Voltage multiplier circuit
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsAaron K. Martin, David J. Comer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A voltage multiplier circuit includes a voltage-to-current converter, a current multiplier, and load devices. The voltage-to-current converter receives a differential input voltage, and produces a differential current. The differential current is received by the current multiplier, which produces a scaled output current. The amount of scaling is provided by a digital control word. Load devices produce a differential output voltage from the scaled output current. Multiple voltage-to-current converters and current multipliers can be coupled in parallel so that the scaled output currents sum.
Claims16
A circuit comprising:
- a voltage-to-current converter having a differential input node and a differential output node;
- a current multiplier coupled to the differential output node of the voltage-to-current converter circuit and including an output node;
- a load device coupled to the output node of the current multiplier;
- a second voltage-to-current converter having a differential input node and a differential output node;
- and
- a second current multiplier coupled to the differential output node of the second voltage-to-current converter;
- wherein the current multiplier and the second current multiplier each have differential output nodes coupled in common.
A circuit comprising:
- a voltage-to-current converter having a differential input node and a differential output node;
- a current multiplier coupled to the differential output node of the voltage-to-current converter circuit, the current multiplier includes a plurality of selectable current source circuits to provide a digitally controlled programmable gain;
- a second voltage-to-current converter;
- and
- a second current multiplier having a digitally programmable current gain, the second current multiplier coupled to be responsive to the second voltage-to-current converter circuit and having an output node coupled in common with an output node of the current multiplier.
A circuit comprising:
- a plurality of voltage-to-current converters having differential input nodes and differential output nodes;
- and
- a plurality of current multipliers, each including a plurality of current source circuits to provide a digitally controlled programmable gain,
- each of the plurality of voltage-to-current converters being coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of current multipliers, and wherein the plurality of current multipliers have output nodes coupled in common.
A circuit comprising:
- a differential pair of input transistors to convert a differential input voltage into a first differential current;
- a current multiplier coupled to the differential pair of transistors to produce a second differential current in response to the first differential current, the current multiplier including a plurality of selectable current source circuits, and wherein each of the plurality of selectable current source circuits is configured to be responsive to a digital control signal;
- and
- a pair of load devices to produce a differential output voltage in response to the second differential current.
A circuit comprising:
- a differential pair of input transistors to convert a differential input voltage into a first differential current;
- a current multiplier coupled to the differential pair of transistors to produce a second differential current in response to the first differential current;
- and
- a pair of load devices to produce a differential output voltage in response to the second differential current;
- a second differential pair of transistors to receive a second differential input voltage;
- and
- a second current multiplier coupled between the second differential pair of transistors and the pair of load devices.
An integrated circuit comprising a voltage multiplier circuit that includes a current multiplier with a digitally programmable current gain;
- a voltage-to-current converter circuit coupled to an input side of the current multiplier;
- and
- a processor coupled to the current multiplier to provide a digital value such that an output current of the current multiplier is responsive to the digital value and a voltage input to the voltage-to-current converter circuit.
An integrated circuit comprising a voltage multiplier circuit that includes a current multiplier with a digitally programmable current gain, the current multiplier comprising a plurality of current mirrors with digitally programmable gain, each of the plurality of current mirrors having a common output node;
- and
- a plurality of voltage-to-current converter circuits, wherein each of the plurality of voltage-to-current converter circuits is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of current mirrors.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a plurality of voltage-to-current converters to receive a plurality of differential input voltages and produce a plurality of differential currents;
- and
- a plurality of current multipliers coupled to a common output node, each of the plurality of current multipliers coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of voltage-to-current converters to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of differential currents, and wherein each of the plurality of current multipliers has a programmable current gain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.