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US 6,438,364 B1Granted
Radio frequency device with fast charging of an input capacitance
AssigneePhilips Electronics North America Corporation
InventorHelen Margaret Waite
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A radio frequency device has an input transistor from which a capacitance is seen, and a fast charging circuit for charging the capacitance. The input transistor receives a radio frequency signal. The capacitance is quickly charged when the device is switched from off to on and/or from low gain to high gain, thereby reducing the switching-on time of the device.
Claims8
A radio frequency device comprising:
- an input transistor comprising an input electrode from which a capacitance is seen, said input transistor being switchable between an on-mode and an off-mode, and said input electrode receiving a radio frequency signal;
- and
- a charging circuit for charging said capacitance when said input transistor is switched from said off-mode to said on-mode, said charging circuit comprising:
- a differential amplifier with differential inputs and a current sensing resister connected across the differential inputs to detect a quantity of current flowing across the input transistor and to cause said charging to automatically cease if said quantity has changed from a first value to a second value, said second value occurring when said capacitance is fully charged;
- a first current mirror for mirroring a first output current at a first output of said differential amplifier;
- a second current mirror for mirroring a second output current of said differential amplifier;
- a third current mirror that is coupled to said first and second current mirrors, said second current mirror providing a charging current upon initiation of said charging, and said third mirror fully sinking said charging current if said quantity has adopted said second value;
- and
- a charging transistor of which an input electrode receives said charging current, and an output electrode provides a current amplified charging current, said current amplified charging current charging said capacitance.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.