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, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1998
Nortel Networks Corporation, Montreal, CA;
Abstract
It is an object of the invention to provide a peak detector with improved precision for low amplitude AC signals for a broad range of input frequencies. One embodiment of the invention is broadly defined as an AC peak detector for receiving an input signal and a negative DC potential and providing an inverted peak output signal approximating an inverted steady state peak of the input signal, the AC peak detector comprising: a semiconductor junction means for receiving the input signal and the inverted peak output signal, and generating a correction signal proportional to an exponential function of the input signal and the inverted peak output signal; a resistance means for receiving the correction signal and sinking a bias current through the semiconductor junction means to the negative DC potential, such that the current/voltage characteristic of the semiconductor junction remains in an exponential region; and an amplifying means for receiving the correction signal and amplifying and inverting the correction signal to produce the inverted peak output signal, and for sourcing the constant bias current.