Techniques for implementing a rough buffer for charging a sampling capacitor
AssigneeCirrus Logic, Inc.
InventorsAxel Thomsen, Lei Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A buffer arrangement uses separate amplifiers for handling for positive going signal transitions and for negative going signal transitions respectively. A comparator detects the direction of transition and a switching element connects signal input lines in the appropriate sense to the respective amplifiers based on the output of the comparator. This permits amplifiers optimized for positive or negative going transitions to be used. The output of the amplifiers can be connected across a sampling capacitor
Claims14
A buffer arrangement, comprising:
- a. a first input line and a second input line,
- b. a first amplifier which responds to positive going pulses,
- c. a second amplifier which responds to negative going pulses,
- d. a first switching circuit which selectively connects said first input line and said second input line to said first amplifier and said second amplifier, respectively, in a first state, or two said second amplifier and two said first amplifier, respectively, in a second state, and
- e. a comparator for sensing the direction of voltage change on said first input line and said second input line and for setting the state of said first switching circuit.
A method of buffering a bipolar signal comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a first amplifier for amplifying positive going signals,
- b. providing a second amplifier for amplifying negative going signals,
- c. selectively switching input lines so that positive going signals are directed to said first amplifier and negative going signals are directed to said second amplifier, and
- d. selectively feeding back output signals from said first amplifier and said second amplifier to said input lines depending on how the input lines are connected to said first amplifier and said second amplifier.
A method of designing an integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a first input line and a second input line,
- b. providing a first amplifier which responds relatively quickly to positive going pulses,
- c. providing a second amplifier which responds relatively quickly to negatively going pulses,
- d. providing a first switching circuit which selectively connects said first input line and said second input line to said first amplifier and said second amplifier, respectively, in a first state, or to said second amplifier and said first amplifier, respectively, in a second state, and
- e. providing a comparator for sensing the direction of voltage change on said first input line and said second input line and for setting the state of said first switching circuit.
A method of fabricating an integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a first input line and a second input line,
- b. providing a first amplifier which responds relatively quickly to positive going pulses,
- c. providing a second amplifier which responds relatively quickly to negatively going pulses,
- d. providing a first switching circuit which selectively connects said first input line and said second input line to said first amplifier and said second amplifier, respectively, in a first state, or to said second amplifier and said first amplifier, respectively, in a second state, and
- e. providing a comparator for sensing the direction of voltage change on said first input line and said second input line and for setting the state of said first switching circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.