IP Library Granted Patent US 8,041,056
Granted Patent B2
US 8,041,056 · App. 11/203,968 · Granted Oct 18, 2011

Voltage supply circuit and microphone unit comprising the same

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 8,041,056
App. No.
11/203,968
Granted
Oct 18, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A voltage supply circuit comprises a voltage control circuit for outputting a bias voltage control signal according to a set value based on a bias voltage of a sensor and a voltage generation circuit for generating the bias voltage to be applied to the sensor based on the bias voltage control signal.

Claims (32)

1. A voltage supply circuit comprising:

a voltage control circuit which outputs a bias voltage control signal according to a set value based on a bias voltage applied to a sensor; and

a voltage generation circuit which generates the bias voltage applied to the sensor based on the bias voltage control signal,

wherein the voltage control circuit generates the bias voltage control signal based on a sensitivity adjustment signal supplied to a terminal for sensitivity adjustment of the voltage control circuit from a source external to the voltage control circuit.

2. The voltage supply circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the voltage control circuit comprises a storage circuit for holding the set value.

3. The voltage supply circuit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the storage circuit stores the set value responding to a set value holding signal input to the terminal for sensitivity adjustment of the voltage control circuit.

4. The voltage supply circuit as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the storage circuit stores a plurality of set values, and the voltage control circuit selects an arbitrary set value out of the plurality of set values based on a sensitivity switching signal, and outputs a bias voltage control signal corresponding to the selected set value.

5. The voltage supply circuit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the storage circuit stores a plurality of set values, and the voltage control circuit selects a set value out of the plurality of set values based on a sensitivity switching signal, and outputs the bias voltage control signal corresponding to the selected set value.

6. The voltage supply circuit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the storage circuit stores a plurality of set values, and the voltage control circuit selects a set value out of the plurality of set values based on a sensitivity switching signal, and outputs a bias voltage control signal corresponding to the selected set value.

7. A voltage supply circuit comprising:

a voltage control circuit which outputs a bias voltage control signal according to a set value based on a bias voltage of a sensor; and

a voltage generation circuit which generates the bias voltage to be applied to the sensor based on the bias voltage control signal,

wherein the voltage generation circuit comprises a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit which outputs a clock pulse based on the bias voltage control signal, and a charge pump circuit which generates the bias voltage based on the clock pulse output by the PWM circuit.

8. A voltage supply circuit comprising:

a voltage control circuit which outputs a bias voltage control signal according to a set value based on a bias voltage of a sensor; and

a voltage generation circuit which generates the bias voltage to be applied to the sensor based on the bias voltage control signal,

wherein the voltage control circuit comprises a storage circuit for holding the set value, and

wherein the voltage generation circuit comprises a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit which outputs a clock pulse based on the bias voltage control signal, and a charge pump circuit which generates the bias voltage based on the clock pulse output by the PWM circuit.

9. The voltage supply circuit as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the voltage control circuit comprises a PWM duty control circuit which generates the bias voltage control signal based on a sensitivity adjustment signal input via a terminal for sensitivity adjustment of the voltage control circuit.

10. The voltage supply circuit as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the voltage generation circuit further comprises a change pump stage count switching circuit for switching the number of boosting stages of the charge pump circuit.

11. A microphone unit, comprising:

a microphone to which bias voltage is supplied;

a voltage generation circuit which boosts a power supply voltage and generates the bias voltage based on a bias voltage control signal; and

a voltage control circuit which outputs the bias voltage control signal based on a set value of the bias voltage,

wherein the voltage control circuit generates the bias voltage control signal based on a sensitivity adjustment signal supplied to a terminal for sensitivity adjustment of the voltage control circuit from a source external to the voltage control circuit.

12. The microphone unit as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the voltage control circuit further comprises a storage circuit which stores the set value of the bias voltage.

13. The microphone unit as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the storage circuit stores a plurality of set values of the bias voltage.

14. The microphone unit as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the voltage control circuit stores a set value of the bias voltage based on a signal input to the terminal for sensitivity adjustment.

15. The microphone unit as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the voltage control circuit stores a set value of the bias voltage based on a signal input to the terminal for sensitivity adjustment.

16. A sensitivity adjustment device for a microphone unit which comprises a condenser microphone and a voltage supply circuit which supplies a bias voltage based on a set value to the condenser microphone, comprising:

a comparator which compares an output voltage of the condenser microphone with a reference voltage; and,

a control instruction generation circuit which outputs a sensitivity adjustment instruction which adjusts the output voltage of the condenser microphone based on a comparison result of the reference voltage and the output voltage of the condenser microphone, and outputs a storing instruction for storing the set value based on the adjusted output voltage.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044928/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 11, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025346/0886 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2005
From: KINOSHITA, HIROSHIGE
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016898/0692 →