Low noise logic amplifier with nondifferential to differential conversion
First Claim
1. A logic amplifier for converting a nondifferential logic signal to a differential logic signal, comprising:
- differential logic amplifier means for receiving a bias current and a first differential logic signal, and in accordance therewith generating a second differential logic signal, wherein said differential logic amplifier means includes a plurality of output signal current paths of which each is selectively conductive for said bias current; and
input converter means coupled to said differential logic amplifier means for receiving and converting a nondifferential logic signal to provide said first differential logic signal;
wherein said first differential logic signal includes a plurality of signal phases with high and low logic levels having high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions between said high and low logic levels, and further wherein at least one of said plurality of output signal current paths is conductive for said bias current uninterruptedly during said high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low noise logic amplifier with an input signal converter and a differential logic amplifier which together receive and convert a nondifferential input logic signal to a differential output logic signal. The input signal converter receives the nondifferential logic signal and converts it to a differential input logic signal for the differential logic amplifier. The differential logic amplifier has two output signal current paths for its bias current. The input signal converter provides the differential input logic signal with a delay between its two differential logic phases such that at least one of the two output signal current paths in the differential logic amplifier is continuously conducting the bias current. Thus, during generation of the differential output logic signal, regardless of whether the differential input logic signal is experiencing a high-to-low or low-to-high logic transition, the differential logic amplifier bias current flows continuously and without interruption, thereby minimizing generation of noise spikes from abrupt changes in bias current flow.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A logic amplifier for converting a nondifferential logic signal to a differential logic signal, comprising:
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differential logic amplifier means for receiving a bias current and a first differential logic signal, and in accordance therewith generating a second differential logic signal, wherein said differential logic amplifier means includes a plurality of output signal current paths of which each is selectively conductive for said bias current; and input converter means coupled to said differential logic amplifier means for receiving and converting a nondifferential logic signal to provide said first differential logic signal; wherein said first differential logic signal includes a plurality of signal phases with high and low logic levels having high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions between said high and low logic levels, and further wherein at least one of said plurality of output signal current paths is conductive for said bias current uninterruptedly during said high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A logic amplifier for converting a nondifferential logic signal to a differential logic signal, comprising:
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differential logic amplifier means for receiving a bias current, a nondifferential logic signal and a first differential logic signal, and in accordance therewith generating a second differential logic signal, wherein said differential logic amplifier means includes a plurality of output signal current paths of which each is selectively conductive for said bias current; and input converter means coupled to said differential logic amplifier means for receiving and converting said nondifferential logic signal to provide said first differential logic signal; wherein said first differential logic signal includes a plurality of signal phases with high and low logic levels having high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions between said high and low logic levels, and further wherein at least one of said plurality of output signal current paths is conductive for said bias current uninterruptedly during said high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A logic amplifier for converting a nondifferential logic signal to a differential logic signal, comprising:
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a differential logic amplifier which includes a bias port for receiving a bias current, an input port for receiving a first differential logic signal, an output port for providing a second differential logic signal and a plurality of output signal current paths connected to said bias port, wherein each one of said plurality of output signal current paths is selectively conductive for said bias current; and an input amplifier which includes an input port for receiving a nondifferential logic signal and an output port coupled to said differential logic amplifier input port for providing said first differential logic signal; wherein said first differential logic signal includes a plurality of signal phases with high and low logic levels having high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions between said high and low logic levels, and further wherein at least one of said plurality of output signal current paths is conductive for said bias current uninterruptedly during said high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A logic amplifier for converting a nondifferential logic signal to a differential logic signal, comprising:
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a differential logic amplifier which includes a bias port for receiving a bias current, a nondifferential input port for receiving a nondifferential logic signal, a differential input port for receiving a first differential logic signal, an output port for providing a second differential logic signal and a plurality of output signal current paths connected to said bias port, wherein each one of said plurality of output signal current paths is selectively conductive for said bias current; and an input amplifier which includes an input port for receiving said nondifferential logic signal and an output port coupled to said differential logic amplifier differential input port for providing said first differential logic signal; wherein said first differential logic signal includes a plurality of signal phases with high and low logic levels having high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions between said high and low logic levels, and further wherein at least one of said plurality of output signal current paths is conductive for said bias current uninterruptedly during said high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A logic amplifier for converting a nondifferential logic signal to a differential logic signal, comprising:
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differential logic amplifier means for receiving a bias current and a first differential logic signal, and in accordance therewith generating a second differential logic signal; bias current source means coupled to said differential logic amplifier means for providing said bias current; and input converter means coupled to said differential logic amplifier means for receiving and converting a nondifferential logic signal to provide said first differential logic signal; wherein said first differential logic signal includes a plurality of signal phases with high and low logic levels having high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions between said high and low logic levels, and further wherein said bias current flows uninterruptedly through said differential logic amplifier means during said high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A logic amplifier for converting a nondifferential logic signal to a differential logic signal, comprising:
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differential logic amplifier means for receiving a bias current, a nondifferential logic signal and a first differential logic signal, and in accordance therewith generating a second differential logic signal; bias current source means coupled to said differential logic amplifier means for providing said bias current; and input converter means coupled to said differential logic amplifier means for receiving and converting said nondifferential logic signal to provide said first differential logic signal; wherein said first differential logic signal includes a plurality of signal phases with high and low logic levels having high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions between said high and low logic levels, and further wherein said bias current flows uninterruptedly through said differential logic amplifier means during said high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A logic amplifier for converting a nondifferential logic signal to a differential logic signal, comprising:
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a differential logic amplifier which includes a bias port for receiving a bias current, an input port for receiving a first differential logic signal and an output port for providing a second differential logic signal; a bias current source which includes a current port coupled to said differential logic amplifier bias port for providing said bias current; and an input amplifier which includes an input port for receiving a nondifferential logic signal and an output port coupled to said differential logic amplifier input port for providing said first differential logic signal; wherein said first differential logic signal includes a plurality of signal phases with high and low logic levels having high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions between said high and low logic levels, and further wherein said bias current flows uninterruptedly through said differential logic amplifier during said high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A logic amplifier for converting a nondifferential logic signal to a differential logic signal, comprising:
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a differential logic amplifier which includes a bias port for receiving a bias current, a nondifferential input port for receiving a nondifferential logic signal, a differential input port for receiving a first differential logic signal and an output port for providing a second differential logic signal; a bias current source which includes a current port coupled to said differential logic amplifier bias port for providing said bias current; and an input amplifier which includes an input port for receiving said nondifferential logic signal and an output port coupled to said differential logic amplifier differential input port for providing said first differential logic signal; wherein said first differential logic signal includes a plurality of signal phases with high and low logic levels having high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions between said high and low logic levels, and further wherein said bias current flows uninterruptedly through said differential logic amplifier during said high-to-low and low-to-high logic transitions. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification