Patent classifications
H03F2200/168
Apparatuses and methods for a chopper instrumentation amplifier
Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for a chopper instrumentation amplifier. For a variety of applications, such as testing the resistance of connections between layers of a memory, it may be desirable to provide a high gain instrumentation amplifier. A chopper instrumentation amplifier may provide a high gain while allowing a wide range of common input voltages and a canceling an offset on the amplifier. An example chopper instrumentation amplifier of the present disclosure may include a plurality of amplifiers including chopper amplifiers and non-chopper amplifiers. The chopper amplifiers may use chopper circuits to cancel out an offset voltage of the amplifiers. Low pass filters may be used to minimize the impact of the chopper amplifiers.
High dynamic range sensing front-end for neural signal recording systems
A high dynamic range sensing front-end for bio-signal recording systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bio-signal amplifier includes an input signal, where the input signal is modulated to a predetermined chopping frequency, a first amplifier stage, a parallel-RC circuit connected to the first amplifier stage and configured to generate a parallel-RC circuit output by selectively blocking an offset current, a second amplifier stage connected to the parallel-RC circuit that includes a second input configured to receive the parallel-RC circuit output and generate a second output that is an amplified version of the input signal with ripple-rejection. Further, the bio-signal amplifier can also include an auxiliary path configured for boosting input impedance by pre-charging at least one input capacitor. In addition, the bio-signal amplifier can also include a DC-servo feedback loop that includes an integrator that utilizes a duty-cycled resistor.
Multiple-stage power amplifiers implemented with multiple semiconductor technologies
A multiple-stage amplifier includes a driver stage die and a final stage die. The driver stage die includes a first type of semiconductor substrate (e.g., a silicon substrate), a first transistor, and an integrated portion of an interstage impedance matching circuit. A control terminal of the first transistor is electrically coupled to an RF signal input terminal of the driver stage die, and the integrated portion of the interstage impedance matching circuit is electrically coupled between a current-carrying terminal of the first transistor and an RF signal output terminal of the driver stage die. The second die includes a III-V semiconductor substrate (e.g., a GaN substrate) and a second transistor. A connection, which is a non-integrated portion of the interstage impedance matching circuit, is electrically coupled between the RF signal output terminal of the driver stage die and an RF signal input terminal of the final stage die.
Receiver Architectures with Parametric Circuits
An RF receiver circuit configuration and design is limited by conditions and frequencies to simultaneously provide steady state low-noise signal amplification, frequency down-conversion, and image signal rejection. The RF receiver circuit may be implemented as one of a CMOS single chip device or as part of an integrated system of CMOS components.
Chopper amplifiers with high pass filter for suppressing chopping ripple
Chopper amplifiers with high pass filters for suppressing chopping ripple are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a chopper amplifier includes an input chopping circuit, an amplification circuit, a low frequency content detection circuit, and an output chopping circuit electrically connected in a cascade. The low frequency content detection circuit operates in combination with a transconductance or other gain circuit as a high pass filter that filters input offset voltage and/or low frequency noise of the amplification circuit, thereby suppressing output chopping ripple from arising.
CLASS D AMPLIFIERS
The present disclosure relates to Class D amplifier circuitry comprising: an input for receiving an input signal; first and second output nodes for driving a load connected between the first and second output nodes. A first driver stage is provided for switching the first node between a first supply rail and a second supply rail, and a second driver stage is provided for switching the second node between the first supply rail and the second supply rail. The Class D amplifier circuitry also includes first driver control circuitry configured to receive a first carrier wave and control the switching of the first driver stage based in part on the first carrier wave; second driver control circuitry configured to receive a second carrier wave and control the switching of the second driver stage based in part on the second carrier wave; and a carrier wave generator configured to provide the first carrier wave and the second carrier wave. A phase shift between the first carrier wave and the second carrier wave is adjustable responsive to a mode control signal.
Apparatus and methods for low noise amplifiers with mid-node impedance networks
Apparatus and methods for LNAs with mid-node impedance networks are provided herein. In certain configurations, an LNA includes a mid-node impedance circuit including a resistor and a capacitor electrically connected in parallel, a cascode device electrically connected between an output terminal and the mid-node impedance circuit, and a transconductance device electrically connected between the mid-node impedance circuit and ground. The transconductance device amplifies a radio frequency signal received from an input terminal. The LNA further includes a feedback bias circuit electrically connected between the output terminal and the input terminal and operable to control an input bias voltage of the transconductance device.
CHOPPER AMPLIFIER
A chopper amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier path, a second amplifier path, and a third amplifier path. The first amplifier path includes chopper circuitry configured to modulate an input signal and an offset voltage at a chopping frequency, and ripple reduction circuitry configured to attenuate the chopping frequency in a signal in the first amplifier path. The second amplifier path includes a feedforward gain stage, and is configured to apply higher gain to intermediate signal frequencies than is applied in the first amplifier path. The third amplifier path includes a feedforward gain stage, and is configured to apply higher gain to high signal frequencies than is applied in the first amplifier path and the second amplifier path. The intermediate signal frequencies are lower than the high signal frequencies.
Class D amplifiers
The present disclosure relates to Class D amplifier circuitry comprising: an input for receiving an input signal; first and second output nodes for driving a load connected between the first and second output nodes. A first driver stage is provided for switching the first node between a first supply rail and a second supply rail, and a second driver stage is provided for switching the second node between the first supply rail and the second supply rail. The Class D amplifier circuitry also includes first driver control circuitry configured to receive a first carrier wave and control the switching of the first driver stage based in part on the first carrier wave; second driver control circuitry configured to receive a second carrier wave and control the switching of the second driver stage based in part on the second carrier wave; and a carrier wave generator configured to provide the first carrier wave and the second carrier wave. A phase shift between the first carrier wave and the second carrier wave is adjustable responsive to a mode control signal.
Class AB amplifier having cascode stage with filter for improving linearity
The present invention provides a class AB amplifier, wherein the class AB amplifier includes a cascode stage with a filter and an output stage. The cascode stage with the filter is arranged for receiving an input signal to generate a first driving signal and a second driving signal, wherein the filter filters the input signal to generate an filtered input signal, and at least one of the first driving signal and the second driving signal is generated according to the filtered input signal. The output stage is coupled to the cascode stage, and is arranged for generating an output signal according to the first driving signal and the second driving signal.