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. 09, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 02, 2004
Radu H. Iacob, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Sorin S. Georgescu, San Jose, CA (US);
Toni M. Wojslaw, Legal Representative, Auburn, CA (US);
Radu H. Iacob, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Sorin S. Georgescu, San Jose, CA (US);
Toni M. Wojslaw, legal representative, Auburn, CA (US);
Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A digital potentiometer includes a string of impedance units in series. The string includes identical first and second sets of impedance units whose individual impedance values increment by a power of two. One of a plurality of switches is coupled in parallel with each respective impedance unit. The switches that are coupled to the first set of impedance units receive logical control signals complementary to logical control signals received by the respective switches coupled to the second set of impedance units, so that for every impedance unit of the first set that is bypassed (not bypassed), the identical impedance unit of the second set is not bypassed (bypassed). The string may include only the first and second sets of impedance units, or may include at least one third impedance unit in series with the first and second sets in a multi-stage design.