Amplifier having output range that exceeds supply voltage
First Claim
1. Amplifier having a power input for accepting a power supply voltage, a signal input for accepting an input signal, and a signal output for providing an output signal, the amplifier comprising:
- DC/DC converter circuitry including a switched-capacitor charge pump coupled to the power input, the DC/DC converter circuitry providing a voltage higher than the power supply voltage; and
amplifier circuitry including an output stage coupled between the DC/DC converter circuitry and the signal output such that a voltage at the signal output may exceed the voltage at the power input.
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Abstract
Amplifier circuitry is provided having an output voltage range that exceeds its supply rail voltage. Such an amplifier may be useful in battery powered applications calling for driving a high impedance load with a low current, moderate bandwidth signal The amplifier circuitry includes a transconductance amplifier, for providing a high output impedance, and a charge pump DC/DC converter, for providing a high supply voltage to the transconductance amplifier. In one embodiment of the invention, the gain of the amplifier is a function of the input voltage so as to linearize a transfer function between the amplifier input and a response of a load at the amplifier'"'"'s output.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. Amplifier having a power input for accepting a power supply voltage, a signal input for accepting an input signal, and a signal output for providing an output signal, the amplifier comprising:
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DC/DC converter circuitry including a switched-capacitor charge pump coupled to the power input, the DC/DC converter circuitry providing a voltage higher than the power supply voltage; and amplifier circuitry including an output stage coupled between the DC/DC converter circuitry and the signal output such that a voltage at the signal output may exceed the voltage at the power input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Varactor driver circuitry having a power input for accepting a power supply voltage, a signal input for accepting an input signal, and a signal output for providing an output signal, the varactor driver circuitry comprising:
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a DC/DC converter, including switched capacitor charge pump circuitry, coupled to the power input for providing a voltage higher than a voltage at the power input; and amplifier circuitry coupled to the signal input, and having an output stage coupled between the signal output and the DC/DC converter, the DC/DC converter providing power to the output stage such that a voltage of the output signal may exceed the voltage at the power input. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Method of amplifying a signal comprising:
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providing charge pump circuitry adapted to accept a supply voltage and for providing a voltage higher than the supply voltage; and providing amplifier circuitry adapted to accept the signal, wherein the amplifier circuitry includes an output stage coupled between the charge pump circuitry and an output of the amplifier circuitry, so that a voltage range of an amplified signal exceeds the supply voltage. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. Driver circuitry comprising:
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an amplifier; a DC/DC voltage converter adapted to accept an input voltage and to provide a supply voltage to the amplifier; a first resistor coupled between an output and an input of the amplifier to create a feedback loop; a second resistor coupled to the input of the amplifier, the resistances of the first and second resistors determining a gain of the amplifier; a third resistor coupled to the input of the amplifier; and a first switch coupled in series with the third resistor such that the switch selectively places the third resistor in parallel with the second resistor responsive to a voltage on the input of the amplifier, thereby altering a gain of the amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. Circuitry for driving a high impedance load, the circuitry comprising:
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a power input for accepting power at a first voltage; a signal input for accepting an input signal; a signal output for providing an output signal; amplifier circuitry including an output stage coupled the signal output, wherein the amplifier circuitry has a transfer function that is a piece-wise linear approximation of a non-linear function of the input signal; and DC/DC converter circuitry coupled to the power input and to the output stage for providing a second voltage, higher than the first voltage, to the output stage so that a voltage at the signal output may exceed the first voltage. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a power input for accepting power at a first voltage; a signal input for accepting an input signal; a signal output for providing an output signal; amplifier circuitry including an output stage coupled the signal output for providing an output signal; and switched-capacitor charge pump circuitry including on-chip charge transfer capacitors, the switched-capacitor charge pump circuitry coupled to the power input and to the output stage for providing a second voltage, higher than the first voltage, to the output stage so that a voltage at the signal output may exceed the first voltage. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification