Dynamic gain compensation and calibration
AssigneeRambus Inc.
InventorHuy Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described are methods and circuits that reduce or eliminate the impact of power-supply fluctuations on circuit performance. IC dies include compensation circuitry that compares local power-supply voltages to relatively stable reference voltages, such as unloaded distributed supply voltages, to sense local supply-voltage fluctuations. Based upon this comparison, the compensation circuitry adjusts circuit characteristics that might otherwise suffer performance degradation. Receivers in accordance with some embodiments automatically tailoring their gain to the output characteristics of a number of possible transmitter types with which the receivers may be expected to communicate.
Claims11
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a. a power-supply pad adapted to receive a first power-supply voltage;
- b. a power-supply branch extending from the pad;
- c. an amplifier including:
- i. a local power-supply node connected to the power-supply pad via the power-supply branch;
- and
- ii. an adjustable current source drawing a supply current from the power-supply pad to the local power-supply node via the power-supply branch, wherein the local power-supply node exhibits a second power-supply voltage less than the first power-supply voltage;
- and
- d. a gain compensation circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the local power-supply node, a second input terminal coupled to a reference node, and an output terminal coupled to the adjustable current source;
- e. wherein the gain compensation circuit controls the supply current in response to changes in the second power-supply voltage;
- and
- f. a reference branch, independent of the power-supply branch, coupled between the pad and the reference node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.