An interface circuit includes an input circuit. The input circuit includes a first input pin, a second input pin and a third input pin. The input circuit further includes a first operational amplifier including a first output pin, a first non-inverting input pin electrically coupled to the first input pin via a first impedance and a first switch, and a first inverting input pin coupled to the first output pin. The input circuit also includes a second operational amplifier including a second output pin, a second non-inverting input electrically coupled to the second input pin via a second impedance and a second inverting input pin electrically coupled to the third input pin via a third impedance and a second switch. The first input pin and the second input pin are electrically coupled via a third switch and a fourth impedance.

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor circuit includes a first transimpedance amplifier and a second transimpedance amplifier. The first transimpedance amplifier is configured to convert an input current to a first output voltage and output the first output voltage from a first output terminal when a reference voltage is supplied to a first input terminal and the input current is supplied to a second input terminal. The second transimpedance amplifier has a circuit configuration similar to a circuit configuration of the first transimpedance amplifier. The second transimpedance amplifier is configured to output a second output voltage from a second output terminal when the reference voltage is supplied to a third input terminal.

A data output device is provided. The data output device includes a converter circuit configured to generate a conversion signal based on an output signal; a boosting circuit configured to generate a boosting signal based on the output signal; and an output circuit configured to generate the output signal based on an input signal and a feedback signal, the feedback signal being based on the conversion signal and the boosting signal.

The present technology relates to a comparator that can easily modify operating point potential of the comparator, and an imaging device. A pixel signal output from a pixel, and, a reference signal with changeable voltage are input to a differential pair. A current mirror connected to the differential pair, and a voltage drop mechanism allowed to cause a predetermined voltage drop is connected between a transistor that configures the differential pair, and a transistor that configures the current mirror. A switch is connected in parallel to the voltage drop mechanism. The present technology can be applied, for example, to an image sensor that captures an image.

The present disclosure provides for process and temperature compensation in a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) using a dual replica via monitoring an output of a first TIA (transimpedance amplifier) and a second TIA; configuring a first gain level of the first TIA based on a feedback resistance and a reference current applied at an input to the first TIA; configuring a second gain level of the second TIA and a third TIA based on a control voltage; and amplifying a received electrical current to generate an output voltage using the third TIA according to the second gain level. In some embodiments, one or both of the second TIA and the third TIA include a configurable feedback impedance used in compensating for changes in the second gain level due to a temperature of the respective second or third TIA via the configurable feedback impedance of the respective second or third TIA.

A sub-ranging programmable gain amplifier resolves an incoming signal into one of multiple amplitude sub-ranges and dynamically steps down the PGA output according to the identified sub-range.

A current amplifying circuit includes a first FET transistor, a light receiving unit and a functional unit. The light receiving unit is connected with a first gate terminal of the first FET transistor through an enabling line. The functional unit is connected with a second conduction terminal of the first FET transistor. When the light receiving unit absorbs a light beam, a forward photoelectric current or a reverse photoelectric current is generated. The forward photoelectric current or the reverse photoelectric current flows to the first gate terminal through the enabling line. Consequently, an enabling voltage at the first gate terminal is increased and the first FET transistor is turned on. When the first FET transistor is turned on, an enabling current flows through the first FET transistor to enable the functional unit.

A disclosed comparator includes a comparison circuit including a differential unit that compares an input signal with a reference signal and changes a level of a signal output to a first node in accordance with a result of comparison and an amplifier unit that includes a load element and outputs a signal in accordance with a potential of the first node to a second node, and a positive feedback circuit that is connected to the second node and a third node and changes a level of a signal at the third node at a rate higher than a change rate of a level of a signal at the second node in accordance with a change in a level of a signal at the second node.

The present technology relates to a comparator that can easily modify operating point potential of the comparator, and an imaging device. A pixel signal output from a pixel, and, a reference signal with changeable voltage are input to a differential pair. A current mirror connected to the differential pair, and a voltage drop mechanism allowed to cause a predetermined voltage drop is connected between a transistor that configures the differential pair, and a transistor that configures the current mirror. A switch is connected in parallel to the voltage drop mechanism. The present technology can be applied, for example, to an image sensor that captures an image.

A transimpedance amplifier circuit (1) includes an amplifier (22) that amplifies a received signal, an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit (2) that controls the amplification gain of the amplifier by a first time constant in accordance with the level of the received signal, and a first selection circuit (25) that selects the first time constant from a plurality of predetermined values. This can simultaneously implement a short time constant of an AGC function necessary to instantaneously respond to a burst signal and a long time constant of the AGC function necessary to obtain a satisfactory bit error rate (BER) characteristic in a continuous signal by an inexpensive and compact circuit arrangement.