Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices – circuits – and – Signal converting – shaping – or generating – Amplitude control
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-28
2004-05-04
Nguyen, Minh (Department: 2816)
Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices, circuits, and
Signal converting, shaping, or generating
Amplitude control
C327S312000, C327S316000, C330S260000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06731150
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to electronic circuits, and in particular to amplifiers with input and output signals control.
BACKGROUND
Many electrical circuits have amplifiers for amplifying input signals to produce amplified output signals.
In most applications, the signal levels of the output signals depend on the signal levels of the input signals. And the speed of the amplifier depends on the switching of the output signals. Thus, the speed of the amplifier indirectly depends on the signal levels of the input signals.
In some applications, the input signals of the amplifier are limited to some fixed signal levels to improve the speed of the amplifier. However, in some cases, fixing the signal levels of the input signals may cause the output signals to differ from specified signal levels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The various embodiments of the present invention provide methods and circuits for variably limiting signal levels of input signals of amplifiers based on signal levels of output signals of the amplifiers to improve the speed of the amplifying circuit.
In one aspect, a circuit includes an amplifying stage for receiving input signals to generate output signals. A swing detect unit detects signal levels of the output signals. A clamp unit variably limits signal levels of the input signals based on the detection by the swing detect unit.
In another aspect, a method of operating an amplifying circuit includes receiving input signals to generate output signals. The method further includes limiting signal levels of the input signals based on signal levels of the output signals.
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Allen, P., et al.,CMOS Analog Circuit Design, 2nd Edition, (2002),pp. 390-393.
Micro)n Technology, Inc.
Nguyen Minh
Schwegman Lundberg Woessner & Kluth P.A.
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