Configurable operational amplifier as a microcontroller peripheral

• US 6,535,061 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Darmawaskita, Hartono, Eagar, Layton
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PATRICIA T
• Application Number:
  US09/731,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 330/254, 330/252, 330/307, 330/257
• US Class Current: 330/254
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7814 Specially adapted for real time processing, e.g. comprising hardware timers
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/2472 using field effect transistors H03K5/2436 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A configurable operational amplifier which is programmed to specific characteristics and parameters for various requirements in the measurement of analog signals. These programmable characteristics and parameters are gain bandwidth product (GBWP), selection of operational amplifier (op-amp) or comparator modes of operation, input offset zero calibration, ultra low input bias current, rail-to-rail input operation, and rail-to-rail output operation. The configurable operational amplifier is used in combination with a microcontroller system, and may be fabricated on an integrated circuit die or in a multi-chip package.

Claims

1. A microcontroller system having a configurable operational amplifier as a peripheral, said system comprising:

a microcontroller;

a configurable operational amplifier having an analog input and an output, said configurable operational amplifier being programmably configurable for a desired set of parameters and characteristics; and

a compression preamplifier having an input and an output, wherein the output is connected to the input of said configurable operational amplifier.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for rail-to-rail input operation.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for rail-to-rail output operation.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for input operation at or about a first power supply rail.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for input operation at or about a second power supply rail.

2. A microcontroller system having a configurable operational amplifier as a peripheral, said system comprising:

a microcontroller;

a configurable operational amplifier having an analog input and an output, said configurable operational amplifier being programmably configurable for a desired set of parameters and characteristics; and

a current source operational amplifier calibration circuit connected to said configurable operational amplifier for minimizing said configurable operational amplifier input offset voltage.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for a desired gain bandwidth product.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured as a voltage comparator.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for minimum input voltage offset.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for low input bias current.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for ultra low input bias current.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for a sleep mode.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein said microcontroller, said configurable operational amplifier and said current source operational amplifier calibration circuit are fabricated on an integrated circuit die.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising an integrated circuit package enclosing said integrated circuit die.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said integrated circuit package is selected from a group consisting of plastic dual in-line package (PDIP), small outline (SO), shrink small outline package (SSOP), thin shrink small outline package (TSSOP), windowed ceramic dual in-line package (CERDIP), leadless chip carrier (LCC), plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC), plastic quad flatpack package (PQFP), thin quad flatpack package (TQFP), pin grid array (PGA), ball grid array (BGA), T0-220, T0-247 and T0-263.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising circuit functions selected from the group consisting of a random access memory, a program memory, a serial interface, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, digital input-output, a timer, and a programmable switching mode controller.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said microcontroller, said configurable operational amplifier and the circuit functions are fabricated on an integrated circuit die.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein any one of said configurable operational amplifier and the circuit functions that are not being used are shut down to conserve power.

19. A configurable operational amplifier on a semiconductor integrated circuit, comprising:

a configurable operational amplifier having an analog input and an output, said configurable operational amplifier being programmably configurable for a desired set of parameters and characteristics; and

a compression preamplifier having an input and an output, wherein the output is connected to the input of said configurable operational amplifier, wherein said configurable operational amplifier and said compression preamplifier are fabricated on a semiconductor integrated circuit die.

26. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 19, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for rail-to-rail input operation.

27. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 19, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for rail-to-rail output operation.

31. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 19, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for input operation at or about a first power supply rail.

32. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 19, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for input operation at or about a second power supply rail.

20. A configurable operational amplifier on a semiconductor integrated circuit, comprising:

a configurable operational amplifier having an analog input and an output, said configurable operational amplifier being programmably configurable for a desired set of parameters and characteristics; and

a current source operational amplifier calibration circuit connected to said configurable operational amplifier for minimizing said configurable operational amplifier input offset voltage, wherein said configurable operational amplifier and said current source operational amplifier calibration circuit are fabricated on a semiconductor integrated circuit die.

21. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 20, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for a desired gain bandwidth product.

22. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 20, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured as a voltage comparator.

23. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 20, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for minimum input voltage offset.

24. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 20, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for low input bias current.

25. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 20, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for ultra low input bias current.

28. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 20, wherein said configurable operational amplifier is programmably configured for a sleep mode.

29. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 20, further comprising an integrated circuit package enclosing said integrated circuit die.

30. The configurable operational amplifier of claim 29, wherein said integrated circuit package is selected from a group consisting of plastic dual in-line package (PDIP), small outline (SO), shrink small outline package (SSOP), thin shrink small outline package (TSSOP), windowed ceramic dual in-line package (CERDIP), leadless chip carrier (LCC), plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC), plastic quad flatpack package (PQFP), thin quad flatpack package (TQFP), pin grid array (PGA), ball grid array (BGA), T0-220, T0-247 and T0-263.