Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for duplicating currents

US5444446A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 1, 1993
Grant dateAug 22, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 1, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03M1/747
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A current duplicator (10) is provided for receiving a calibration current and providing an output current to a load (10). Current duplicator (10) includes a transconductor (14) having a differentially coupled input with a parasitic capacitance for storing a differential voltage during a supply period. This parasitic capacitance also converts a difference current into the voltage during a feedback period. The difference current is equal to the difference between the output current and the calibration current. Transconductor (14) converts the voltage into the output current. The current duplicator also includes a first switch network for coupling the output current to the load (12) during the supply period. The output current remains within a predetermined amount from the calibration current during the supply period. A second switch network feeds back the difference current to the input during the feedback period at least until the output current becomes substantially equal to the calibration current.

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