Patent · US Expired

Operational amplifier circuit with slew rate enhancement

US5343164A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
1References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 25, 1993
Grant dateAug 30, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 25, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03F2203/45248
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A low power operational amplifier adjusts its output slew rate by providing additional bias current to its differential amplifier stage when the amplitude of the differential input signal exceeds a given threshold. The additional bias current provides an enhanced current for charging or discharging an internal compensating feedback capacitor of the operational amplifier. The power dissipation of the operational amplifier is kept low by employing FET transistors for the basic operational amplifier functions and by minimally biasing the slew rate enhancement circuitry associated with monitoring the amplitude of the differential input signal as well as providing the additional current to the differential amplifier stage when the amplitude of the differential input signal exceeds the given threshold. The given threshold for the differential input signal is determined according to the bias currents and the width-to-length ratios of the FETs of the differential input stage and the FETs of the monitoring and adjustment circuitry.

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