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:
Dec. 30, 1997
Filed:
Jul. 31, 1996
Joe Lamm, Alt. Spgs., FL (US);
Carl Gilbert, St Pete, FL (US);
Tech-Source Inc., Altamonte Springs, FL (US);
Abstract
A high-speed multiplexing technique employs diode bridges to multiplex the outputs of two or more digital-to-analog converters (DACs) together. Like prior art techniques, the diode bridges isolate the DAC outputs from one another and are activated by forward biasing the bridges, one at a time in a staggered-phase, sequential fashion with sequenced biasing currents, to effectively connect the DACs, one at a time to an output signal. Unlike prior art techniques, however, the low capacitance diodes are inserted in series with the sequenced biasing current driving each diode bridge, one on each side of the bridge. The low capacitance diodes are oriented to pass current in the direction of forward bias of the diode bridges. Voltage mode switching is employed to limit the effect of parasitic capacitances on output amplitude. One embodiment is directed to a pair of back-to-back diode bridges driven by a single transformer secondary winding. Other embodiments are directed to transformerless and multiple-transformer implementations.