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US 7,002,412 B2Granted
Transconductance circuit
AssigneeAgency for Science, Technology and Research
InventorPo Ming Li
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transconductance circuit having a feedback element for maintaining constant potential differences at a differential amplifier, which in turn allows an intermediate current signal to flow through a resistive load directly proportional to an input voltage signal. The intermediate current signal is amplified through an amplifying stage to a sub-harmonic stage.
Claims20
A transconductance circuit for receiving an input signal and performing voltage-to-current conversion, comprising:
- a differential amplifier having a first input terminal and a second input terminal for receiving an input voltage signal and providing a load voltage signal;
- a load for converting the load voltage signal into an intermediate current signal, the load having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is connected to a first output terminal of the differential amplifier and the second terminal connected to a second output terminal of the differential amplifier;
- an amplifying stage coupled to the load for amplifying the intermediate current signal and having an output port for providing an output current signal;
- a current feedback element for maintaining constant potential differences between the first input terminal and the first output terminal and across the second input terminal and the second output terminal of the differential amplifier, the feedback element being coupled to the differential amplifier and the amplifying stage.
1 more element
A method for performing voltage-to-current conversion, comprising the steps of:
- applying an input voltage signal to a differential amplifier, the differential amplifier having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal;
- providing a load voltage signal across the first output terminal and the second output terminal;
- maintaining constant potential differences between the first input terminal and the first output terminal and across the second input terminal and the second output terminal of the differential amplifier through a current feedback element;
- converting the load voltage signal into an intermediate current signal by applying the load voltage signal across a load.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.