Patent · US Expired

DC cancellation apparatus and method

US6876233B1 · kind B1 · utility

10Cited by
4References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 15, 2003
Grant dateApr 5, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 15, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K5/003
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for separating DC and AC components of a composite signal Is=Idc+Iac from a current source, e.g., a photodiode current source. Four current mirrors CM-1 . . . CM-4 are used with common branches and overlap. CM-1 through CM-3 mirror Is and CM-4 mirrors Idc where lac has been removed by a frequency selective branch. Outputs of the Cm-3 and Cm-4 are combined at a node to provide a signal proportional substantially only to Iac. Complementary devices are used where Cm-1 and Cm-4 are of one type and Cm-2 and Cm-3 are of opposite type. The arrangement allows detection of AC signals (e.g., pulses) that are orders of magnitude smaller than the DC background. An I-to-V converter with a large feedback resistance is used at the output to produce a comparatively large voltage output proportional to lac.

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