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US4992674A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Controlled slew peak detector

Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1989-09-07
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Granted: 1991-02-12
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Expires: 2009-09-07
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Abstract

Abstract A peak detector circuit utilizes a comparator to compare an input signal to a peak voltage output signal. The output of the comparator enables a charging current source to charge a holding capacitor at a first rate when the input signal is greater than the peak voltage output signal and enables a discharging current source to discharge the holding capacitor at a second rate when the input signal is less than the peak voltage output signal. The capacitor voltage is coupled through the gate to source of an n-channel transistor and this source voltage forms the peak voltage output signal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael D. Smith

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 23:20
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/153; H03K5/1532; G; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 181 words
Apparatus comprising: (a) a comparator, having a first terminal connected to receive a first voltage and a second terminal connected to receive an external voltage, and to compare said first voltage to said external voltage; (b) a capacitive element; (c) charging means, coupled between said comparator and said capacitive element, for charging said capacitive element at a first predetermined constant rate when said external voltage is greater than said first voltage; (d) discharge means, coupled to said capacitive element, for discharging said capacitive element at a second predetermined constant rate, which is less than said first predetermined constant rate; and (e) means for coupling the voltage across said capacitive element to said first voltage input terminal of said comparator; wherein said first voltage is expected to be representative of the peak voltage of said external voltage; wherein said means for coupling includes a gate to source path through an MOS transistor; wherein said discharge means is also coupled to said comparator, and wherein said discharge means discharges said capacitive element only when said first voltage is greater than said external voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 181 words
Apparatus comprising: (a) a comparator, having a first terminal connected to receive a first voltage and a second terminal connected to receive an external voltage, and to compare said first voltage to said external voltage; (b) a capacitive element; (c) charging means, coupled between said comparator and said capacitive element, for charging said capacitive element at a first predetermined constant rate when said external voltage is greater than said first voltage; (d) discharge means, coupled to said capacitive element, for discharging said capacitive element at a second predetermined constant rate, which is less than said first predetermined constant rate; and (e) means for coupling the voltage across said capacitive element to said first voltage input terminal of said comparator; wherein said first voltage is expected to be representative of the peak voltage of said external voltage; wherein said means for coupling includes a gate to source path through an MOS transistor; wherein said discharge means is also coupled to said comparator, and wherein said discharge means discharges said capacitive element only when said first voltage is greater than said external voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said charging means comprises a first current source, and said discharge means comprises a second current source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said charging means consists essentially of a first current source, and said discharge means comprises a second current source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said charging means comprises a first current source, and said discharge means consists essentially of a second current source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said charging means consists essentially of a first current source, and said discharge means consists essentially of a second current source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said charging means provides current at a sufficiently high rate that the rising voltage on said capacitive element is of the same order of magnitude as the rise time of the input signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said discharge means sinks current at a sufficiently low rate that the falling voltage on said capacitive element is of the same order of magnitude as the falling portion of the envelope of the input signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first rate is much greater than said second rate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4074149A Cited
US4054804A Cited
JPS5331949A Cited
US4160175A Cited
JPS61107171A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-02-11 1994-08-13 1995-02-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-02-11 1998-08-13 1999-02-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-02-11 2002-08-13 2003-02-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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