Selectively configurable analog signal sampler
First Claim
1. An apparatus including a selectively configurable analog signal sampler for sampling a plurality of types of analog signals, comprising:
- a plurality of capacitive circuits;
an amplifier circuit coupled to said plurality of capacitive circuits; and
a plurality of switch circuits, coupled to said plurality of capacitive circuits and said amplifier circuit, configured to receive a plurality of reference signals and a plurality of switch control signals and in accordance therewithcouple together selected portions of said plurality of capacitive circuits,couple selected portions of said plurality of reference signals to said amplifier circuit and to further selected portions of said plurality of capacitive circuits, andcouple said amplifier circuit to still further selected portions of said plurality of capacitive circuits;
wherein said plurality of capacitive circuits, said amplifier circuit and said plurality of switch circuits, together and in accordance with said plurality of reference signals and a plurality of combinations of said plurality of switch control signals, receive and couple a single-ended analog input signal to said plurality of capacitive circuits and said amplifier circuit and in accordance therewith provide a differential sampled analog output signal which corresponds to said single-ended analog input signal; and
wherein said single-ended analog input signal has one or more signal characteristics which include a positive signal polarity, a negative signal polarity, a return-to-reference signal waveform and a non-return-to-reference signal waveform.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A selectively configurable analog signal sampler, e.g., for use in an imaging system, for generating a differential sampled analog output signal which corresponds to a single-ended analog input signal with one or more signal characteristics including a positive signal polarity, a negative signal polarity, a return-to-reference signal waveform and a non-return-to-reference signal waveform. A switched capacitor matrix is configured, along with an operational amplifier with differential inputs and outputs, to allow all single-ended analog input signals with such signal characteristics to be sampled and converted to corresponding differential sampled analog output signals. Additionally, an accumulation mode of operation is provided in which the signal sampler accumulates N successive samples of the input signal and outputs the sum of such N samples, thereby allowing the signal sampler to operate at its rated speed while the circuit providing the input signal, e.g., an image sensor, operates at N-times such speed.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus including a selectively configurable analog signal sampler for sampling a plurality of types of analog signals, comprising:
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a plurality of capacitive circuits; an amplifier circuit coupled to said plurality of capacitive circuits; and a plurality of switch circuits, coupled to said plurality of capacitive circuits and said amplifier circuit, configured to receive a plurality of reference signals and a plurality of switch control signals and in accordance therewith couple together selected portions of said plurality of capacitive circuits, couple selected portions of said plurality of reference signals to said amplifier circuit and to further selected portions of said plurality of capacitive circuits, and couple said amplifier circuit to still further selected portions of said plurality of capacitive circuits; wherein said plurality of capacitive circuits, said amplifier circuit and said plurality of switch circuits, together and in accordance with said plurality of reference signals and a plurality of combinations of said plurality of switch control signals, receive and couple a single-ended analog input signal to said plurality of capacitive circuits and said amplifier circuit and in accordance therewith provide a differential sampled analog output signal which corresponds to said single-ended analog input signal; and wherein said single-ended analog input signal has one or more signal characteristics which include a positive signal polarity, a negative signal polarity, a return-to-reference signal waveform and a non-return-to-reference signal waveform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus including a selectively configurable analog signal sampler for sampling a plurality of types of analog signals, comprising:
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a first switching stage configured to receive a first portion of a plurality of switch control signals and in accordance therewith receive a first portion of a plurality of reference signals and receive and switch a single-ended analog input signal and in accordance therewith provide a first switched analog signal, wherein said single-ended analog input signal has one or more signal characteristics which include a positive signal polarity, a negative signal polarity, a return-to-reference signal waveform and a non-return-to-reference signal waveform; a first capacitive stage, coupled to said first switching stage, configured to receive and capacitively couple said first switched analog signal and in accordance therewith provide a coupled analog signal; a second switching stage, coupled to said first capacitive stage, configured to receive a second portion of said plurality of switch control signals and in accordance therewith receive a second portion of said plurality of reference signals and receive and switch said coupled analog signal and in accordance therewith provide a second switched analog signal; a second capacitive stage, coupled to said second switching stage; an amplifier stage, coupled to said second switching stage and said second capacitive stage; and a third switching stage, coupled to said amplifier stage and said second capacitive stage, configured to receive a third portion of said plurality of switch control signals and in accordance therewith receive and switch a third portion of said plurality of reference signals and in accordance therewith provide a plurality of switched reference signals; wherein said amplifier stage and said second capacitive stage together receive said second switched analog signal and said plurality of switched reference signals and in accordance therewith provide a differential sampled analog output signal which corresponds to said single-ended analog input signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of sampling a plurality of types of analog signals, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of reference signals and a plurality of switch control signals and in accordance therewith coupling together selected portions of a plurality of capacitive circuits; coupling selected portions of said plurality of reference signals to an amplifier circuit and to further selected portions of said plurality of capacitive circuits, and coupling said amplifier circuit to still further selected portions of said plurality of capacitive circuits; and in accordance with said plurality of reference signals and a plurality of combinations of said plurality of switch control signals, receiving and coupling a single-ended analog input signal to said plurality of capacitive circuits and said amplifier circuit and in accordance therewith generating a differential sampled analog output signal which corresponds to said single-ended analog input signal, wherein said single-ended analog input signal has one or more signal characteristics which include a positive signal polarity, a negative signal polarity, a return-to-reference signal waveform and a non-return-to-reference signal waveform. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of sampling a plurality of types of analog signals, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first portion of a plurality of switch control signals and in accordance therewith receiving a first portion of a plurality of reference signals and receiving and switching a single-ended analog input signal and in accordance therewith generating a first switched analog signal, wherein said single-ended analog input signal has one or more signal characteristics which include a positive signal polarity, a negative signal polarity, a return-to-reference signal waveform and a non-return-to-reference signal waveform; receiving and capacitively coupling said first switched analog signal and in accordance therewith generating a coupled analog signal; receiving a second portion of said plurality of switch control signals and in accordance therewith receiving a second portion of said plurality of reference signals and receiving and switching said coupled analog signal and in accordance therewith generating a second switched analog signal; receiving a third portion of said plurality of switch control signals and in accordance therewith receiving and switching a third portion of said plurality of reference signals and in accordance therewith generating a plurality of switched reference signals; and receiving said second switched analog signal and said plurality of switched reference signals and in accordance therewith generating a differential sampled analog output signal which corresponds to said single-ended analog input signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification