Amplifiers – With periodic switching input-output
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-29
2002-10-01
Pascal, Robert (Department: 2817)
Amplifiers
With periodic switching input-output
C330S051000, C327S124000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06459335
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to integrated circuit analog input devices and, more particularly, to an auto-calibration circuit for minimizing input offset voltage in the integrated circuit analog input device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY
Integrated circuits are becoming far more sophisticated while continuing to drop in price. Combinations of both analog and digital functions fabricated on an integrated circuit die, or packaged in a multi-chip package (MCP), are becoming more prevalent and are further increasing the usefulness and reducing the cost of consumer and industrial products. The combination of a microcontroller, and analog and digital circuit functions on an integrated circuit die or in an MCP has also expanded the useful range of applications. Consumer and commercial products, such as, for example, but not limited to, appliances, telecommunications devices, automobiles, security systems, full-house instant hot water heaters, thermostats and the like, are being controlled by integrated circuit microcontrollers. Analog inputs for receiving sensor information and analog outputs for controlling functions are necessary for the application of these microcontrollers. Heretofore separate and discrete analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog interfaces were used to connect the digital microcontroller to the outside analog world.
Analog input devices such as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in conjunction with a separate operational amplifier (op-amp) were used to convert a time-varying analog signal into digital representations thereof for application to digital inputs and use thereof by the microcontroller. Voltage and current levels were also detected by discrete integrated circuit voltage comparators that changed a digital output state when a certain analog value was present on the input of the comparator.
The op-amp (and comparator) is generally a differential input (inverting and noninverting inputs) analog device, and the circuit of the op-amp has inherent direct current (DC) input offset voltage that causes the output of the op-amp to be nonzero with a zero input voltage between the differential inputs. Many applications require an op-amp with a very small input offset voltage. To achieve small input offset voltage, normally a calibration step in the production of the op-amp is required. This calibration step takes time during manufacturing/testing and is therefore generally expensive to perform. The calibration is typically performed at one operating point (e.g., temperature, common mode voltage, etc.) such that changes in operating environment are not compensated for. Technology has now advance to the point where the analog input and output devices can be fabricated on the same integrated circuit die on which the digital microcontroller and its support logic and memories are also fabricated. This creates an additional problem in that the equipment used to test the digital microcontroller functions are not capable of performing on-line calibration of analog functions efficiently.
What is needed is an integrated circuit having both analog and digital functions, where the analog functions may be easily calibrated during initial manufacturing/testing and, additionally, may be calibrated in a system application so as to remain in or meet the desired specifications and operating parameters over all operating temperature, voltage, current, speed, power, pressure, humidity, etc., that may be encountered during normal operation and can be mass-produced to reduce overall product costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention overcomes the above-identified problems as well as other shortcomings and deficiencies of existing technologies by providing in a single integrated circuit package an auto-calibration circuit to minimize input offset voltage in an integrated circuit analog input device. The auto-calibration circuit may also be utilized to calibrate a plurality of analog input devices on an integrated circuit die or in an MCP. The auto-calibration circuit and analog input device(s) may be fabricated in combination with a microcontroller system on an integrated circuit die or in an MCP. The auto-calibration circuit of the present invention may quickly and easily compensate for input offset voltage of the analog input device. This compensation may be performed during initial manufacturing/testing and, in addition, may be performed at various times during the operation of the analog input device so as to more effectively maintain desired parameters and specifications over all of the operating conditions of temperature, voltage, current, speed, power, pressure, humidity, etc.
In an embodiment of the auto-calibration circuit of the present invention, the analog input device has input offset voltage compensation or a trimming circuit that counteracts or compensates for the device input offset voltage by applying, for example, but not limited to, an opposite polarity voltage between the differential inputs of the analog input device so as to minimize the resulting voltage error at the output of the analog device. Switching of resistances, current sources and/or voltage sources in the differential input circuit of the analog input device may be used to compensate for the input offset voltage error. In addition, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) may be used to generate a compensation voltage to overcome the input offset voltage error. Other ways of compensating for the input offset voltage error now known or used in the future may be utilized in the present invention so long as they can be controlled by applying a digital value thereto.
A digital control circuit is used to apply a digital word to the input offset voltage compensation circuit for determining a digital value representative of the required input offset voltage compensation. A linear search or binary search of various digital values of the digital word may be used by the digital control circuit. In addition, the digital control circuit may also control switching the inverting and non-inverting inputs, the output, and the feedback gain determining resistors of the analog input device during a “calibration mode” thereof.
A voltage comparator compares the output of the analog input device and a voltage reference. When the output of the analog input device is equal to or greater than the voltage reference, the comparator output switches from a first logic level to a second logic level. The output of the comparator is connected to the digital control circuit and signals the digital control circuit by changing its output logic level.
The voltage reference may be programmably adjustable for selecting a desired reference voltage value to be applied to the analog input device and comparator inputs during the calibration cycle. This feature of the invention allows the ability to vary the voltage reference so as to facilitate calibration at the common mode voltage which is very close to that of the application of use. The appropriate voltage reference value may be written to a control register associated with the voltage reference circuit before initiating the auto calibration of the analog input device. Different voltage reference values may be used for different analog input devices during input offset voltage compensation calibration thereof.
The input offset voltage compensation circuit of the analog input device may have a storage register or memory that retains the digital value required for compensating the input offset voltage. This storage register may be volatile or nonvolatile depending upon the application desired.
In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of analog input devices may have their input offset voltages compensated for by multiplexing the digital control circuit and comparator between each of the plurality of analog input devices. Thus circuits and die area are reduced, saving costs and improving reliability of the embodiment of the present invention.
A feature of the invention is auto-calibration of dc input offset voltage for an analog input device at any ti
Darmawaskita Hartono
Eagar Layton
Moreno Miguel
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Microchip Technology Incorporated
Nguyen Khanh Van
Pascal Robert
LandOfFree
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