Patent · US Expired

Offset-free rail-to-rail derandomizing peak detect-and-hold circuit

US6512399B1 · kind B1 · utility

9Cited by
12References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 3, 2001
Grant dateJan 28, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 3, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C27/026
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A peak detect-and-hold circuit eliminates errors introduced by conventional amplifiers, such as common-mode rejection and input voltage offset. The circuit includes an amplifier, three switches, a transistor, and a capacitor. During a detect-and-hold phase, a hold voltage at a non-inverting in put terminal of the amplifier tracks an input voltage signal and when a peak is reached, the transistor is switched off, thereby storing a peak voltage in the capacitor. During a readout phase, the circuit functions as a unity gain buffer, in which the voltage stored in the capacitor is provided as an output voltage. The circuit is able to sense signals rail-to-rail and can readily be modified to sense positive, negative, or peak-to-peak voltages. Derandomization may be achieved by using a plurality of peak detect-and-hold circuits electrically connected in parallel.

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