High-speed analog comparator
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an amplifier coupled to receive an input voltage and a reference voltage to provide a bias voltage;
a first converter and a second converter coupled to the amplifier to receive the bias voltage;
wherein the first converter comprises;
a first transconductor coupled to the amplifier to receive the bias voltage to adjust a first bias current and to receive a first differential input; and
a first inverter having a first feedback device coupled input-to-output of the first inverter to provide a first transimpedance amplifier load;
wherein the first inverter is coupled to the first transconductor; and
wherein the second converter comprises;
a second transconductor coupled to the amplifier to receive the bias voltage to adjust a second bias current and to receive a second differential input;
wherein the second differential input is the first differential input with a reversed polarity; and
a second inverter having a second feedback device coupled input-to-output of the second inverter to provide a second transimpedance amplifier load;
wherein the second inverter is coupled to the second transconductor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus relating generally to voltage conversion includes an amplifier coupled to receive an input voltage and a reference voltage. First and second converters are coupled to the amplifier to receive a bias voltage. The first converter includes a first transconductor coupled to receive the bias voltage to adjust a first tail current, and a first differential input. A first inverter of the first converter has a first feedback device coupled input-to-output to provide a first transimpedance amplifier load. The first inverter is coupled to the first transconductor. The second converter includes a second transconductor coupled to receive the bias voltage to adjust a second tail current, and a second differential input. A second inverter of the second converter has a second feedback device coupled input-to-output to provide a second transimpedance amplifier load. The second inverter is coupled to the second transconductor.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an amplifier coupled to receive an input voltage and a reference voltage to provide a bias voltage; a first converter and a second converter coupled to the amplifier to receive the bias voltage; wherein the first converter comprises; a first transconductor coupled to the amplifier to receive the bias voltage to adjust a first bias current and to receive a first differential input; and a first inverter having a first feedback device coupled input-to-output of the first inverter to provide a first transimpedance amplifier load; wherein the first inverter is coupled to the first transconductor; and wherein the second converter comprises; a second transconductor coupled to the amplifier to receive the bias voltage to adjust a second bias current and to receive a second differential input; wherein the second differential input is the first differential input with a reversed polarity; and a second inverter having a second feedback device coupled input-to-output of the second inverter to provide a second transimpedance amplifier load; wherein the second inverter is coupled to the second transconductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An asynchronous analog comparator, comprising:
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an amplifier coupled to receive an input voltage and a reference voltage to provide a bias voltage; a first converter and a second converter commonly coupled to an output port of the amplifier to receive the bias voltage; wherein the first converter comprises a first transconductor and a first inverter; wherein the first transconductor comprises; a first current source circuit coupled to receive the bias voltage; a first differential input circuit coupled to the first current source circuit; and a first current mirror circuit coupled to the first differential input circuit; wherein the first differential input circuit of the first transconductor has a first output node; wherein the first inverter has a first feedback device coupled in first series input-to-output of the first inverter to provide a first transimpedance amplifier load; wherein a first input node of the first inverter is coupled to the first output node of the first transconductor; wherein the second converter comprises a second transconductor and a second inverter; wherein the second transconductor comprises; a second current source circuit coupled to receive the bias voltage; a second differential input circuit coupled to the second current source circuit; a second current mirror circuit coupled to the second differential input circuit; wherein the second differential input circuit is the first differential input circuit with a reversed polarity differential input; and wherein the second differential input circuit of the second transconductor has a second output node; wherein the second inverter has a second feedback device coupled in second series input-to-output of the second inverter to provide a second transimpedance amplifier load; and wherein a second input node of the second inverter is coupled to the second output node of the second transconductor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising:
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amplifying a difference between an input voltage and a reference voltage to provide a bias voltage; biasing a first transconductor and a second transconductor with the bias voltage; inputting a first differential input to the first transconductor; inputting a second differential input to the second transconductor; wherein the first differential input is the second differential input with opposite polarity; generating a first current in relation to the first differential input with the first transconductor for input of a portion of the first current to a first transimpedance amplifier load; generating a second current in relation to the second differential input with a second transimpedance amplifier load for input to the second transconductor; outputting a first output voltage from the first transimpedance amplifier load; and outputting a second output voltage from the second transimpedance amplifier load. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification