration unit can be employed to calibrate the programmable capacitors and improve the input impedance.