Digital-analog current converter
US6337647B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 18, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 8, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 18, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M3/374
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A digital-analog current converter receives, at input, a succession of bits of a binary signal and delivers, at output, sampled by a clock signal, a positive or negative current depending on the state of the input bit. The converter comprises at least one circuit to control the build-up time of the output current of the converter, comprising a capacitor and a circuit to charge this capacitor controlled by the clock signal. The build-up time is controlled by the charging of a capacitor at a constant current up to a reference voltage. The circuit to control the build-up time of the output current may comprise at least two reference voltages, the capacitor being charged and then discharged between these two voltages. The build-up time of the output current is then the sum of the time taken to charge the capacitor and the time taken to discharge the capacitor. The charging and discharging current of the capacitor can be sent directly into the output load of the converter by means of selector switches and current mirrors. Two capacitors are used and are they are charged and discharged. While one of the capacitors gets charged, the other gets discharged. The disclosure can be applied esp…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.