High speed sample and hold signal generator

A method for producing a plurality of sequential sample-to-hold signal transitions for controlling the high speed sampling of data, the method comprising the steps of:

• upon the occurrence of a precharge signal, charging a plurality of capacitors to a plurality of voltage levels all of the voltage levels being above a threshold voltage of a plurality of amplifiers, the plurality of capacitors being non-linear capacitors that rapidly become effective shorts to ground when a stored charge falls below a threshold of non-linearity;
• upon the occurrence of a reference timing signal, discharging the plurality of capacitors with a plurality of constant current sources;
• and
• as each capacitor discharges to the level of the threshold voltage, amplifying a transition across the threshold to produce the plurality of sequential sample-to-hold signal transitions.

An circuit for producing a plurality of sequential sample-to-hold signal transitions for controlling the high speed sampling of data comprising:

• a plurality of capacitors;
• a plurality of amplifiers, each having one of the plurality of capacitors coupled to an input, and each amplifier having a characteristic input threshold voltage;
• means for charging the plurality of capacitors to a plurality of voltage levels upon the occurrence of a precharge signal, all of the voltage levels being above the threshold voltage;
• and
• a plurality of constant current sources for discharging the plurality of capacitors upon the occurrence of a reference timing signal, the plurality of constant current sources comprise a plurality of saturated transistors under the control of a plurality of reference voltages so to produce a plurality of characteristic discharge times,
• whereby as each capacitor discharges to the level of the threshold voltage, outputs of the plurality of amplifiers produce a plurality of sequential sample-to-hold signal transitions.

A circuit for producing a plurality of sequential sample-to-hold signal transitions for controlling the high speed sampling of data comprising:

• a plurality of non-linear capacitors that rapidly become effective shorts to ground when a stored voltage falls below a threshold of non-linearity;
• a plurality of amplifiers, each having one of the plurality of capacitors coupled to an input, and each amplifier having a characteristic input threshold voltage;
• means for charging the plurality of capacitors to a plurality of voltage levels upon the occurrence of a precharge signal, all of the voltage levels being above the threshold voltage;
• and
• a plurality of constant current sources for discharging the plurality of capacitors upon the occurrence of a reference timing signal,
• whereby as each capacitor discharges to the level of the threshold voltage, outputs of the plurality of amplifiers produce a plurality of sequential sample-to-hold signal transitions.