Multi-stage sampler with increased gain
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- generating a first and a second discharge control signal in response to (i) a clock signal and (ii) an input voltage signal, the first and second discharge control signals decreasing at different rates to a threshold level during a first time period, wherein a difference in rates is determined by the input voltage signal;
generating a differential voltage on a pair of nodes during the first time period by selectively controlling a respective amount of discharge of an initial charge on each node of the pair of nodes by applying the first and second discharge control signals to respective transistors in a differential transistor pair connected to the pair of nodes, and maintaining the differential voltage on the pair of nodes during a subsequent time period; and
generating an amplified differential voltage during at least a portion of the subsequent time period by amplifying the differential voltage.
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Abstract
Generating first and second discharge control signals in response to a clock signal and an input voltage signal, the first and second discharge control signals decreasing at different rates to a threshold level during a first time period, wherein a difference in rates is determined by the input voltage signal, generating a differential voltage on a pair of nodes during the first time period by selectively controlling a respective amount of discharge of an initial charge on each node of the pair of nodes by applying the first and second discharge control signals to respective transistors in a differential transistor pair connected to the pair of nodes, and maintaining the differential voltage on the pair of nodes during a subsequent time period, and generating an amplified differential voltage during at least a portion of the subsequent time period by amplifying the differential voltage.
445 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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generating a first and a second discharge control signal in response to (i) a clock signal and (ii) an input voltage signal, the first and second discharge control signals decreasing at different rates to a threshold level during a first time period, wherein a difference in rates is determined by the input voltage signal; generating a differential voltage on a pair of nodes during the first time period by selectively controlling a respective amount of discharge of an initial charge on each node of the pair of nodes by applying the first and second discharge control signals to respective transistors in a differential transistor pair connected to the pair of nodes, and maintaining the differential voltage on the pair of nodes during a subsequent time period; and generating an amplified differential voltage during at least a portion of the subsequent time period by amplifying the differential voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
a multi-stage sampler comprising a plurality of cascaded stages, the plurality of cascaded stages comprising; a first cascaded stage configured to generate a first and a second discharge control signal in response to (i) a clock signal and (ii) an input voltage signal, the first and second discharge control signals decreasing at different rates to a threshold level during a first time period, wherein a difference in rates is determined by the input voltage signal; a second cascaded stage configured to generate a differential voltage on a pair of nodes during the first time period by selectively controlling a respective amount of discharge of an initial charge on each node of the pair of nodes by applying the first and second discharge control signals to respective transistors in a differential transistor pair connected to the pair of nodes, and to maintain the differential voltage on the pair of nodes during a subsequent time period; and a third cascaded stage configured to generate an amplified differential voltage during at least a portion of the subsequent time period by amplifying the differential voltage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification