Dual-stage comparator unit
First Claim
1. A comparator unit comprising:
- a first amplifier stage including a differential amplifier having a pair of input nodes and a pair of output nodes, a switch connected across the pair of output nodes, and a non-linear load connected across the pair of output nodes; and
a second amplifier stage coupled to the pair of output nodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A comparator unit comprising a first amplifier stage and a second amplifier stage. The first amplifier stage includes a differential amplifier having a pair of input nodes for receiving a differential signal and a pair of output nodes, a switch connected across the pair of output nodes, and a non-linear load connected across the pair of output nodes. The second amplifier stage is coupled to the pair of output nodes of the first amplifier stage. In one embodiment the second amplifier stage is a non-linear amplifier. In an alternative embodiment, the differential amplifier is a differential pair. In another alternative embodiment, the differential amplifier is a pair of differential pairs.
23 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A comparator unit comprising:
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a first amplifier stage including a differential amplifier having a pair of input nodes and a pair of output nodes, a switch connected across the pair of output nodes, and a non-linear load connected across the pair of output nodes; and
a second amplifier stage coupled to the pair of output nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A comparator unit comprising:
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a first amplifier stage including a differential amplifier having a pair of input nodes and a pair of output nodes including a first output node and a second output node, a non-linear load connected across the pair of output nodes, and a first switch connected between the first output node and a common node and a second switch connected between the second output node and the common node; and
a second amplifier stage coupled to the pair of output nodes. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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17. The comparator unit of 16, wherein the non-linear amplifier includes a pair of cross-coupled p-channel isolated gate field-effect transistors connected across the pair of second stage output nodes, a non-linear load connected across the pair of second stage output nodes, and a pair of input transistors connected across the non-linear load.
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18. A signal transmission unit comprising:
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a differential signal source;
a comparator unit comprising;
a first amplifier stage including a pair of differential amplifiers having a pair of input nodes and a pair of output nodes, a switch connected across the pair of output nodes, and a non-linear load connected across the pair of output nodes; and
a second amplifier stage coupled to the pair of output nodes; and
a transmission line to couple the differential signal source to the comparator unit.
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24. A method of processing a differential signal, the method comprising:
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beginning an equalization phase in a first amplifier stage;
beginning an equalization phase in a second amplifier stage about one gate delay after beginning the equalization phase in the first amplifier stage;
evaluating the differential signal in the first amplifier stage to form a first stage output differential signal after completing the equalization phase in the first amplifier stage; and
evaluating the first stage output differential signal in the second amplifier stage after completing the equalization phase in the second amplifier stage.
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Specification