US 11,309,877 B1Granted

Comparator with floating capacitive supply

AssigneeEthernovia Inc.

InventorKlaas Bult

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Abstract

Disclosed are circuits and methods for a comparator with a floating capacitive supply. A capacitor is coupled between a comparator and a power supply. Two sets of electronic switches are configured in opposing operational states to shift the configuration of the circuit between a charging configuration and a decision configuration. In the charging configuration, the capacitor draws current from the power supply. In the decision configuration, the comparator pulls current from the capacitor to perform a decision. The configuration of the two sets of switches is alternated to toggle between the charging configuration and the decision configuration, allowing for the capacitor to be recharged between each decision performed by the comparator.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A circuit comprising:

a power supply;
a first capacitor;
a first latching comparator including a first free input, a second free input and, a free output;
a first set of switches coupled between the power supply and the first capacitor;
and
a second set of switches coupled between the first capacitor and the first latching comparator, the first set of switches and the second set of switches being configurable into either a charging configuration or a decision configuration, wherein:
in the charging configuration the first set of switches is in a closed state to allow current to flow from the power supply to the first capacitor, and the second set of switches is in an open state to prevent current from flowing from the first capacitor to the first latching comparator, the charging configuration further causing the first latching comparator to reset, and
in the decision configuration the first set of switches is in the open state to prevent current from flowing from the power supply to the first capacitor, and the second set of switches in in the closed state to allow current to flow from the first capacitor to the first latching comparator to power the first latching comparator to perform a comparison of a first input received via the first free input to a second input received via the second free input and provide an output based on the comparison via the free output.

5 more elements

A method comprising:

configuring a first set of switches and a second set of switches into a charging configuration, the first set of switches being coupled between a power supply and a first capacitor and the second set of switches being coupled between the first capacitor and a first latching comparator, the first latching comparator including a first free input, a second free input and, a free output, wherein configuring the first set of switches and the second set of switches into the charging configuration comprises:
configuring the first set of switches into a closed state to allow current to flow from the power supply to the first capacitor, and
configuring the second set of switches into an open state to prevent current from flowing from the first capacitor to the first latching comparator, the charging configuration further causing the first latching comparator to reset;
and
configuring the first set of switches and the second set of switches into a decision configuration, wherein configuring the first set of switches and the second set of switches into the decision configuration comprises:
configuring the first set of switches into the open state to prevent current from flowing from the power supply to the first capacitor, and configuring the second set of switches into the closed state to allow current to flow from the first capacitor to the first latching comparator to power the first latching comparator to perform a comparison of a first input received via the first free input to a second input received via the second free input and provide an output based on the comparison via the free output.

3 more elements

A method comprising:

coupling a first set of switches to a power supply and a first capacitor;
coupling a second set of switches to the first capacitor and a first latching comparator, the first latching comparator including a first free input, a second free input and, a free output;
and
configuring the first set of switches and the second set of switches to operate in either a charging configuration or a decision configuration, wherein in the charging configuration the first set of switches is in a closed state to allow current to flow from the power supply to the first capacitor, and the second set of switches is in an open state to prevent current from flowing from the first capacitor to the first latching comparator, the charging configuration further causing the first latching comparator to reset, and in the decision configuration the first set of switches is in the open state to prevent current from flowing from the power supply to the first capacitor, and the second set of switches is in the closed state to allow current to flow from the first capacitor to the first latching comparator to power the first latching comparator to perform a comparison of a first input received via the first free input to a second input received via the second free input and provide an output based on the comparison via the free output.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.