IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,704,596
Granted Patent B2
US 8,704,596 · App. 13/462,892 · Granted Apr 22, 2014

Difference amplifier arrangement with transconductance amplifier based current compensation

Inventors: Kai Kwan (Tustin, CA); Peter Kim (Huntington Beach, CA)
Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,704,596
App. No.
13/462,892
Granted
Apr 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An amplifier arrangement constituted of: a first input lead; a second input lead; a difference amplifier; a first buffer, the input of the first buffer coupled to the first input lead, the output of the first buffer coupled to a first input of the difference amplifier; a second buffer, the input of the second buffer coupled to the second input lead, the output of the second buffer coupled to a second input of the difference amplifier; and a transconductance amplifier, the non-inverting input and the non-inverted output of the transconductance amplifier coupled to the first input of the difference amplifier, the inverting input and the inverted output of the transconductance amplifier coupled to the second input of the difference amplifier. The input signals are thus buffered and the offset of the buffers are compensated for.

Claims (38)

1. An amplifier arrangement comprising:

a first input lead;

a second input lead;

a difference amplifier;

a first buffer, the input of said first buffer coupled to said first input lead, the output of said first buffer coupled to a first input of said difference amplifier;

a second buffer, the input of said second buffer coupled to said second input lead, the output of said second buffer coupled to a second input of said difference amplifier, wherein each of said first and second buffers comprise a respective transistor and a respective current source arranged as a source follower circuit; and

a transconductance amplifier, the non-inverting input and the non-inverted output of said transconductance amplifier coupled to the first input of said difference amplifier, the inverting input and the inverted output of said transconductance amplifier coupled to the second input of said difference amplifier.

2. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the transconductance amplifier comprises a pair of transistors and a pair of current sources.

3. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the transconductance amplifier comprises a pair of transistors and a pair of current sources, each of said current sources connected to the emitter of a respective one of said transistors, and a resistor coupled between the emitters of the transistors.

4. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said difference amplifier comprises an operational amplifier, a feedback resistor, and a matched pair of input resistors.

5. A method of amplifying the difference between input signals, the method comprising:

providing a first source follower circuit;

providing a second source follower circuit;

receiving a first signal;

receiving a second signal;

buffering said first signal with said provided first source follower circuit;

buffering said second signal with said provided second source follower circuit;

converting and amplifying the difference between said first buffered signal and said second buffered signal to generate a correction current;

providing said correction current to said first and second source follower circuits so as to substantially cancel any generated offset; and

amplifying the difference between said buffered first signal and said buffered second signal.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

providing a transconductance amplifier,

said provided transconductance amplifier arrange to provide said converting and amplifying.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

providing an operational amplifier,

said provided operational amplifier arranged to provide said amplifying the difference between said buffered first signal and said buffered second signal.

8. An amplifier arrangement comprising:

a means for receiving a first signal;

a means for receiving a second signal;

a difference amplifier;

a first buffer, the input of said first buffer coupled to said means for receiving a first signal, the output of said first buffer coupled to a first input of said difference amplifier;

a second buffer, the input of said second buffer coupled to said means for receiving a second signal, the output of said second buffer coupled to a second input of said difference amplifier; and

a transconductance amplifier comprising a pair of transistors and a pair of current sources, the non-inverting input and the non-inverted output of said transconductance amplifier coupled to the first input of said difference amplifier, the inverting input and the inverted output of said transconductance amplifier coupled to the second input of said difference amplifier.

9. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein each of said current sources of said transconductance amplifier are connected to the emitter of a respective one of said transistors of said transconductance amplifier, and wherein the transconductance amplifier further comprises a resistor coupled between the emitters of the transistors of said transconductance amplifier.

10. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 9 , wherein each of said buffers comprises a respective transistor and a current source arranged as a source follower circuit.

11. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 10 , wherein said difference amplifier comprises an operational amplifier, a feedback resistor, and a matched pair of input resistors.

12. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein each of said buffers comprises a respective transistor and a current source arranged as a source follower circuit.

13. The amplifier arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein said difference amplifier comprises an operational amplifier, a feedback resistor, and a matched pair of input resistors.

Assignments (17)
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 11, 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 059363/0001 →
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 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 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 059333/0222 →
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: 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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
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 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
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 046426/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2018
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.), INC.; MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION; MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; MICROSEMI SOC CORP.; MICROSEMI CORP. - POWER PRODUCTS GROUP; MICROSEMI CORP. - RF INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS
Reel/Frame 046251/0391 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2016
From: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC. (F/K/A LEGERITY, INC., ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR (V.N.) INC., CENTELLAX, INC., AND ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC.); MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION (F/K/A SYMMETRICON, INC.); MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (F/K/A VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION); MICROSEMI SOC CORP. (F/K/A ACTEL CORPORATION); MICROSEMI CORP. - POWER PRODUCTS GROUP (F/K/A ADVANCED POWER TECHNOLOGY INC.); MICROSEMI CORP. - RF INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS (F/K/A AML COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037691/0697 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORP.-ANALOG MIXED SIGNAL GROUP, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SOC CORP., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (F/K/A VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION), A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORP.-MEMORY AND STORAGE SOLUTIONS (F/K/A WHITE ELECTRONIC DESIGNS CORPORATION), AN INDIANA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037558/0711 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2015
From: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORP.-ANALOG MIXED SIGNAL GROUP; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC.; MICROSEMI SOC CORP.; MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035477/0057 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2012
From: KWAN, KAI; KIM, PETER
To: MICROSEMI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028245/0752 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61499703 · Jun 22, 2011
Related Publication 20120326785A1 · Dec 27, 2012