Slew-enhanced operational transconductance amplifier
First Claim
1. A circuit comprising:
- an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) configured to alter a charge of a capacitive load using an output current;
a slew-enhancing circuit; and
a signal line configured to transmit a control signal from the OTA to a switching element in the slew-enhancing circuit, wherein the slew-enhancing circuit is configured to use the control signal to generate a boost current that is separate from the output current to alter the charge of the capacitive load.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to improving the slew rate of an amplifier as the amplifier charges or discharges a capacitive load. In one embodiment, the amplifier is coupled to a slew-enhancing circuit which uses a control signal from the amplifier to aid the amplifier when charging or discharging the load. For example, the control signal may be an internal voltage used by the amplifier to control circuit elements within the amplifier. By routing the control signal to the slew-enhancing circuit, the control signal biases the circuit elements within the slew-enhancing circuit to source a boost current when charging the capacitive load or sink the boost current when discharging the capacitive load.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit comprising:
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an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) configured to alter a charge of a capacitive load using an output current; a slew-enhancing circuit; and a signal line configured to transmit a control signal from the OTA to a switching element in the slew-enhancing circuit, wherein the slew-enhancing circuit is configured to use the control signal to generate a boost current that is separate from the output current to alter the charge of the capacitive load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An integrated circuit comprising:
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an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) configured to alter a charge of a capacitive load using an output current; a slew-enhancing circuit; and a signal line configured to transmit a control signal from the OTA to a switching element in the slew-enhancing circuit, wherein the slew-enhancing circuit is configured to use the control signal to generate a boost current that is separate from the output current to alter the charge of the capacitive load, wherein the OTA, the slew-enhancing circuit, and the signal line are integrated onto a chip. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for changing the slew rate associated with an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) coupled to a capacitive load,
transmitting a control signal from the OTA to a slew-enhancing circuit; -
biasing a switching element in the slew-enhancing circuit using the control signal; generating a boost current, separate from an output current from the OTA, in response to biasing the switching element using the control signal; and providing the boost current from the slew-enhancing circuit and the output current to the capacitive load. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification