IP Library Granted Patent US 6,946,918
Granted Patent B2
US 6,946,918 · App. 10/340,598 · Granted Sep 20, 2005

Differential voltage to current converter having transistors of different sizes

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,946,918
App. No.
10/340,598
Granted
Sep 20, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A voltage/current converting circuit has a differential circuit. The differential circuit has a first input terminal coupled to receive an input voltage signal, a second input terminal coupled to receive a reference voltage signal and an output terminal for outputting an electrical current in response to a comparison of the input voltage signal and the reference voltage signal. The differential circuit includes first and second transistors. The first transistor has a control terminal connected to the first input terminal and has a first dimension. The second transistor has a control terminal connected to the second input terminal and has a second dimension that is different from the first dimension.

Claims (39)

1. A voltage/current converting circuit comprising:

a differential circuit having a first input terminal coupled to receive an input voltage signal, a second input terminal coupled to receive a reference voltage signal and an output terminal for outputting an electrical current in response to a comparison of the input voltage signal and the reference voltage signal, the differential circuit comprising:

a first transistor having a control terminal connected to the first input terminal, the first transistor having a first dimension; and

a second transistor having a control terminal connected to the second input terminal, the second transistor having a second dimension that is different from the first dimension; and,

a current mirror circuit connected to the output terminal, wherein the current mirror circuit comprises:

a third transistor, which is a MOS transistor, having a source connected to a power supply voltage source and a drain and a control terminal connected to a drain of the first transistor; and

a fourth transistor, which is a MOS transistor, having a source connected to the power supply voltage source and a drain connected to the output terminal and a control terminal connected to the control terminal of the third transistor.

2. A voltage/current converting circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the first dimension is greater than the second dimension.

3. A voltage/current converting circuit according to claim 2 , wherein a proportion of the first dimension and the second dimension is 2:1.

4. A voltage/current converting circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second transistors are MOS transistors, and wherein the differential circuit further comprises a constant electric current source connected between sources of the first and second transistors and ground.

5. A phase synchronizing circuit comprising:

a phase comparator receiving an input signal and a feedback signal, the phase comparator determining a phase difference of the received signals and outputting a phase difference signal;

a charge pump circuit connected to the phase comparator, the charge pump circuit providing a first electric current in response to the phase difference signal;

a loop filter connected to the charge pump circuit, the loop filter generating an internal signal having a control voltage determined by the first electric current;

a voltage/current converting circuit comprising a differential circuit having a first input terminal coupled to receive the internal signal, a second input terminal coupled to receive a reference voltage signal and an output terminal for outputting a second electrical current in response to a comparison of the internal signal and the reference voltage signal, the differential circuit comprising:

a first transistor having a control terminal connected to the first input terminal, the first transistor having a first dimension, and

a second transistor having a control terminal connected to the second input terminal, the second transistor having a second dimension that is different from the first dimension; and

a current control oscillator connected to the voltage/current converting circuit, the voltage control oscillator generating an oscillating signal having a frequency according to the second electrical current; and

a frequency dividing circuit connected to the voltage control oscillator, the frequency dividing circuit dividing a frequency of the oscillating signal so as to generate the feedback signal.

6. A phase synchronizing circuit according to claim 5 , wherein the first dimension is greater than the second dimension.

7. A phase synchronizing circuit according to claim 6 , wherein a proportion of the first dimension and the second dimension is 2:1.

8. A phase synchronizing circuit according to claim 5 , wherein the differential circuit further comprises a current mirror circuit connected to the output terminal thereof.

9. A phase synchronizing circuit according to claim 8 , wherein the current mirror circuit comprises:

a third transistor, which is a MOS transistor, having a source connected to a power supply voltage source and a drain and a control terminal connected to a drain of the first transistor, and

a fourth transistor, which is a MOS transistor, having a source connected to the power supply voltage source and a drain connected to the output terminal and a control terminal connected to the control terminal of the third transistor.

10. A phase synchronizing circuit according to claim 5 , wherein the first and second transistors are MOS transistors; and wherein the differential circuit further comprises a constant electric current source connected between sources of the first and second transistors and ground.

11. A voltage/current converting circuit comprising:

a first input terminal coupled to receive an input voltage signal;

a second input terminal coupled to receive a reference voltage signal;

an output terminal for providing an output electrical current;

a current mirror circuit connected to the output terminal and a power supply voltage source, the current mirror circuit providing an electrical current in response to an internal electrical current;

a differential circuit connected to the current mirror circuit, the power supply voltage source and the first and second input terminals, the differential circuit providing the internal current in response to a comparison of the input voltage signal and the reference voltage signal, the differential circuit comprising:

a first transistor, which is a MOS transistor, having a control terminal connected to the first input terminal, the first transistor having a first dimension; and

a second transistor having a control terminal connected to the second input terminal, the second transistor having a second dimension that is different from the first dimension, and wherein a proportion of the first dimension and the second dimension is 2:1.

12. A voltage/current converting circuit according to claim 11 , wherein the first dimension is greater than the second dimension.

13. A voltage/current converting circuit according to claim 11 , wherein the current mirror circuit includes,

a third transistor having a source connected to the power supply voltage source, a drain for providing the internal electrical current and a control terminal connected to the drain thereof, and

a fourth transistor having a source connected to the power supply voltage source and a drain connected to the output terminal and a control terminal connected to the control terminal of the third transistor.

14. A voltage/current converting circuit according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second transistors are MOS transistors, further comprising a constant electric current source connected between sources of the first and second transistors and ground.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 20, 2008
From: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD
To: OKI SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 021901/0913 →