Programmable configuration, level and output voltage range circuits and methods for signal processors
AssigneeLinear Technology Corporation
InventorsPatrick P. Copley, William C. Rempfer, James L. Brubaker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A signal processor circuit which receives an input signal and two control words and is programmable to vary the level and the output voltage range of the output signal is provided. The signal processor includes a converter circuit and a level circuit which provide the output circuit with intermediate signals based on input control signals, e.g., input digital words. The output circuit receives an additional control signal and the intermediate signals and is programmable to modify the output voltage range and level of the output signal based on the additional control signal, e.g., a digital word.
Claims30
A signal processor which receives an input signal, a first control word, a second control word, a third control word and provides an output signal, comprising:
- a converter circuit that receives the input signal and the first control word, and that provides a first intermediate signal, and that is programmable to modify the output signal of the signal processor;
- a level circuit, coupled to receive the input signal and the second control word, to provide a second intermediate signal, and that includes at least one switch which is set based on the second control word, to modify a level of the signal processor;
- and
- an output circuit that receives the third control word, the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal, and that provides the output signal, the output circuit being programmable to modify the level and an output signal range.
A signal processor that receives an input signal, a first control word and a second control word, and provides an output signal, comprising:
- at least two control elements including;
- a first control element, that receives the first control word and the input signal, that is programmable based on the first control word, and that provides a first intermediate signal, and
- a second control element, that receives the output signal, that receives the second control word, and that provides a second intermediate signal;
- and
- a summing element that receives any combination of the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal, and provides the output signal, such that at least one characteristic of the output signal selected from a group consisting of a) a level b) a linearity c) an output signal range d) a combination thereof is programmable based on the first control word and the second control word.
A method of converting an input signal to an output signal in a signal processor circuit which includes a converter circuit, a level circuit and an output circuit, comprising:
- providing an input signal to the converter circuit and the level circuit;
- converting the input signal using the converter circuit to a first intermediate signal based on a first control word;
- converting the input signal using the level circuit to a second intermediate signal based on a second control word;
- providing the first and second intermediate signals and a third control word to the output circuit;
- configuring the output circuit based on the third control word, wherein the second control word and the third control word each modify at least one characteristic of the output signal selected from a) an output signal range b) a linearity c) a level and d) a combination thereof.
A signal processor circuit which includes a converter circuit, a level circuit and an output circuit, the signal processor for converting an input signal to an output signal, comprising:
- a means for providing an input signal to the level circuit and the converter circuit;
- a means for converting the input signal using a converter circuit to a first intermediate signal based on a first control word;
- a means for converting the input signal using the level circuit to a second intermediate signal based on a second control word;
- a means for providing the first and second intermediate signals and an third control word to the output circuit;
- a means for configuring the output circuit based on the third control word, wherein the second control word and the third control word each modify at least one characteristic of the output signal selected from a) an output signal range b) a linearity c) a level and d) a combination thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.