Feedback clamp circuit to prevent overcharge in compensation capacitor
First Claim
1. A dual stage amplifier, comprising:
- a first amplifier stage having a first stage input and a first stage output;
a second amplifier stage having a second stage input operatively connected to the first stage output, and a second stage output;
a compensation capacitor in electrical communication with the second stage input and the second stage output; and
a clamping circuit in electrical communication with the second stage, and adapted to prevent an overcharging of the compensation capacitor when an imbalance condition exists at the first stage input of the first amplifier stage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a dual stage amplifier with a clamping circuit and a methodology, along with a clamping circuit for use with a dual stage amplifier, which eliminate or reduce the overcharging of a compensation capacitor in such a dual stage amplifier. The amplifier includes a first amplifier stage with a first input and a first output, a second amplifier stage having a second input operatively connected to the first output, and a second output. The amplifier further includes a compensation capacitor in electrical communication with the second input and the second output, and a clamping circuit in electrical communication with the second stage, which is adapted to prevent overcharging of the compensation capacitor. The clamping circuit may include a low vgs clamp, a high vgs clamp, and/or a combination low and high vgs clamp, wherein the low vgs clamp is adapted to bias the second input away from a negative supply, and the high vgs clamp is adapted to bias the second input away from a positive supply.
22 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A dual stage amplifier, comprising:
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a first amplifier stage having a first stage input and a first stage output;
a second amplifier stage having a second stage input operatively connected to the first stage output, and a second stage output;
a compensation capacitor in electrical communication with the second stage input and the second stage output; and
a clamping circuit in electrical communication with the second stage, and adapted to prevent an overcharging of the compensation capacitor when an imbalance condition exists at the first stage input of the first amplifier stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A clamp circuit for clamping an input in a dual stage amplifier having a first amplifier stage with a first stage input and a first stage output and a second amplifier stage with a second stage input operatively connected to the first stage output, and a second stage output, the clamp circuit comprising:
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a circuit for sensing a voltage at the second stage input and providing a signal according to the sensed voltage; and
a circuit for selectively sourcing or sinking current to the second stage input according to the signal, wherein the circuit for sensing a voltage at the second stage input and providing a signal according to the sensed voltage comprises a first switching component operatively connected to the second stage input and adapted to sense a voltage at the second stage input and to provide a signal according to the sensed voltage, and wherein the circuit for selectively sourcing or sinking current to the second stage input according to the signal comprises a second switching component operatively connected the first-switching component and one of a positive and a negative supply, and adapted to selectively source or sink current to or from the second stage input, respectively, according to the signal from the first switching component. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. In a dual stage amplifier having a first amplifier stage with a first stage input and a first stage output and a second amplifier stage with a second stage input operatively connected to the first stage output, and a second stage output, a method of biasing the second stage input, comprising:
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providing a first component in electrical communication with the second stage input;
sensing a voltage at the second stage input using the first component;
generating a signal using the first component according to the sensed voltage at the second stage input;
providing a second component in electrical communication with the first component and the second stage input; and
selectively biasing the second stage input away from one of a positive supply and a negative supply according to the signal from the first component. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of preventing overcharging of a compensation capacitor in an amplifier circuit, comprising:
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sensing a node voltage associated with the compensation capacitor;
determining whether the sensed node voltage is within a desired range; and
providing compensation to the amplifier according to the sensed voltage if the sensed voltage is outside the desired range, wherein determining whether the sensed node voltage is within a desired range comprises determining whether the sensed node voltage is greater than a desired maximum voltage, and wherein providing compensation to the amplifier according to the sensed voltage if the sensed voltage is outside the desired range comprises sinking current from the node associated with the compensation capacitor if the sensed node voltage is greater than the desired maximum voltage.
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21. A method of preventing overcharging of a compensation capacitor in an amplifier circuit, comprising:
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sensing a node voltage associated with the compensation capacitor;
determining whether the sensed node voltage is within a desired range; and
providing compensation to the amplifier according to the sensed voltage if the sensed voltage is outside the desired range,wherein determining whether the sensed node voltage is within a desired range comprises determining whether the sensed node voltage is less than a desired minimum voltage, and wherein providing compensation to the amplifier according to the sensed voltage if the sensed voltage is outside the desired range comprises sourcing current to the node associated with the compensation capacitor if the sensed node voltage is less than the desired minimum voltage.
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Specification