Large time constant steering circuit and instrumentation amplifier implementing same

1. A large time constant steering circuit for slowly changing a voltage on a node between at least two discrete voltage levels, the circuit comprising:

an input node for receiving an input voltage;

an output node for presenting an output voltage;

a capacitive element connected at the output node for providing the output voltage; and

a resistive element connected between the input and output nodes for conducting a current between the input node and the capacitive element, the direction of the current depending on the input voltage,

wherein the resistive element includes a semiconductor structure between the input node and the capacitive element, the semiconductor structure remaining in a substantially non-conducting state irrespective of the input and output voltages, and passing only leakage currents toward the capacitive element for charging the capacitive element and from the capacitive element for discharging the capacitive element.

2. The large time constant steering circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor structure comprises a first component in series with a second component, the first component being provided for remaining in the substantially non-conducting state and passing the leakage currents while charging, and the second component being provided for remaining in the substantially non-conducting state and passing the leakage currents while discharging.

3. The large time constant steering circuit according to claim 1 wherein the semiconductor structure comprises:

a first transistor having a first conductive path in a first direction and a first gate for triggering the first conductive path; and

a second transistor having a second conductive path in a second direction and a second gate for triggering the second conductive path,

the first and second conductive paths being connected in series between the input node and the capacitive element such that the first direction is opposite to the second direction, and

the first and second gates being connected to a fixed voltage level for avoiding triggering of respectively the first and second conductive paths, thereby maintaining respectively the first and second transistors in the substantially non-conducting state.

4. The large time constant steering circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the first and second transistors are provided on a common substrate.

5. The large time constant steering circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the first and second transistors are p-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistors with shorted source and bulk regions, the first and second gates being jointly connected to a supply voltage level.

6. The large time constant steering circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the first and second gates are further connected to a ground level for fast steering purposes.

7. A slow steering current digital to analog converter (DAC) comprising a current source providing a current to a first branch and a second branch, wherein each branch includes a pass gate connected to the output node of a large time constant steering circuit according to claim 1 for controlling a current passing through each branch.

8. The slow steering current DAC according to claim 7 , wherein each branch further comprises a cascade transistor for increasing an output impedance of the current DAC.