IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,414,467
Granted Patent B2
US 7,414,467 · App. 11/599,772 · Granted Aug 19, 2008

Circuit configuration having a feedback, fully-differential operational amplifier

Assignee: National Semiconductor Germany AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,414,467
App. No.
11/599,772
Granted
Aug 19, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a circuit configuration having a feedback operational amplifier (AMP), which is implemented as fully differential, for amplifying an input signal differentially input to the circuit configuration and for outputting the amplified input signal as a differential output signal. In order to increase the freedom in setting the input common mode voltage, according to the present invention, a combination made of a coupling resistor (R 1 b ) and a level shifter (I 1 b , Nsfb) connecting the positive amplifier output (y 1 ) to the inverting amplifier input (x 2 ) and a combination made of a coupling resistor (R 1 a ) and a level shifter (I 1 a , Nsfa) connecting the negative amplifier output (y 2 ) to the noninverting amplifier input (x 1 ) are provided.

Claims (16)

1. A circuit configuration having a circuit input (inp, inn) for an input signal to be amplified and a circuit output (outn, outp) for outputting the amplified input signal as an output signal,

the circuit configuration having a operational amplifier (AMP) implemented as fully-differential, having a noninverting amplifier input (x 1 ), an inverting amplifier input (x 2 ), a positive amplifier output (y 1 ) and a negative amplifier output (y 2 ),

the circuit input (inp, inn) being connected via coupling paths to the amplifier inputs (x 1 , x 2 ) and the amplifier outputs (y 1 , y 2 ) being connected via decoupling paths to the circuit output (outp, outn) and via feedback paths to the amplifier inputs (x 2 , x 1 ),

characterized by a combination made of a coupling resistor (R 1 b ) and a level shifter (I 1 b , Nsfb) connecting the positive amplifier output (y 1 ) to the inverting amplifier input (x 2 ) and a combination made of a coupling resistor (R 1 a ) and a level shifter (I 1 a , Nsfa) connecting the negative amplifier output (y 2 ) to the noninverting amplifier input (x 1 ).

2. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the coupling paths are formed by impedances having a capacitive component.

3. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the feedback paths are formed by impedances having a capacitive component.

4. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling resistors (R 1 a , R 1 b ) are each implemented as an ohmic resistor having a resistance value of more than 1 MΩ.

5. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the two level shifters (I 1 a , Nsfa, I 1 b , Nsfb) each comprise a transistor (Nsfa, Nsfb) powered using a constant current source (I 1 a , I 1 b ).

6. The circuit configuration according to claim 5 , wherein the transistor (Nsfa, Nsfb) is an FET.

7. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the two level shifters (I 1 a , Nsfa, I 1 b , Nsfb) are constructed identically.

8. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the operational amplifier (AMP) has a setting input for setting the output common mode voltage (Vcm).

9. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the operational amplifier (AMP) is connected to a first supply potential (GND) and a second supply potential (vdd) for its supply and the output common mode voltage (Vcm) is set as a predetermined fraction of the supply voltage (vdd-GND).

10. The circuit configuration according to claim 9 , wherein the fraction is in the range from 40% to 60%.

11. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the operational amplifier (AMP) is connected to a first supply potential (GND) and a second supply potential (vdd) for its supply and the output common mode voltage (Vcm) is set as the supply voltage (vdd-GND) reduced by a predetermined reduction voltage.

12. The circuit configuration according to claim 11 , wherein the reduction voltage is in the range from 40 to 60% of a rated supply voltage (vdd-GND) of the operational amplifier (AMP).

13. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling paths for changing a circuit amplification each comprise impedances (C 3 a , C 3 b ) which are each connectable and disconnectable via a transistor (Nsa, Nsb).

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 22, 2007
From: XIGNAL TECHNOLOGIES AG
To: NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR GERMANY AG
Reel/Frame 019991/0905 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2006
From: BLON, THOMAS
To: XIGNAL TECHNOLOGIES AG
Reel/Frame 018589/0556 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2005 055 426 · Nov 21, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070115050A1 · May 24, 2007