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:
Jul. 26, 2011

Filed:

Feb. 21, 2008
Applicants:

Pierangelo Confalonieri, Caponago, IT;

Riccardo Martignone, Carnate, IT;

Germano Nicollini, Piacenza, IT;

Inventors:

Pierangelo Confalonieri, Caponago, IT;

Riccardo Martignone, Carnate, IT;

Germano Nicollini, Piacenza, IT;

Assignee:

STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H03K 5/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A calibration circuit for calibrating an adjustable capacitance of a circuit having a time constant depending on the adjustable capacitance, the calibration circuit generating a calibration signal for calibrating the capacitance and including a calibration loop, suitable to carry out a calibration cycle in several sequential steps. The calibration circuit includes a controllable capacitance for receiving a control signal and including an array of switched capacitors selectively activated by the control signal to connect to a first common node that conducts a voltage value depending on the total capacitance value of the activated capacitors; an assessment unit for comparing this voltage value with a reference voltage to output a logic signal that can transition between first and second logic levels; a control and timing unit to receive the logic signal and change the control signal to carry out a subsequent calibration step that is provided at the end of the integration interval during a comparison interval of a preset duration, which allows a transition of the logic signal to occur prior to the beginning of the consecutive calibration step.


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