IP Library Granted Patent US 10,727,794
Granted Patent B2
US 10,727,794 · App. 16/188,686 · Granted Jul 28, 2020

Power-on-reset and phase comparator for chopper amplifiers

Inventors: Serban Motoroiu (Campina, RO); James Nolan (Chandler, AZ)
Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
H03F3/26H03F3/387H03F3/45475H03F3/45977H03L7/085H03F2200/153H03F2200/261H03F2200/271H03F2200/333
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,727,794
App. No.
16/188,686
Granted
Jul 28, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus includes an amplifier, an input port, a first modulator circuit connected to the input port, and a correction circuit. The correction circuit is configured to determine a common mode voltage of the input port and receive a first clock signal. The correction circuit is further configured to manipulate, based at least in part upon the common mode voltage of the input port, the first clock signal to generate a second clock signal. The second clock signal is produced for the first modulator circuit. The correction circuit is further configured to determine whether the second clock signal is out of phase with a third clock signal, and, based upon a determination that the second clock signal is out of phase with the third clock signal, reset the second clock signal.

Claims (69)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an amplifier;

an input port;

a first modulator circuit connected to the input port; and

a correction circuit configured to:

determine a common mode voltage of the input port;

receive a first clock signal;

manipulate, based at least in part upon the common mode voltage of the input port, the first clock signal to generate a second clock signal, the second clock signal produced for the first modulator circuit;

determine whether the second clock signal is out of phase with a third clock signal; and

based upon a determination that the second clock signal is out of phase with the third clock signal, reset the second clock signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a feedback port and a second modulator circuit connected to the feedback port, wherein:

the third clock signal is produced for the second modulator circuit; and

the correction circuit is further configured to:

determine a common mode voltage of the feedback port from the second modulator circuit;

determine whether a voltage event of the common mode voltage of the feedback port has occurred; and

reset the second clock signal and reset the third clock signal based upon a determination:

of occurrence of the voltage event of the common mode voltage of the feedback port;

or

that the second clock signal produced is out of phase with the third clock signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a demodulator circuit connected to the amplifier, wherein the third clock signal is produced for the demodulator circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier is of an operational amplifier.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier is of an instrumentation amplifier.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the correction circuit is further configured to determine whether a voltage event of the common mode voltage of the input port has occurred.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the voltage event is an undervoltage, an overvoltage event, or a transient voltage event arising from the common mode voltage of the input port.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the correction circuit is further configured to, based on a determination of occurrence of the voltage event of the common mode voltage of the input port, reset the second clock signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reset of the second clock signal includes a reset of a frequency divider.

10. A method, comprising:

determining a common mode voltage of an input port of an amplifier;

receiving a first clock signal;

manipulating, based at least in part upon the common mode voltage of the input port, the first clock signal to generate a second clock signal, the second clock signal produced for a first modulator circuit of the amplifier;

determining whether the second clock signal is out of phase with a third clock signal; and

based upon a determination that the second clock signal is out of phase with the third clock signal, resetting the second clock signal.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the third clock signal is produced for a second modulator circuit of the amplifier, and the method further comprises:

determining a common mode voltage of a feedback port from the second modulator circuit;

determining whether a voltage event of the common mode voltage of the feedback port has occurred; and

resetting the second clock signal and resetting the third clock signal based upon a determination:

of occurrence of the voltage event of the common mode voltage of the feedback port; or

that the second clock signal produced is out of phase with the third clock signal.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the third clock signal is produced for a demodulator circuit of the amplifier.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining whether a voltage event of the common mode voltage of the input port has occurred.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the voltage event is an undervoltage, an overvoltage event, or a transient voltage event arising from the common mode voltage of the input port.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, based on a determination of occurrence of the voltage event of the common mode voltage of the input port, resetting the second clock signal.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the reset of the second clock signal includes a reset of a frequency divider.

17. A system, comprising:

an amplifier;

an input port;

a first modulator circuit connected to the input port; and

a correction circuit configured to:

determine a common mode voltage of the input port;

receive a first clock signal;

manipulate, based at least in part upon the common mode voltage of the input port, the first clock signal to generate a second clock signal, the second clock signal produced for the first modulator circuit;

determine whether the second clock signal is out of phase with a third clock signal; and

based upon a determination that the second clock signal is out of phase with the third clock signal, reset the second clock signal.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a feedback port and a second modulator circuit connected to the feedback port, wherein:

the third clock signal is produced for the second modulator circuit; and

the correction circuit is further configured to:

determine a common mode voltage of the feedback port from the second modulator circuit;

determine whether a voltage event of the common mode voltage of the feedback port has occurred; and

reset the second clock signal and reset the third clock signal based upon a determination:

of occurrence of the voltage event of the common mode voltage of the feedback port;

or

that the second clock signal produced is out of phase with the third clock signal.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein:

the correction circuit is further configured to determine whether a voltage event of the common mode voltage of the input port has occurred; and

the voltage event is an undervoltage, an overvoltage event, or a transient voltage event arising from the common mode voltage of the input port.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the correction circuit is further configured to:

determine a common mode voltage of the feedback port from the second modulator circuit;

determine whether a voltage event of the common mode voltage of the feedback port has occurred; and

based on a determination of occurrence of the voltage event of the common mode voltage of the input port, reset the second clock signal.

Assignments (16)
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 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 059358/0335 →
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 059357/0823 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 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 059263/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 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 059264/0384 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 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 058214/0238 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
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 058214/0380 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 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 058214/0625 →
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: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052856/0909 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2018
From: MOTOROIU, SERBAN; NOLAN, JAMES
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 047483/0433 →