IP Library Granted Patent US 8,258,452
Granted Patent B2
US 8,258,452 · App. 12/591,930 · Granted Sep 4, 2012

Light receiving circuit

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 8,258,452
App. No.
12/591,930
Granted
Sep 4, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a light receiving circuit including: a photodiode; a first amplifier including a feedback resistor connected between an input and an output of an inverting amplifier and having an input connected to a cathode of the photodiode; a second amplifier having a configuration similar to that of the first amplifier and having an input connected to an anode of the photodiode; a capacitor element connected between an output of the first amplifier and the input of the second amplifier; and a bias current control circuit that outputs a bias current to the input of the second amplifier according to a current value of the photocurrent, and controls an output voltage signal of the light receiving circuit according to an output of the second amplifier by using the bias current to adjust the sensitivity. The bias current control circuit changes the sensitivity according to the output of the second amplifier.

Claims (20)

1. A light receiving circuit comprising:

a photodiode that outputs a photocurrent in response to a received light signal;

a first amplifier including a feedback resistor connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of an inverting amplifier, and having an input terminal connected to a cathode of the photodiode;

a second amplifier having a configuration similar to that of the first amplifier, and having an input terminal connected to an anode of the photodiode;

a capacitor element connected between an output terminal of the first amplifier and the input terminal of the second amplifier; and

a bias current control circuit that outputs a bias current to the input terminal of the second amplifier according to a current value of the photocurrent, and controls an output voltage signal according to an output of the second amplifier by using the bias current to adjust sensitivity of the light receiving circuit,

wherein the bias current control circuit changes the sensitivity according to the output of the second amplifier.

2. The light receiving circuit according to claim 1 , wherein

the bias current control circuit comprises a third amplifier having a configuration similar to that of the first amplifier, and

the third amplifier outputs the bias current according to the current value of the photocurrent.

3. The light receiving circuit according to claim 2 , further comprising a fourth amplifier that has a configuration similar to that of the first amplifier and outputs a signal according to the output of the second amplifier,

wherein a control terminal of an output transistor of the third amplifier and a control terminal of an output transistor of the fourth amplifier are connected to each other.

4. The light receiving circuit according to claim 1 , wherein

the first amplifier comprises a first transistor serving as an input transistor, a second transistor serving as an output transistor, and first to third resistors,

the first resistor has one terminal connected to a first power supply voltage terminal, and another terminal connected to a first node,

the first transistor has one terminal connected to the first node, another terminal connected to a second power supply voltage terminal, and a control terminal connected to the input terminal of the first amplifier,

the second transistor has one terminal connected to the first power supply voltage terminal, another terminal connected to the output terminal of the first amplifier, and a control terminal connected to the first node,

the second resistor has one terminal connected to the output terminal of the first amplifier, and another terminal connected to the second power supply voltage terminal, and

the third resistor has one terminal connected to the input terminal of the first amplifier, and another terminal connected to the output terminal of the first amplifier.

5. The light receiving circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the light receiving circuit is used on a reception side of the photocoupler.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 26, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025193/0147 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2009
From: OKU, SETSUYA
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023658/0738 →