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US 6,642,768 B1Granted
Voltage-dependent impedance selector for non-linearity compensation
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorsJohn David Schell, Adam Thomas Snider, Edward C. Guerrero, Jr., Christopher Eric Tressler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A voltage-dependent impedance selector compensates for non-linearities that arise when the operating voltage of an electronic circuit changes. The voltage-dependent impedance selector includes a selection stage that selects a impedance based on the operating voltage of the electronic circuit. The selected impedance is connected to an output stage having a resistive value so that the selected impedance and the output stage form a voltage divider. The voltage-dependent impedance selector may, in some embodiments, be used in reference voltage generation or in impedance matching.
Claims27
A system comprising:
- a plurality of discrete impedances;
- a selection stage configured to dynamically select a first impedance from the plurality of discrete impedances when an input voltage is equal to a first voltage and to dynamically select a second impedance from the plurality of discrete impedances when the input voltage is equal to a second voltage;
- and
- an output stage having an output stage impedance;
- wherein the selection stage is configured to couple an impedance to the output stage to form a selected voltage divider, wherein the coupled impedance comprises a selected one of the plurality of discrete impedances;
- and
- wherein the selected voltage divider is configured to divide the input voltage across the coupled impedance and the output stage to generate an output voltage.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a component;
- a plurality of discrete impedances;
- a selection stage configured to dynamically select a first impedance from the plurality of discrete impedances when a first voltage is equal to a second voltage and to dynamically select a second impedance from the plurality of discrete impedances when the first voltage is equal to a third voltage;
- and
- an output stage, wherein the output stage has an output stage impedance;
- wherein the selection stage is configured to couple an impedance to the output stage to form a selected voltage divider, wherein the coupled impedance comprises a selected one of the plurality of discrete impedances;
- wherein the selected voltage divider is configured to receive an input voltage and to divide an input voltage across the coupled impedance and the output stage to generate an output voltage, and
- wherein the component is coupled to receive the output voltage from the output stage and configured to determine a logical state of a signal by comparing a voltage level of a signal to a voltage level of the output voltage.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- a plurality of discrete impedances;
- a selection stage configured to dynamically select a first impedance from the plurality of discrete impedances when a first voltage is equal to a second voltage and to dynamically select a second impedance from the plurality of discrete impedances when the first voltage is equal to a third voltage;
- and
- an output stage having an output stage impedance, wherein the output stage comprises an impedance matching compensation circuit;
- wherein the selection stage is configured to couple an impedance to the output stage to form a selected voltage divider, wherein the coupled impedance comprises a selected one of the plurality of discrete impedances;
- and
- wherein the selected voltage divider is configured to receive an input voltage and to divide the input voltage across the coupled impedance and the output stage to generate an output voltage.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- an integrated circuit comprising a core supplied by an operating voltage;
- a plurality of discrete impedances;
- a selection stage coupled to the core and configured to dynamically select a first impedance from the plurality of discrete impedances when the operating voltage is equal to a first voltage and to dynamically select a second impedance from the plurality of discrete impedances when the operating voltage is equal to a second voltage;
- and
- an output stage having an output stage impedance;
- wherein the selection stage is configured to couple an impedance to the output stage to form a selected voltage divider, wherein the coupled impedance comprises a selected one of the plurality of discrete impedances;
- and
- wherein the selected voltage divider is configured to receive an input voltage and to divide the input voltage across the coupled impedance and the output stage to generate an output voltage.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- supplying an operating voltage to a core of an integrated circuit;
- receiving an input voltage;
- selecting a selected impedance from a plurality of discrete impedances, wherein the selected impedance equals a first impedance if the operating voltage equals a first voltage and wherein the selected impedance equals a second impedance if the operating voltage equals a second voltage;
- coupling an impedance to an output stage, wherein the coupled impedance comprises the selected impedance;
- and
- dividing an input voltage across the selected impedance and the output stage to generate an output voltage.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving an input voltage;
- selecting a selected impedance from a plurality of discrete impedances, wherein the selected impedance equals a first impedance if the input voltage equals a first voltage and wherein the selected impedance equals a second impedance if the input voltage equals a second voltage;
- coupling an impedance to an output stage, wherein the coupled impedance comprises the selected impedance;
- and
- dividing the input voltage across the selected impedance and the output stage to generate an output voltage.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a first voltage;
- selecting a selected impedance from a plurality of discrete impedances, wherein the selected impedance equals a first impedance if a first voltage equals a second voltage and wherein the selected impedance equals a second impedance if the first voltage equals a third voltage;
- coupling an impedance to an output stage, wherein the coupled impedance comprises the selected impedance;
- dividing an input voltage across the selected impedance and the output stage to generate an output voltage;
- and
- determining a logical state of a signal by comparing a voltage level of the signal to a voltage level of the output voltage.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a first voltage;
- selecting a selected impedance from a plurality of discrete impedances, wherein the selected impedance equals a first impedance if a first voltage equals a second voltage and wherein the selected impedance equals a second impedance if the first voltage equals a third voltage;
- coupling an impedance to an output stage, wherein the coupled impedance comprises the selected impedance;
- dividing an input voltage across the selected impedance and the output stage to generate an output voltage;
- and
- matching an output impedance of an output driver to the selected impedance.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.