Patent · US Active

Apparatus and methods for voltage comparison

US8810282B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
2References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 21, 2012
Grant dateAug 19, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 21, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03M1/12
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for voltage comparison are provided. In one embodiment, a comparator includes a first input transistor having a gate configured to receive a first input voltage and a second input transistor having a gate configured to receive a second input voltage. The first and second input transistors can be used to compare the first input voltage to the second input voltage. Additionally, the comparator further includes a first Miller capacitor electrically connected to a drain of the first input transistor and a second Miller capacitor electrically connected to a drain of the second input transistor. Furthermore, first and second inverting amplification circuits are electrically connected across the first and second Miller capacitors, respectively, so as to increase the effective capacitance of the capacitors. The first and second Miller capacitors can be used to extend the comparator's integration time, thereby enhancing the performance of the comparator.

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