A circuit includes a sensor configured to receive an input signal and to provide a sensor output signal in response to the received input signal. A plurality of mirror circuits are configured to receive the sensor output signal from the sensor and to generate mirror circuit output signals. The plurality of mirror circuits includes a first mirror circuit and at least a second mirror circuit. The first mirror circuit increases its respective mirror circuit output signal until its saturation value is reached. The second mirror circuit increases its respective mirror output signal if the sensor output signal is above a threshold value and until its saturation value is reached.

The present disclosure describes aspects of a fast settling peak detector. In some aspects, a peak detector circuit includes a first transistor having a gate coupled to an input of the circuit at which a signal is received and a drain coupled to a source of a second transistor. Current may flow in the first and second transistors responsive to the signal. The circuit also includes a third transistor having a gate coupled, via a signal-inverting component, to the input of the circuit and a drain coupled to a source of a fourth transistor. Through an inversion of the signal, other current flowing in the third and fourth transistor can reduce or cancel a frequency component of the current in the first and second transistors. In some cases, this precludes a need to filter the frequency component from an output of the circuit.

The present disclosure describes aspects of a fast settling peak detector. In some aspects, a peak detector circuit includes a first transistor having a gate coupled to an input of the circuit at which a signal is received and a drain coupled to a source of a second transistor. Current may flow in the first and second transistors responsive to the signal. The circuit also includes a third transistor having a gate coupled, via a signal-inverting component, to the input of the circuit and a drain coupled to a source of a fourth transistor. Through an inversion of the signal, other current flowing in the third and fourth transistor can reduce or cancel a frequency component of the current in the first and second transistors. In some cases, this precludes a need to filter the frequency component from an output of the circuit.

Systems and methods for providing peak current mode control (PCMC) for power converters using discrete analog components. A pair of complementary bipolar junction transistors may be used to set a maximum duty cycle for the power converter. PCMC may be achieved using a comparator that compares peak input current to an error feedback signal and terminates a pulse-width modulation (PWM) pulse when the peak input current exceeds the error feedback signal. A magnetic signal transformer may be used to establish a secondary side bias voltage supply, to return the error signal, and to drive an AC-coupled signal for a synchronous gate drive. A synchronous switch may be turned on when the main switch is turned off via an output winding of the flyback transformer and may be turned off by the trailing edge of a clock pulse from the magnetic signal transformer before the main switch is turned on.

A system for communicating information between circuits is described. A transmit circuit provides pulse-amplitude-modulation (PAM) signals via a communication channel to a receiver. A circuit in the receiver determines digital values from the received signals using a time-varying threshold voltage, which varies during the bit-time. This approach may compensate for inter-symbol interference (ISI) to increase the voltage and timing margins of the system.

A system for communicating information between circuits is described. A transmit circuit provides pulse-amplitude-modulation (PAM) signals via a communication channel to a receiver. A circuit in the receiver determines digital values from the received signals using a time-varying threshold voltage, which varies during the bit-time. This approach may compensate for inter-symbol interference (ISI) to increase the voltage and timing margins of the system.

A semiconductor device includes an input determination circuit. The input determination circuit includes: a comparator that is driven based on a first reference potential and includes an input voltage terminal and a reference voltage terminal; a reference voltage generation circuit that inputs a reference voltage that is generated from a connection point between a constant current source and a resistor to the reference voltage terminal of the comparator, the constant current source and the resistor being interposed between a second reference potential that is separated from the first reference potential and a third potential that is higher than the first reference potential and the second reference potential; and a first low pass filter that is interposed between a signal input system that is connected to the input voltage terminal of the comparator and the second reference potential.

A semiconductor device includes an input determination circuit. The input determination circuit includes: a comparator that is driven based on a first reference potential and includes an input voltage terminal and a reference voltage terminal; a reference voltage generation circuit that inputs a reference voltage that is generated from a connection point between a constant current source and a resistor to the reference voltage terminal of the comparator, the constant current source and the resistor being interposed between a second reference potential that is separated from the first reference potential and a third potential that is higher than the first reference potential and the second reference potential; and a first low pass filter that is interposed between a signal input system that is connected to the input voltage terminal of the comparator and the second reference potential.

A peak detector circuit includes a first capacitor coupled to an inverter and a first switch in parallel with the inverter. An input of the inverter couples to second and third switches. The second switch couples to an input voltage node. The third switch couples to an output voltage node of the peak detector circuit. The peak detector circuit includes a second capacitor coupled to the third switch and a third capacitor coupled to the second capacitor by way of a fourth switch. The third capacitor couples via a fifth switch to a power supply voltage node or a ground. A periodic control signal causes the first, second, and third switches to repeatedly open and close and a second control signal causes the fourth and fifth switches to open and close to adjust an output voltage on the output voltage node towards an input voltage on the input voltage node.

A resistor network with reduced area and/or improved voltage resolution and methods of designing and operating the same are provided. Generally, the resistor network includes a resistor ladder with a first number (n) of integrated resistors coupled in series between a top and a bottom contact, with one or more contacts coupled between adjacent resistors. A second number of integrated resistors is coupled in parallel between the top and bottom contacts, and a third number of integrated resistors is coupled in series between the second integrated resistors and either the top or the bottom contact. Each of the integrated resistors has a resistance of R, and a voltage developed across each resistor in the resistor ladder is equal to a voltage applied between the top and bottom contacts divided by n. Where the second number is n-1, and the third number is 1, the total number of resistors is 2n.