IP Library Granted Patent US 10,158,368
Granted Patent B2
US 10,158,368 · App. 15/997,336 · Granted Dec 18, 2018

Digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with partial constant switching

Inventors: Gaurav Chandra (Carlsbad, CA); Tao Zeng (Carlsbad, CA); Shantha Murthy Prem Swaroop (Carlsbad, CA); Jianyu Zhu (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: MAXLINEAR, INC.
H03M1/0624H03M1/66
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,158,368
App. No.
15/997,336
Granted
Dec 18, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) controller system may be configured for controlling switching in an associated digital-to-analog converter (DAC), based on a plurality of system inputs that include at least a first system input corresponding to an input applied to the DAC for controlling switching therein, and a second system input that includes a reference control signal. The DAC controller system may include a logic gate circuit that generates a gate output based on two gate inputs that include the first system input and an input set based on the second system input; and a plurality of timing circuits that generate timing outputs for controlling timing of switching in the DAC, which include at least one timing circuit that generates a timing output based on the gate output, with the timing output configured for application in conjunction with and for adjusting a timing output of another timing circuit.

Claims (16)

1. A system comprising:

one or more circuits configured for controlling switching in a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) based on a plurality of system inputs that comprises at least a first system input and a second system input, the one or more circuits comprising:

a logic gate circuit that generates a gate output based on two gate inputs, wherein a first gate input comprises the first system input and a second gate input that is set based on the second system input; and

a plurality of timing circuits that generate timing outputs for controlling timing of switching in the DAC, wherein:

a first timing circuit of the plurality timing circuits receives the first system input and the second system input, and generates a corresponding first timing output; and

a second timing circuit of the plurality of timing circuits receives the gate output and the second system input, and generates a corresponding second timing output;

wherein the first system input comprises an input applied to the DAC for controlling switching in the DAC, and the second system input comprises a reference control signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic gate circuit comprises an exclusive logical nor (XNOR) gate.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first timing circuit comprises a re-timing flip-flop circuit.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second timing circuit comprises a re-timing flip-flop circuit.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the reference control signal comprises a clock signal.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the second gate input is set as a ratio of the clock signal.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the ratio of the clock signal is one-half (½).

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first timing circuit and the second timing circuit are configured to apply the corresponding first timing output and second timing output together for adjusting the switching in the DAC.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second timing circuit is configured to generate the second timing output such that it adjusts timing of switching controlled based on the first timing output to ensure constant switching.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the DAC comprises a plurality of elements, and wherein the plurality of timing circuits generate the timing outputs to control or adjust switching in only one or more of the plurality of elements.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 9, 2021
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; EXAR CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 056816/0089 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2021
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.; EXAR CORPORATION; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 056656/0204 →
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY (REEL 052777 / FRAME 0216) Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053116/0418 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2020
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; EXAR CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 052777/0216 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2018
From: CHANDRA, GAURAV; ZENG, TAO; SWAROOP, SHANTHA MURTHY PREM; ZHU, JIANYU
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 045988/0356 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15790343 · Oct 23, 2017
Continuation 15130602 · Apr 15, 2016
Provisional Application 62148479 · Apr 16, 2015
Related Publication 20180287624A1 · Oct 4, 2018