IP Library Granted Patent US 7,592,863
Granted Patent B2
US 7,592,863 · App. 11/755,125 · Granted Sep 22, 2009

Optimized gain filtering technique with noise shaping

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 7,592,863
App. No.
11/755,125
Granted
Sep 22, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A noise shaping and voltage gain filtering third order electrical circuit and method comprises at least one pair of input resistors; a Frequency Dependent Negative Resistance (FDNR) filter positioned in between the at least one pair of input resistors; a feedback resistor; and an amplifier operatively connected to the feedback resistor and the at least one pair of input resistors, wherein as an electrical signal is introduced to the electrical circuit, the FDNR filter is adapted to filter signal blockers out of the electrical signal prior to the electrical signal reaching the amplifier for signal amplification, wherein the FDNR filter does not contribute noise to a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the electrical signal, and wherein a transfer function of the FDNR filter is substantially elliptical in shape.

Claims (43)

1. A noise shaping and voltage gain filtering electrical circuit comprising:

an input terminal that receives an input electrical signal;

a pair of input resistors directly connected to said input terminal;

a filter positioned in between said pair of input resistors and wherein said filter comprises a Frequency Dependent Negative Resistance (FDNR) circuit, a resistor in series with said FDNR circuit, and a first capacitor in parallel with said FDNR circuit and said resistor;

a feedback resistor; and

an amplifier that amplifies said electrical signal, wherein said amplifier is directly connected to said feedback resistor and one of the input resistors,

wherein said FDNR circuit comprises a second capacitor for blocking DC offset in said amplifier,

wherein when said input terminal receives said input electrical signal, said filter creates a short circuit at an out of band region of said electrical signal thereby filtering signal blockers out of said electrical signal prior to said electrical signal reaching said amplifier, and

wherein noise generated by said FDNR circuit and said resistor is high pass filtered by said first capacitor thereby moving said noise to said out of band region of said electrical signal.

2. The circuit of claim 1 arranged in each of a plurality of cascading transconductance stages, wherein said filter of a first stage controls a SNR of said electrical signal in successive stages.

3. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein said filter comprises a signal path and a signal blocker path, wherein said FDNR circuit is positioned only along said signal blocker path.

4. The circuit of claim 3 , wherein said short circuit causes said filter to refrain from contributing noise to a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of said electrical signal.

5. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein said pair of input resistors comprises exactly two input resistors.

6. The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising multiple said pairs of input resistors, wherein a separate said filter is positioned in between all said pairs of input resistors.

7. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein said amplifier comprises any of an operational amplifier, a variable gain amplifier, a trans-resistance amplifier, and a current mode amplifier.

8. A noise shaping and voltage gain filtering third order electrical circuit comprising:

at least one pair of input resistors;

a Frequency Dependent Negative Resistance (FDNR) filter positioned in between said at least one pair of input resistors, wherein said FDNR filter comprises a FDNR circuit, a resistor in series with said FDNR circuit, and a first capacitor in parallel with said FDNR circuit and said resistor;

a feedback resistor; and

an amplifier operatively connected to said feedback resistor and said at least one pair of input resistors,

wherein said FDNR circuit comprises a second capacitor for blocking DC offset in said amplifier,

wherein as an electrical signal is introduced to said electrical circuit, said FDNR filter filters signal blockers out of said electrical signal prior to said electrical signal reaching said amplifier for signal amplification,

wherein noise generated by said FDNR circuit and said resistor is high pass filtered by said first capacitor thereby moving said noise to said out of band region of said electrical signal, and

wherein a transfer function of said FDNR filter is substantially elliptical in shape.

9. The circuit of claim 8 arranged in each of a plurality of cascading transconductance stages, wherein said FDNR filter of a first stage controls a SNR of said electrical signal in successive stages.

10. The circuit of claim 8 , wherein said FDNR filter comprises a signal path and a signal blocker path, wherein said FDNR circuit is positioned only along said signal blocker path.

11. The circuit of claim 10 , wherein said FDNR filter does not contribute noise to a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of said electrical signal.

12. The circuit of claim 8 , wherein said pair of input resistors comprises exactly two input resistors.

13. The circuit of claim 8 , further comprising multiple said pairs of input resistors, wherein a separate said FDNR filter is positioned in between all said pairs of input resistors.

14. The circuit of claim 8 , wherein said amplifier comprises any of an operational amplifier, a variable gain amplifier, a trans-resistance amplifier, and a current mode amplifier.

15. A method of noise shaping and voltage gain filtering an electrical signal, said method comprising:

inputting an electrical signal in an electrical circuit;

passing said electrical signal through a pair of input resistors;

filtering said electrical signal in a filter positioned in between said pair of input resistors, wherein said filter comprises of a Frequency Dependent Negative Resistance (FDNR) circuit, a resistor in series with said FDNR circuit, and a first capacitor in parallel with said FDNR circuit and said resistor such that said filter creates a short circuit at an out of band region of said electrical signal thereby filtering signal blockers out of said electrical signal, wherein said short circuit causes said filter to refrain from contributing noise to a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of said electrical signal; and

amplifying the filtered electrical signal in an amplifier that is directly connected to a feedback resistor and one of the input resistors, wherein said FDNR circuit comprises a second capacitor for blocking DC offset in said amplifier, and wherein noise generated by said FDNR circuit and said resistor is high pass filtered by said first capacitor thereby moving said noise to said out of band region of said electrical signal.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising arranging said electrical circuit in each of a plurality of cascading transconductance stages, wherein said filter of a first stage controls a SNR of said electrical signal in successive stages.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising configuring said filter with a signal path and a signal blocker path, wherein said FDNR circuit is positioned only along said signal blocker path.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein in said filter, said method further comprises:

using said capacitor to high pass filter noise generated by said FDNR circuit thereby moving said noise to said out of band region of said electrical signal.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

passing said electrical signal through multiple pairs of input resistors; and

positioning a separate said filter in between all pairs of input resistors.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising configuring said amplifier as any of an operational amplifier, a variable gain amplifier, a trans-resistance amplifier, and a current mode amplifier.

Assignments (31)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060894/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059863/0400 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059262/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053468/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053466/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0305 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041715/0747 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 6, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ATMEL WIRELESS MCU TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038364/0615 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 6, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
Reel/Frame 038364/0659 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034705/0090 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0517 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0435 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0379 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0242 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0775 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0748 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORPORATION
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0702 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 5, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033689/0195 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 5, 2014
From: ATMEL WIRELESS MCU TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033689/0214 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 1, 2013
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 029956/0891 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 15, 2013
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; NEWPORT MEDIA, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
To: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 029818/0138 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 31, 2012
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 029554/0118 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 31, 2012
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 028299/0903 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2007
From: ELWAN, HASSAN; FAHIM, AMR; YOUSSOUFIAN, EDWARD; EMIRA, AHMED A.; WANG, DEJUN
To: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
Reel/Frame 019354/0647 →