Nested transimpedance amplifier

• US 20080272848A1
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sehat Sutardja
• Inventors: Sutardja, Sehat
• Granted Patent: US 7,626,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 330/297
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/08 Modifications of amplifiers to reduce detrimental influences of internal impedances of amplifying elements wide-band amplifiers with inter-stage coupling networks incorporating these impedances H03F1/42
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/34 Negative-feedback-circuit arrangements with or without positive feedback H03F1/02 - H03F1/30, H03F1/38 - H03F1/50, H03F3/50 take precedence ; for rejection of common mode signals H03F3/45479
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/331 Sigma delta modulation being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/36 the amplifier comprising means for increasing the bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45528 the FBC comprising one or more passive resistors and being coupled between the LC and the IC
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45531 the FBC comprising a parallel resonance circuit and being coupled between the LC and the IC
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45652 the LC comprising one or more further dif amp stages, either identical to the dif amp or not, in cascade
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/08 controlled by light
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45179 using MOSFET transistors as the active amplifying circuit H03F3/45278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45475 using IC blocks as the active amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45928 using IC blocks as the active amplifying circuit

Abstract

A nested transimpedance amplifier (TIA) circuit comprises a zero-order TIA having an input and an output. A first operational amplifier (opamp) has an output and an input that communicates with said output of said zero-order TIA. A first power supply input applies a first voltage to the zero-order TIA. A second power supply input receives a second voltage. A charge pump module develops a third voltage based on the first voltage and the second voltage, wherein the third voltage is applied to the opamp.

Claims

1. A nested transimpedance amplifier (TIA) circuit, comprising:

a zero-order TIA having an input and an output;

a first operational amplifier (opamp) having an output and an input that communicates with said output of said zero-order TIA;

a first power supply input for applying a first voltage to the zero-order TIA;

a second power supply input for receiving a second voltage; and

a charge pump module that develops a third voltage based on the first voltage and the second voltage, wherein the third voltage is applied to the opamp.

2. The nested TIA circuit of claim 1 wherein the zero-order TIA comprises:

a first opamp including a first input and a first output;

a second opamp including second input and a second output, wherein the second input communicates with the first output; and

a resistance including one end that communicates with the second output and a second end that communicates with the second input.

3. The TIA circuit of claim 1 further comprising a voltage regulator that regulates the second voltage.

4. The TIA circuit of claim 1 further comprising a light-emitting diode in communication with the opamp output.

5. The TIA circuit of claim 1 wherein the first voltage is greater than the second voltage.

6. The TIA circuit of claim 1 wherein the third voltage is approximately equal to a sum of the first voltage and the second voltage.

7. The TIA circuit of claim 1 wherein the first voltage is otherwise applied to analog circuitry and the second voltage is otherwise applied to digital circuitry.

8. The TIA circuit of claim 1 wherein the first voltage is between about 2.5V and 3.3V.

9. The TIA circuit of claim 8 wherein the second voltage is about 1.2V.