That Corporation

Other

Gary K Hebert

Frank A Thomas

Fred Floru

Stacey Leone

An integrated circuit (IC) includes a programmable gain amplifier. The programmable gain amplifier comprises a first-stage amplifier configured to operate with at least one relatively high power supply voltage in order to accommodate at the input of the first-stage amplifier a relatively large range of input signals, the first-stage amplifier having a gain setting that is adjustable from a set of predetermined gain settings separated in relatively coarse increments so as to minimize the number of analog switches that must be implemented with high-voltage active devices in order to set each gain setting. The programmable gain amplifier also includes a second-stage amplifier configured to operate with at least one relatively low power supply voltage, lower than the high power supply voltage in order to minimize the required IC area for the second-stage amplifier, wherein the gain of the second-stage amplifier is adjustable from a set of gain settings separated in relatively small increments between the coarse increments in order to achieve a combined predetermined gain resolution. The gain of the programmable gain amplifier is programmable by adjusting the gain of each of the first-stage and second-stage amplifiers.

Programmable-gain amplifier

A reconfigurable network arrangement of resistors and switches is constructed so that it can be coupled to one or more operational amplifiers and selectively programmed so as to set the gain of the resulting amplifier. The configuration of the network arrangement of resistors and switches to include resistors that can be connected in the feedback path in series and in parallel with each other is such as to provide a wider selection of gain settings, without the need to increase the physical area of the switches on a integrated circuit arrangement.

Area efficient, programmable-gain amplifier

A switching circuit for switching a time-varying input signal, the switching circuit comprising: at least one switch including a N-channel MOSFET and a P-channel MOSFET, each having a gate configured to receive a drive signal to change the ON/OFF state of the switch; and a drive circuit configured and arranged so as to selectively apply a pair of drive signals to change the ON/OFF state of the switch, the drive circuit being configured and arranged to generate the drive signals as a function of (a) a pair DC signal components sufficient to change the ON/OFF state of the switch and (b) a pair of time-varying signal components as at least a partial replica of the signal present on the source terminal of each MOSFET so that when applied with the DC signals to the gates of the re-channel MOSFET and p-channel MOSFET respectively, the drive signals will be at the appropriate level to maintain the ON/OFF state of the switch and keep the gate-source voltages of each MOSFET within the gate-source breakdown limit of the MOSFETs.

Dynamic switch driver for low-distortion programmable-gain amplifier

A switching circuit for switching a time-varying input signal, the switching circuit comprising: at least one switch including a N-channel MOSFET and a P-channel MOSFET, each having a gate configured to receive a drive signal to change the ON/OFF state of the switch; and a drive circuit configured and arranged so as to selectively apply a pair of drive signals to change the ON/OFF state of the switch, the drive circuit being configured and arranged to generate the drive signals as a function of (a) a pair DC signal components sufficient to change the ON/OFF state of the switch and (b) a pair of time-varying signal components as at least a partial replica of the signal present on the source terminal of each MOSFET so that when applied with the DC signals to the gates of the n-channel MOSFET and p-channel MOSFET respectively, the drive signals will be at the appropriate level to maintain the ON/OFF state of the switch and keep the gate-source voltages of each MOSFET within the gate-source breakdown limit of the MOSFETs.

An integrated circuit includes at least three separate power supply terminals, at least one for those portions of the circuit that must accommodate the widest signal-related voltage excursion, at least one for those that experience substantially smaller signal-related voltage excursions, and a common terminal.

Low-power integrated-circuit signal processor with wide dynamic range

A floating, balanced output stage maintains control of the common-mode output current in both output legs even when the differential voltage output is clipped. The circuit includes a pair of transconductance amplifier sections one for providing a differential pair of output currents in response to the input voltage, the currents being substantially equal in magnitude and opposite in polarity; an intermediate section connected so as to generate an intermediate differential output voltage, across two outputs of the intermediate section, in response to the pair of output currents of the first transconductance amplifier; an output section for generating the differential output voltage in response to the pair of voltages generated by the intermediate section; a differential feedback loop configuration connected around the first transconductance amplifier and the intermediate section so as to provide differential negative feedback in response to the intermediate differential output voltage generated by the intermediate section; and a common-mode feedback loop configuration comprising a second transconductance amplifier section connected around the intermediate section so as to respectively add a pair of substantially matched output currents to the output currents of the first transconductance amplifier stage in response to the common mode current.

