Multiple-level driver circuit with non-commutating bridge
AssigneeAnalog Devices, Inc.
InventorChristopher C. McQuilkin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multiple-level driver circuit, such as for providing several different signals to a device under test (DUT) in an automated test system, can include multiple diode bridge circuits. In an example, a first diode bridge circuit is configured to receive a multiple-valued input voltage signal, having at least two different DC voltage signal levels, at an input node and, in response, to selectively provide a corresponding multiple-valued output voltage signal at an output node. The first diode bridge circuit can operate in a conducting and non-commutated state when it is used to selectively provide the multiple-valued output voltage signal at the output node.
Claims20
A pin driver system comprising:
- a first switching stage configured to provide a multiple-valued output voltage signal having at least two different DC voltage signal levels;
- a first diode bridge circuit including a first diode bridge input node and a first diode bridge output node, wherein the first diode bridge circuit is configured to receive a DC first voltage signal at the first diode bridge input node and selectively provide a corresponding first output voltage signal at the first diode bridge output node;
- a second diode bridge circuit including a second diode bridge input node and a second diode bridge output node, wherein the second diode bridge circuit is configured to receive, from the first switching stage, the multiple-valued output voltage signal having the at least two different DC voltage signal levels, at the second diode bridge input node and selectively provide a corresponding multiple-valued output voltage signal at the first diode bridge output node;
- and
- an output buffer circuit including a buffer input node and a buffer output node, wherein the buffer input node is coupled to the first and second diode bridge output nodes.
A method for operating a pin driver system, the method comprising:
- receiving, in a time-interleaved manner, a first DC signal and a different second DC signal at a first node of a conducting and non-commutated first diode bridge circuit and, in response, providing a corresponding first voltage output signal from a second node of the first diode bridge circuit to an output buffer circuit;
- switching the first diode bridge circuit between conducting and non-conducting states to selectively provide the first voltage output signal from the second node of the first diode bridge circuit to the output buffer circuit;
- and
- when the first diode bridge circuit is switched to the non-conducting state, enabling a second diode bridge circuit to provide a second voltage output signal to the output buffer circuit, wherein the second voltage output signal is different from the first voltage output signal.
A system comprising:
- a first diode bridge circuit including a first diode bridge input node and a first diode bridge output node, wherein the first diode bridge circuit is configured to receive a DC first voltage signal at the first diode bridge input node and selectively provide a corresponding first output voltage signal at the first diode bridge output node;
- and
- a second diode bridge circuit including a second diode bridge input node and a second diode bridge output node, wherein the second diode bridge circuit is configured to receive a multiple-valued input voltage signal, having at least two different DC voltage signal levels, at the second diode bridge input node and, when the second diode bridge circuit is operated in a conducting and non-commutated manner, the second diode bridge circuit is configured to selectively provide a corresponding multiple-valued output voltage signal at the first diode bridge output node;
- wherein the first diode bridge circuit is configured to provide the first output voltage signal only when the second diode bridge circuit is substantially non-conducting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.