Circuit and method for driving alternatively electric loads with low impedance
AssigneeSGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.A.
InventorsGermano Nicollini, Sergio Pernici
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic driver circuit for low-impedance loads, being of a type which comprises an input terminal (IN) to which a voltage signal (Vin) is applied for alternate transfer to an output, and a plurality of output terminals (OUTi), each connected to a corresponding electric load (2), further comprises, between the input terminal and the output terminals, a single operational amplifier (3) having multiple output stages (7), one for each output terminal (OUTi). The operational amplifier (3) is of the single-ended or fully differential multistage type and allows each load to be driven alternately by activation of the corresponding output stage (7i).
Claims30
An electronic driver circuit for low-impedance electric loads, comprising:
- an input terminal whereto a voltage signal is applied, and
- a plurality of output terminals, each said output terminal being connected to a corresponding electric load;
- and
- an input amplifier, connected between the input terminal and the output terminals, having
- a single input stage having a first input functionally connected to receive said voltage signal, and an output connected to vary in dependence on said first input;
- and
- a plurality of output stages, one for each output terminal, each functionally connected to receive said output from said single input stage;
- said output stages being connected with switches so that a selected one of said output stages, and not the other ones of said output stages, is enabled to drive the respective one of said output terminals, and to provide a negative feedback signal to said first input of said single input stage.
An integrated multiple-alternate-output driver circuit, comprising:
- a first amplifier stage, connected to receive and amplify an input signal to provide a first amplified signal, and also having a negative feedback input;
- and
- a plurality of final amplifier stages connected to be individually enabled, and
- each functionally connected, when enabled, to drive a respective individual output in correspondence with said first amplified signal, and
- each functionally connected, when enabled, to drive said negative feedback input of said first amplifier stage in common with said respective individual output.
An integrated multiple-alternate-output driver circuit, comprising:
- a first amplifier stage, connected to receive and amplify an input signal to provide a first amplified signal, and also having a negative feedback input;
- an intermediate amplifier stage, connected to receive and amplify said first amplified signal, to accordingly provide a second amplified signal as an output;
- a plurality of final amplifier stages connected to be individually enabled, and
- each functionally connected, when enabled, to drive a respective individual output in correspondence with said second amplified signal, and
- each functionally connected, when enabled, to drive said negative feedback input of said first amplifier stage in common with said respective individual output.
A method for operating an integrated multiple-alternate-output driver circuit, comprising the steps of:
- (a.) receiving and amplifying an input signal in a first amplifier stage, to thereby provide a first amplified signal;
- (b.) amplifying said first amplified signal in only a selected one of a plurality of final amplifier stages, while disabling others of said plurality of final amplifier stages;
- said final amplifier stages being connected to drive multiple respective output connections;
- and
- (c.) feeding back said respective output connection of only said selected final amplifier stage, to provide a negative feedback connection to said first amplifier stage;
- said step (a.) being performed in dependence on signals received at said negative feedback connection.
A method for operating an integrated multiple-alternate-output driver circuit, comprising the steps of:
- (a.) receiving and amplifying an input signal in a first amplifier stage, to thereby provide a first amplified signal;
- (a'.) receiving and amplifying said first amplified signal in an intermediate amplifier stage, to thereby provide a second amplified signal;
- (b.) amplifying said second amplified signal in only a selected one of a plurality of final amplifier stages, while disabling others of said plurality of final amplifier stages;
- said final amplifier stages being connected to drive multiple respective output connections;
- and
- (c.) feeding back said respective output connection of only said selected final amplifier stage, to provide a negative feedback connection to said first amplifier stage;
- said step (a.) being performed in dependence on signals received at said negative feedback connection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.