Floating, balanced output circuit

A current sensor for detecting AC current through a load impedance of an electrical circuit. Sensor components are fabricated within a multilayer board so that a board can be made to comprise a plurality of independent sensors. The sensor includes a transformer circuit including a primary coil which is electrically coupled in series with the current path of the electrical circuit. This primary coil includes at least one current path element, in the form of a conductive strip constructed so as to add minimal resistance and inductance to the electrical circuit. The transformer secondary comprises at least a first electrically conductive coil inductively coupled to at least a part of the current path, and preferably a second electrically conductive coil inductively coupled to a second part of current path of the electrical circuit. The secondary coils are electrically connected in series with one another, so that voltages generated across the coils in response to current in the current path are additive, while interference voltages which are induced in the coils by the presence of uniform external magnetic fields or cross talk between adjacent sensors on the same board (where multiple sensors are provided) are cancelled.

AC current sensor

An integrated circuit has at least two components described in the form of two ideally matched transistors, each of which operate interdependently as a function of temperature and at least one physical parameter associated with each of said components when implemented in integrated form. The circuit further includes compensation means, disposed in the integrated circuit, for generating and applying a bipolar compensation signal to at least one of said components so that said two components interdependently operate predictably, consistently and independently of temperature variations and differences between the physical parameter of said two components. The bipolar current is necessary so that both the level and polarity of the compensation signal can be appropriately adjusted during the manufacture of the integrated circuit as a wafer so as to eliminate the need to compensate for any mismatches in the two components following such manufacture.

Wafer-stage adjustment for compensating for mismatches in temperature

A true marine portable boarding platform for the sides of boat hulls and boat transoms that attach to the topside of a hull, gunwale or deck of a boat and also provide three dimensional adjustments for adapting to the various boat designs of different boat manufactuers. The boarding platform consists of wooden planking attached to a stainless steel tubular frame having a padded bumper bar. The platform frame is hinged to the telescopic side sections of a supporting carrier bar in such a way as to allow the platform to fold up within the adjusting tubular framework of the carrier bar. The platform's flexible mounting assembly includes (1) a pair of hangar brackets that are swingably attached to the upper sections of the carrier bar and (2) a pair of self-locking deck plates that are insertibly engaged by the adjusting notched pins located on the opposite inboard ends of the hangar brackets. An independent portable ladder is also provided attaching freely and securely between the wooden slats and the platform's tubular frame and resting slightly outward on the lower section of the carrier bar. For the first time, boat owners now have a choice of type, size and placement of a platform for their boat.

Portable boarding platform

A water ejector and injector attachment for the motor of a boat comprising a motor adapted to be secured to the frame of the boat carrying a propeller at its lower end and defining a cavitation plate extending rearwardly thereof and having a bore therethrough, at least one recess in the lower surface of the cavitation plate; a trim tab projecting downwardly from the cavitation plate and positioned adjacent rearwardly of the propeller, the trim tab having a passageway therethrough having one end communicating with the bore of the cavitation plate, and a plate member integral therewith and having at least one protrusion upwardly extending therefrom, each of said protrusions mating in the recesses in the cavitation plate; an elongated tube provided through the bore in the cavitation plate with one end secured to and communicating with the passageway of the trim tab and the other end terminating in the bilge of the boat; a spring biasing the trim tab upwardly whereby the protrusions engage the recesses in the cavitation plate; and a handle for moving the trim tab downwardly to disengage the protrusions from the recesses thereby allowing rotational movement of the trim tab.

Growing community of inventors

Shrewsbury, MA, United States of America

Gary K Hebert