The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 1995
Filed:
Apr. 15, 1993
Keith H Lofstrom, Beaverton, OR (US);
Tektronix, Inc., Wilsonville, OR (US);
Abstract
A fully differential comparator includes a differential signal input, a differential reference input, and a differential signal output. Identical first and second gain stages are used in the differential comparator that each have a first single-ended input, a second single-ended input, and a differential output. The first single-ended inputs from the first and second gain stages form the differential signal input of the differential comparator. The second single-ended inputs from the first and second gain stages form the differential reference input of the differential comparator. The differential outputs of the first and second gain stages are cross-coupled to form the differential signal output of the differential comparator. The differential comparator can be used in conjunction with a conventional resistor string found in the front end of a flash ADC, but in a novel manner that prevents undesirable loading effects, as well as other problems associated with prior art single-ended comparators.