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.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 12, 2004

Filed:

Feb. 26, 2003
Applicant:
Inventors:

Mark V. Martin, Redondo Beach, CA (US);

John J. Drab, Santa Barbara, CA (US);

Assignee:

Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01R 1/900 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01R 1/900 ;
Abstract

A differential capacitance sense amplifier capable of measuring a small difference-signal capacitance in the presence of circuit mismatches and large unequal interconnect capacitances. The sense amplifier includes three sections: a common-mode section applies a 'read' voltage to two capacitors in a manner that rejects unequal interconnect capacitance, a difference-mode section generates a signal proportional to the capacitance difference between the two capacitors, and an offset-canceling section compensates for circuit mismatches in the difference-mode section. The amplifier can be adapted for use as a sense amplifier for a ferroelectric differential capacitance memory unit.


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