Digital potentiometer including plural bulk impedance devices

Details Digital potentiometer including plural bulk impedance devices Digital potentiometer including plural bulk impedance devices

2008-03-18

2008-03-18

Jeanglaude, Jean B. (Department: 2819)

Coded data generation or conversion

Analog to or from digital conversion

Digital to analog conversion

C341S154000

Reexamination Certificate

active

10660222

ABSTRACT:
Embodiments of a digital potentiometer are disclosed that require lesser numbers of components than conventional digital potentiometers. A first string of elemental impedance devices, and at least one bulk impedance device, are provided between first and second reference terminals. The first string of elemental impedance devices is tapped by wiper switches. The at least one bulk impedance device has an impedance greater than an impedance of the first string. If desired, second and third bypassable impedance device strings also may be provided between the first and second reference terminals, with the impedance of the respective second and third strings being between the impedance of the first string and the impedance of one bulk impedance device. One or more dummy structures each including an impedance device in parallel with a permanently-on switch also may be between the first and second reference terminals to improve linearity.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4271486 (1981-06-01), Dagostino et al.
patent: 4468607 (1984-08-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 4477920 (1984-10-01), Nygaard, Jr.
patent: 4668932 (1987-05-01), Drori et al.
patent: 5034631 (1991-07-01), Mouret
patent: 5084667 (1992-01-01), Drori et al.
patent: 5297056 (1994-03-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5414389 (1995-05-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 5495245 (1996-02-01), Ashe
patent: 5703588 (1997-12-01), Rivoir et al.
patent: 5706008 (1998-01-01), Huntley et al.
patent: 5717323 (1998-02-01), Tailliet
patent: 6201491 (2001-03-01), Brunolli et al.
patent: 6320451 (2001-11-01), Harvey et al.
patent: 6331768 (2001-12-01), Drori et al.
patent: 6414616 (2002-07-01), Dempsey
patent: 6555996 (2003-04-01), Drori et al.
patent: 2001/0038351 (2001-11-01), Brunolli et al.
patent: 2003/0011464 (2003-01-01), Eck et al.
patent: 2004/0108844 (2004-06-01), Stanescu et al.
Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc., “CAT515: 8-Bit Quad DACpot with RDY/BUSY and IND. Reference Inputs,” 1997, pp. 1-11.
Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc., “CAT524: 8-bit Quad Digital POT,” 1998, pp. 25-36.
Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc., “CAT514: 8-Bit Quad DACpot,” 1997, pp. 1-13.
Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc., “CAT514: 8-Bit Quad Digital POT,” 1999, pp. 1-12.
Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc., “CAT525: 8-Bit Quad Digital POT With Independent Reference Inputs,” 1999, pp. 1-11.
Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc., “CAT5111, CAT5112, CAT5113 and CAT5114: 100/32-Tap Digital POT with Independent Reference Inputs,” 1999, pp. 1-6.
Stanescu et al., “32 Taps Digitally Controlled Buffered Potentiometer,” Proceedings of CAS 2001 International Semiconductor Conference, IEEE Catalog No. 01TH8547, pp. 535-538, Oct. 2001.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Digital potentiometer including plural bulk impedance devices does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Digital potentiometer including plural bulk impedance devices, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Digital potentiometer including plural bulk impedance devices will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3906051