Amplifier Circuit of High Response Speed and Related Clamping Method
AssigneeNovatek Microelectronics Corp.
InventorHsiang-Yi Chiu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An amplifier circuit includes an input stage, having a positive input end and a negative a negative input end, for generating a pair of differential signals according to a first input voltage received from the positive input end and a second input voltage received from a negative input end; an output stage, coupled to the input stage for generating an output voltage at an output end according to the pair of differential signals; a feedback stage, coupled between the output end and the negative input end; and a clamping unit, coupled between the positive input end and the negative input end for adjusting the second input voltage when the first input voltage is varied so as to clamp a voltage difference between the first input voltage and second input voltage.
Claims20
An amplifier circuit, comprising:
- an input stage, having a positive input end and a negative a negative input end, for generating a pair of differential signals according to a first input voltage received from the positive input end and a second input voltage received from a negative input end;
- an output stage, coupled to the input stage for generating an output voltage at an output end according to the pair of differential signals;
- a feedback stage, coupled between the output end and the negative input end;
- and
- a clamping unit, coupled between the positive input end and the negative input end for adjusting the second input voltage when the first input voltage is varied so as to clamp a voltage difference between the first input voltage and second input voltage.
A clamping method for an amplifier circuit, wherein the amplifier circuit comprising an input stage, having a positive input end and a negative a negative input end respectively receiving a first input voltage and a second input voltage, an output stage, coupled to the input stage for generating an output voltage at an output end according to the a pair of differential signals generated by the input stage, and a feedback stage, coupled between the output end and the negative input end, wherein the clamping method comprises:
- when the first input voltage is increased to be greater than the second input voltage and an absolute value of a voltage difference between the first input voltage and second input voltage exceeds a threshold voltage, pulling up the second input voltage such that the voltage difference between the first input voltage and second input voltage does not exceed the threshold voltage;
- and
- when the first input voltage is decreased to be lower than the second input voltage and the absolute value of the voltage difference between the first input voltage and second input voltage exceeds the threshold voltage, pulling down the second input voltage such that the voltage difference between the first input voltage and second input voltage does not exceed the threshold voltage.
An amplifier circuit, comprising:
- an input stage, having a positive input end and a negative a negative input end, for generating a pair of differential signals according to a first input voltage received from the positive input end and a second input voltage received from a negative input end;
- an output stage, coupled to the input stage for generating an output voltage at an output end according to the pair of differential signals;
- a feedback stage, coupled between the output end and the negative input end;
- and
- a clamping unit, comprising:
- a first diode, comprising an anode directly connected to the negative input end and a cathode directly to the positive input end;
- and
- a second diode, comprising an anode directly connected to the positive input end and a cathode directly connected to the negative input end;
- wherein neither the positive input end nor the negative input end is coupled to a ground terminal or a fixed voltage.
An amplifier circuit, comprising:
- an input stage, having a positive input end and a negative a negative input end, for generating a pair of differential signals according to a first input voltage received from the positive input end and a second input voltage received from a negative input end;
- an output stage, coupled to the input stage for generating an output voltage at an output end according to the pair of differential signals;
- a feedback stage, coupled between the output end and the negative input end;
- and
- a clamping unit, comprising:
- one or more first diode-connected transistors, serially coupled between the positive input end and a first node;
- and
- one or more second diode-connected transistors, serially coupled between the negative input end and the first node;
- wherein neither the positive input end nor the negative input end is coupled to a ground terminal or a fixed voltage.
An amplifier circuit, comprising:
- an input stage, having a positive input end and a negative a negative input end, for generating a pair of differential signals according to a first input voltage received from the positive input end and a second input voltage received from a negative input end;
- an output stage, coupled to the input stage for generating an output voltage at an output end according to the pair of differential signals;
- a feedback stage, coupled between the output end and the negative input end;
- and
- a clamping unit, comprising:
- a first transistor, comprising a gate coupled to the positive input end, a drain coupled to the positive input end and a source coupled to a first node;
- and
- a second transistor, comprising a gate coupled to the negative input end, a drain coupled to the negative input end and a source coupled to the first node;
- wherein neither the positive input end nor the negative input end is coupled to a ground terminal or a fixed voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.