Stmicroelectronics (grenoble 2) Sas

Stmicroelectronics (alps) Sas

Danika Perrin

Sandrine Nicolas

Serge Ramet

Marc Sabut

Reiner Welk

Jean-Baptiste Casanova

Valerie Carrat

Cedric Rechatin

The present description concerns a method of controlling an analog-to-digital converter, wherein most significant bits are determined by successive approximations implementing a first digital-to-analog converter and a second digital-to-analog converter. Further, least significant bits are determined by a time-to-digital conversion by applying a first ramp to the output of the first converter with a third digital-to-analog converter and by applying a second ramp to the output of the second converter with a fourth digital-to-analog converter. The variation direction of the first and second ramps is determined by the comparison of the outputs of the first and second converters at the end of the successive approximations.

Method for controlling an analog-to-digital converter

In an embodiment, a radio frequency (RF) receiver circuit includes a main circuit and a wake-up circuit. The main circuit is configured to process RF signals. The wake-up circuit is configured to detect a reception of the RF signals. The wake-up circuit includes an automatic gain control (AGC) loop, and is configured to have a first operating mode where a set point voltage of the loop has a first substantially constant value, and a second operating mode where the set point voltage of the loop has a second value dependent on a power supply voltage of the wake-up circuit.

Radio frequency receiver

In an embodiment an envelope detection device includes an input terminal configured to receive an amplitude-modulated radio frequency signal, a first resistive element and a first MOS transistor connected in parallel between the input terminal and a first node configured to receive a reference potential, a first capacitive element connected between a gate of the first MOS transistor and the first node, an envelope detection circuit connected to the input terminal and configured to supply a voltage representative of an envelope of the amplitude-modulated signal and a circuit for controlling the first MOS transistor configured to supply a first current to the gate of the first MOS transistor only when the voltage is smaller than a first threshold and draw a second current from the gate of the first MOS transistor only when the voltage is higher than a second threshold, the second threshold being higher than the first threshold.

Envelope detection

In an embodiment, a method for soft-starting an SMPS includes: asserting an enable signal; disabling an output stage of the SMPS; after asserting the enable signal, measuring a feedback voltage of the SMPS; receiving a first reference voltage at an input reference node; comparing the measured feedback voltage with the first reference voltage; and, when the measured feedback voltage is lower than the first reference voltage, storing the feedback voltage in a soft-start capacitor, connecting an output reference node to the soft-start capacitor, enabling the output stage of the SMPS, and switching a transistor of the output stage to regulate the output voltage based on the feedback voltage and a second reference voltage at the output reference node, and injecting a current into the soft-start capacitor.

SMPS power-on with energy saver

An integrated circuit includes a first stage configured to receive a bias current. A current regulation loop includes a transimpedance amplifier having a first transistor, and a second transistor having a gate coupled to a gate of the first transistor. The first transistor and the second transistor are configured to compare the bias current with a reference current, and to generate a regulation voltage on an output node of the transimpedance amplifier. A capacitor is coupled between the output node of the transimpedance amplifier and the gates of the first and second transistors.

Growing community of inventors

Jarrie, France

Danika Perrin