Operational amplifier with controllable output modes

US11088666B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED · US

Inventors

• Keith Curtis · Gilbert, US
• Ward R. Brown · Chandler, US
• John Charais · Phoenix, US
• Steve Kennelly · Mesa, US
• Dave Suda · Fort Collins, US
• Huamin Zhou · Hubei, CN
• Clark Rogers · Phoenix, US
• Mudit Gupta · Kanchinakote, IN

Key dates

• Filing date: May 14, 2019
• Grant date: Aug 10, 2021
• Expiry date: Aug 28, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03F3/45713
• WIPO field: Basic communication processes
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An operational amplifier with totem pole connected output transistors having inputs coupled to multiplexers for selectable coupling of signals and voltage levels thereto. The high and low output transistors may be forced hard on or hard off in addition to normal coupling of signals thereto. The operation of the output transistors may be dynamically changed to pass only positive going signals, negative going signals, placed in a tristate high impedance state, hard connected to a supply voltage and/or hard connected to supply common return. A core independent peripheral (CIP) may also be coupled to the operational amplifier for dynamically changing the multiplexer inputs in real time, as can external control signals to a control circuit coupled to the multiplexers.