Start signal outputting circuit

• US 7,215,162 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Uda, Hisanori, Hayashi, Hiroaki, Mizuno, Kazuo, Kimura, Ryu
• Primary Examiner(s): Callahan; Timothy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hai L.
• Application Number:
  US10/523,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20060114035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 327/100, 327/102, 327/58, 327/91, 327/94, 327/104, 341/122
• US Class Current: 327/102
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 1/18 of semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/0023 in emitter-coupled or cascode amplifiers H03G1/0029 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/30 in amplifiers having semiconductor devices

Abstract

A start signal outputting circuit according to the invention has a differential RF/DC convertor part 100 for converting a high frequency power (RF) into a d.c. potential (DC). The RF/DC convertor part 100 is formed by two transistors Q_RD, Q_DD working as a diode, and transistors Q_R1˜R3, Q_D1˜D3 and resistances R_R1˜R3 for forming high resistances at anode sides and cathode sides of these diodes, respectively. A differential amplification part 200 disposed at a later stage of the diode has not only amplifying effect but also low-pass filtering effect together with filtering pars 120, 210 of its previous and later stages. In this case, it is designed so that current flowing through the respective circuits is about 2˜3 μA. As a result, even if the high frequency power of the specified frequency is weak, for example −60˜−40 dBm, a start signal outputting circuit 1000 which outputs a d.c. potential of 0.3˜2.4V, is suitable for integration and has a low power consumption can be obtained.

Claims

1. A start signal outputting circuit having an RF/DC convertor circuit for converting a high frequency power (RF) signal into a direct current (DC) potential and outputting it, said RF/DC convertor circuit comprising:

a device working as a diode for rectifying the high frequency power (RF) signal inputted on its anode;

a first transistor connected to an anode side of said diode, said first transistor working as a constant current source for supplying a constant current to the anode side of said diode by a positive potential being applied thereto; and

a second transistor inserted between a cathode side of said diode and ground, said second transistor working as a constant current source for removing a constant current from a current outputted from the cathode side of said diode by a positive potential being applied thereto.

2. A start signal outputting circuit recited in claim 1, wherein said RF/DC convertor circuit further comprises a resonance circuit connected between said cathode side of said diode and ground for shorting with the high frequency power of a specified frequency.

3. A start signal outputting circuit recited in claim 1, wherein said RF/DC convertor circuit further comprises a matching circuit provided on said anode side of said diode for obtaining matching with respect to an inputted high frequency power.

4. A start signal outputting circuit recited in claim 1, further comprising a counterpart circuit of the same construction as said RF/DC convertor circuit, of which an anode of a device working as a diode is provided with a d.c. potential based on the positive potential given to said RF/DC convertor circuit, so that a differential RF/DC convertor part is formed by said RF/DC convertor circuit and said counterpart circuit.

5. A start signal outputting circuit recited in claim 4, further comprising:

a differential amplification part for carrying out a differential amplification of at least one stage for an output of said differential RF/DC convertor part; and

a low-pass filter disposed at least one of between said differential RF/DC convertor part and said differential amplification part and a later stage of said differential amplification part,

wherein outputs of said differential amplification part and low-pass filter transmit a band of below 1/1000 compared to a band of said high frequency power signal.

6. A start signal outputting circuit recited in claim 5, wherein a transfer function of a part composed of said low-pass filter and said differential amplification part has a characteristic of monotonous decrease with frequency of a high frequency signal.

7. A start signal outputting circuit having an RF/DC convertor circuit for converting a high frequency power (RF) into a direct current potential (DC) and outputting it, said RF/DC convertor circuit comprising:

a device working as a diode;

a first npn transistor having its emitter connected to an anode side of said diode and its base and collector to which a predetermined positive potential is applied;

a second npn transistor having its collector connected to a cathode side of said diode and its emitter connected to ground via a resistance;

a third npn transistor having its emitter connected to a base of said second npn transistor and its base and collector to which a predetermined positive voltage is applied; and

a resonance circuit connected between said cathode side of said diode and ground for shorting a specified frequency.

8. A start signal outputting circuit recited in claim 7, wherein said RF/DC convertor circuit further comprises a matching circuit provided on said anode side of said diode for obtaining matching with respect to an inputted high frequency power.

9. A start signal outputting circuit recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a differential amplification part for carrying out a differential amplification of at least one stage for an output of said differential RF/DC convertor part; and

a low-pass filter disposed at least one of between said differential RF/DC convertor part and said differential amplification part and a later stage of said differential amplification part,

wherein outputs of said differential amplification part and low-pass filter transmit a band of below 1/1000 compared to a band of said high frequency power signal.

10. A start signal outputting circuit recited in claim 8, wherein a transfer function of a part composed of said low-pass filter and said differential amplification part has a characteristic of monotonous decrease with frequency of a high frequency signal.

11. A start signal outputting circuit recited in claim 7, further comprising a counterpart circuit of the same construction as said RF/DC convertor circuit, of which an anode of a device working as a diode is provided with a d.c. potential based on the positive potential given to said RF/DC convertor circuit, so that a differential RF/DC convertor part is formed by said RF/DC convertor circuit and said counterpart circuit.

12. A start signal outputting circuit recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a differential amplification part for carrying out a differential amplification of at least one stage for an output of said differential RF/DC convertor part; and

a low-pass filter disposed at least one of between said differential RF/DC convertor part and said differential amplification part and a later stage of said differential amplification part,

wherein outputs of said differential amplification part and low-pass filter transmit a band of below 1/1000 compared to a band of said high frequency power signal.

13. A start signal outputting circuit recited in claim 11, wherein a transfer function of a part composed of said low-pass filter and said differential amplification part has a characteristic of monotonous decrease with frequency of a high frequency signal.