Digital trim capacitor programming
AssigneeMaxim Integrated Products, Inc.
InventorAli Rastegar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A programming method (250) for digitally programming the adjustment of an electronic trim capacitor (212, 314, 414). In an initial step (252), programming is initiated by setting an enable terminal (224). In subsequent steps (254, 256) a pulse signal (226) then applied to a program terminal (222) and the number of pulses (228) provided to the programming terminal (222) while the enable terminal (224) is set determines the total number of capacitance increments for which the electronic trim capacitor (212, 314, 414) is programmed. The electronic trim capacitor (212, 314, 414) may be incorporated into an integrated circuit (12, 312) or a module (412) and the electronic trim capacitor (212, 314, 414) may be programmed and used “in situ” in a more general circuit (1) such as an oscillator (301) or an amplifier (401).
Claims12
A method for digitally programming a capacitance value for an electronically adjustable trim capacitor, the programming method comprising the steps of:
- applying a program signal to a program terminal of the electronically adjustable trim capacitor;
- setting the capacitance value of the electronically adjustable trim capacitor based on a logic state corresponding to the applied program signal having at least one pulse, the logic state corresponding to a number of pulses present in the applied program signal;
- wherein said adjustable trim capacitor is configured such that said capacitance value is programmed through said program signal applied to said program terminal;
- and
- wherein the capacitance value of said adjustable trim capacitor increases by one increment each time a pulse present in the program signal is received at the program terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.