Xilinx, Inc.

Alonso Morgado

John K Jennings

Christophe Erdmann

Edward Cullen

Bruno Miguel Vaz

Prathamesh Mukund Khatavkar

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a circuit that is configured to keep a comparator input voltage stable. In an illustrative example, the circuit may include a first differential path coupled to a first switched-capacitor network's output, a second differential path coupled to a second switched-capacitor network's output. A comparator may have a first input coupled to the first differential path and a second input coupled to the second differential path. The comparator may be controlled by a clock signal to perform comparison. A first capacitor may be coupled from the clock signal to the first differential signal path and a second capacitor may be coupled from the clock signal to the second differential signal path. By introducing the first capacitor and the second capacitor, the comparator input common-mode may keep stable, and the comparator may be less sensitive to kickback effects.

Capacitor-enhanced comparator for switched-capacitor (SC) circuits with reduced kickback

Examples of the present disclosure provide out-of-range voltage detection and protection in integrated circuits (ICs). In some examples, an IC includes an envelope detector, a comparator, and a switch. The envelope detector is configured to generate an envelope signal of a signal and output the envelope signal on an output node of the envelope detector. A first input node of the comparator is coupled to the output node of the envelope detector. The comparator is configured to compare respective signals provided on the first and second input nodes of the comparator and generate a comparison signal in response to the comparison. The comparator is further configured to output the comparison signal on the output node of the comparator. The switch is connected between a protected node and a protection node and is configured to be selectively opened or closed based, at least in part, on the comparison signal.

Growing community of inventors

Zurich, Switzerland

Alonso Morgado