High speed dynamic comparator
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorManar I. El-Chammas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A comparator circuit (FIG. 4) is disclosed. The circuit includes an amplifier circuit (300,302) arranged to produce an output signal (Vom,Vop). A first current source (312) is arranged to produce a first current through the amplifier circuit. A detector circuit (400) is arranged to produce a control signal (404) in response to a level of the output signal. A second current source (402) is arranged to produce a second current through the amplifier circuit in response to the control signal.
Claims17
A circuit, comprising:
- an amplifier circuit arranged to produce an output signal;
- a first current source arranged to produce a first current through the amplifier circuit;
- a detector circuit arranged to produce a control signal in response to a level of the output signal;
- a second current source arranged to produce a second current through the amplifier circuit in response to the control output signal,
- a latch circuit arranged to latch the output signal;
- a first switching transistor coupled between the amplifier circuit and the first current source;
- and
- a second switching transistor coupled between the latch circuit and the first current source.
A method of producing an output signal from an amplifier, comprising:
- detecting a level of the output signal;
- producing a first current and a second current through the amplifier in response to a first level of the output signal;
- and
- producing only the first current through the amplifier in response to a second level of the output signal,
- wherein the output signal is a differential output signal comprising a plus and a minus signal, and wherein the step of detecting comprises producing an exclusive NOR of the plus and minus signals.
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC), comprising:
- an amplifier circuit arranged to produce an output signal;
- a first current source arranged to produce a first current through the amplifier circuit;
- a detector circuit arranged to produce a control signal in response to a level of the output signal;
- and
- a second current source arranged to produce a second current through the amplifier circuit in response to the control output signal,
- a latch circuit arranged to latch the output signal;
- a first switching transistor coupled between the amplifier circuit and the first current source;
- and
- a second switching transistor coupled between the latch circuit and the first current source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.