Patent · US Expired

Auto-zero amplifier circuit with wide dynamic range

US4276513A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
8References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 14, 1979
Grant dateJun 30, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 14, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03F1/303
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An operational amplifier (33) is continuously switched back-and-forth between an auto-zero mode of operation and an accurate amplification mode of operation. During the auto-zero mode of operation, the junction between an offset voltage compensation (e.g., auto-zero) capacitor (35) and the noninverting input of the operational amplifier (33) is referenced to the input signal voltage via a bootstrap amplifier (31), rather than being tied to ground. Further, during the auto-zero mode of operation, the other end of the auto-zero capacitor (35) is referenced to the output of the operational amplifier (33), which is also connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier. As a result, the auto-zero capacitor (35) is charged to a voltage level equal to the input offset voltage of the operational amplifier, but in polarity opposition thereto. During the accurate amplification mode of operation, the input signal is applied to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier (33) via the auto-zero capacitor (35). As a result, the charge on the auto-zero capacitor cancels the input offset voltage of the amplifier whereby the output of the operational amplifier (33) is accuratel…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.