Circuits for current recycling and related methods
AssigneeMediatek Inc.
InventorJen-Huan Tsai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Circuits and methods for current recycling in signal buffers for switched capacitor circuits are described. A signal buffer may be coupled to an impedance element, such as a resistor, configured to provide a desired reference voltage to the switched capacitor circuit. In some embodiments, a portion of the power absorbed by the impedance element may be recycled to power one or more additional circuit. Such additional circuit(s) may include active elements. In some embodiments, the switched capacitor circuit is part of an analog-to-digital converter. In some embodiments, the additional circuit(s) are also part of the analog-to-digital converter.
Claims20
A circuit comprising:
- a switched capacitor circuit;
- a signal buffer configured to provide a reference signal to the switched capacitor circuit;
- a resistive impedance element coupled to the signal buffer and configured to receive a first current from the signal buffer;
- and
- an active circuit coupled to the signal buffer and configured to receive a second current from the signal buffer, the second current being configured to power, at least partially, the active circuit.
A method comprising:
- providing a reference signal to a switched capacitor circuit using a signal buffer;
- and
- providing a first current to a resistive impedance element coupled to the signal buffer and a second current to an active circuit coupled to the signal buffer, wherein the second current powers, at least partially, the active circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.