Configurable analog integrated circuit

Amplifiers – With semiconductor amplifying device – Integrated circuits

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Details

330252, 330257, 357 45, H03F 304

Patent

active

046411089

ABSTRACT:
An integrated circuit comprising a plurality of gain cells interspersed with a plurality of passive and active, electrically isolated components (e.g. thin-film binarily-weighted resistors and transistors). Each gain cell comprises a differential amplifier gain stage comprising a pair of emitter-coupled transistors, the coupled emitters being connected to a current source. The collectors thereof are coupled to a pair of transistors configured as a current mirror. The emitter-coupled transistors, current source and current-mirror transistors are disposed on a first level of the integrated circuit. A first output stage comprising a common-emitter transistor and a second output stage comprising a transistor having an electrically isolated emitter are disposed on the first level. An upper level of metallization is used for selectively coupling either: the output of the differential amplifier gain stage to the first output stage, thereby configuring the gain cell as a comparator; or, additionally, the second output stage transistor between the collector of the first output stage transistor and the output of the differential amplifier, thereby providing an operational amplifier circuit configuration. With such arrangement, each gain cell has a pre-configured gain stage with predetermined electrical characteristics. The manufacturer may then configure each gain cell as either an analog comparator or an operational amplifier having well-defined electrical characteristics during the final metallization process. The gain cells and passive and active components further are selectively interconnected by second level metallization to thereby configure a desired circuit.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3621562 (1971-11-01), Patel
patent: 4234888 (1980-11-01), Calhoun et al.
patent: 4521799 (1985-06-01), Davies
The Electronic Engineer, Jun. 1967, p. 68.
Seevinch, "An Uncommitted Integrated Circuit", The Transactions of the SA Institute of Electrical Engineers, Aug. 1976, pp. 222-225.

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