The present invention relates to a novel and inventive compound device structure, enabling a charge-based approach that takes advantage of sub-threshold operation, for designing analog CMOS circuits. In particular, the present invention relates to a solid state device based on a complementary pair of n-type and p-type current field-effect transistors, each of which has two control ports, namely a low impedance port and gate control port, while a conventional solid state device has one control port, namely gate control port. This novel solid state device provides various improvement over the conventional devices.

The present invention relates to a novel and inventive compound device structure, enabling a charge-based approach that takes advantage of sub-threshold operation, for designing analog CMOS circuits. In particular, the present invention relates to a solid state device based on a complementary pair of n-type and p-type current field-effect transistors, each of which has two control ports, namely a low impedance port and gate control port, while a conventional solid state device has one control port, namely gate control port. This novel solid state device provides various improvement over the conventional devices.

An amplifier includes an input terminal for receiving an input signal, an output terminal for outputting an output signal, a first transistor, a second transistor having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the first transistor, a third transistor having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the second transistor, a capacitor coupled between a control terminal and a second terminal of the third transistor, a bias circuit coupled to the first terminal of the third transistor for providing a bias voltage to the third transistor, a fourth transistor having a first terminal coupled to the input terminal and a second terminal coupled to the output terminal for providing a bypass path, and a fifth transistor having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first transistor and a second terminal coupled to the output terminal.

An amplifier includes an input terminal for receiving an input signal, an output terminal for outputting an output signal, a first transistor, a second transistor having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the first transistor, a third transistor having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the second transistor, a capacitor coupled between a control terminal and a second terminal of the third transistor, a bias circuit coupled to the first terminal of the third transistor for providing a bias voltage to the third transistor, a fourth transistor having a first terminal coupled to the input terminal and a second terminal coupled to the output terminal for providing a bypass path, and a fifth transistor having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first transistor and a second terminal coupled to the output terminal.

The current-to-voltage converter includes an input for the current to be converted, an output for the converted voltage, a current-to-voltage conversion resistor arranged between the output and a reference potential, a processing circuit including a transistor, the input being connected to the output via the transistor, a twin circuit including components identical to and disposed in a similar way to those of the processing circuit, a voltage follower connected at the input to the processing circuit and at the output to the twin circuit, and means for reinjecting the current at the output of the follower into the processing circuit.

The current-to-voltage converter includes an input for the current to be converted, an output for the converted voltage, a current-to-voltage conversion resistor arranged between the output and a reference potential, a processing circuit including a transistor, the input being connected to the output via the transistor, a twin circuit including components identical to and disposed in a similar way to those of the processing circuit, a voltage follower connected at the input to the processing circuit and at the output to the twin circuit, and means for reinjecting the current at the output of the follower into the processing circuit.

The input stage (16) of a high-fidelity amplifier (10) with high linearity and a low distortion rate comprises:—an input (12) for the digital signal to be converted;—a voltage output (26) for the converted voltage;—a digital/analog converter (20), the input of which forms the input (12) for the digital signal to be converted, the digital/analog converter (20) having access to a signal terminal (24);—a voltage current conversion resistor (36) arranged between the voltage output (26) and a reference potential; and—a current/voltage converter (22) that has a voltage output and is arranged between the signal terminal (24) and the voltage outlet (26). The current/voltage converter (22) comprises a transistor (46). The source of the transistor (46) is only connected to the signal terminal (24) of the digital/analog converter (20).

The input stage (16) of a high-fidelity amplifier (10) with high linearity and a low distortion rate comprises:—an input (12) for the digital signal to be converted;—a voltage output (26) for the converted voltage;—a digital/analog converter (20), the input of which forms the input (12) for the digital signal to be converted, the digital/analog converter (20) having access to a signal terminal (24);—a voltage current conversion resistor (36) arranged between the voltage output (26) and a reference potential; and—a current/voltage converter (22) that has a voltage output and is arranged between the signal terminal (24) and the voltage outlet (26). The current/voltage converter (22) comprises a transistor (46). The source of the transistor (46) is only connected to the signal terminal (24) of the digital/analog converter (20).

Split cascade circuits include multiple cascade paths coupled between voltage supply rails. Each cascade path includes a pair of controllable switches. A feedback path is provided for at least one of the cascade circuit paths. An active load circuit may also have a split cascade structure. Multiple-stage circuits, for implementation in Trans-Impedance Amplifiers (TIAs) or analog Receive Front-End modules (RXFEs), for example, include multiple stages of split cascade circuits.

Split cascade circuits include multiple cascade paths coupled between voltage supply rails. Each cascade path includes a pair of controllable switches. A feedback path is provided for at least one of the cascade circuit paths. An active load circuit may also have a split cascade structure. Multiple-stage circuits, for implementation in Trans-Impedance Amplifiers (TIAs) or analog Receive Front-End modules (RXFEs), for example, include multiple stages of split cascade circuits.