Differential comparator cirucit

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:870635

Hickling, Ronald M ^[1]

---

1. Simi Valley, CA

A differential comparator circuit for an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) or other application includes a plurality of differential comparators and a plurality of offset voltage generators. Each comparator includes first and second differentially connected transistor pairs having equal and opposite voltage offsets. First and second offset control transistors are connected in series with the transistor pairs respectively. The offset voltage generators generate offset voltages corresponding to reference voltages which are compared with a differential input voltage by the comparators. Each offset voltage is applied to the offset control transistors of at least one comparator to set the overall voltage offset of the comparator to a value corresponding to the respective reference voltage. The number of offset voltage generators required in an ADC application can be reduced by a factor of approximately two by applying the offset voltage from each offset voltage generator to two comparators with opposite logical sense such that positive and negative offset voltages are produced by each offset voltage generator.

• Research Organization: Technoconcepts, Inc. (Newbury Park, CA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-92ER81459
• Assignee: Technoconcepts, Inc. (Newbury Park, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5563598
• OSTI ID: 870635
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

differential
comparator
cirucit
circuit
analog-to-digital
converter
adc
application
plurality
comparators
offset
voltage
generators
differentially
connected
transistor
pairs
equal
opposite
offsets
control
transistors
series
respectively
generate
voltages
corresponding
reference
compared
input
applied
set
overall
value
respective
required
reduced
factor
approximately
applying
generator
logical
sense
positive
negative
produced
analog-to-digital converter
input voltage
reference voltage
voltage generator
reference voltages
value corresponding
comparator circuit
digital converter
differential comparator
differential input
/341/