Signal processing circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12244280-B2
Application number	US-202418616377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2024
Priority date	Sep 24, 2020
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a signal processing circuit includes a first voltage setting circuit that sets a reference voltage on an input side of an isolator, a variable gain amplifier circuit that amplifies an output signal of the isolator, a DC offset adjustment circuit that adjusts an offset of the variable gain amplifier circuit, a second voltage setting circuit that sets a reference voltage on an output side of the isolator, and a control circuit that controls the DC offset adjustment circuit in response to a result of comparison of an output voltage of the variable gain amplifier circuit with an output voltage of the second voltage setting circuit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A signal processing circuit, comprising:
an isolator including an input side and an output side that are electrically insulated;
a variable gain amplifier circuit that amplifies an output signal of the isolator;
a DC offset adjustment circuit that adjusts a DC offset of the variable gain amplifier circuit;
a gain adjustment circuit that adjusts a gain of the variable gain amplifier circuit;
a first voltage setting circuit provided on the input side of the isolator, the first voltage setting circuit setting, based on a first control signal, a reference voltage on the input side of the isolator to zero during DC offset adjustment and to a constant voltage different from zero during gain adjustment, and outputting the reference voltage on the input side to the input side of the isolator;
a second voltage setting circuit provided on the output side of the isolator, the second voltage setting circuit setting, based on a second control signal, a reference voltage on the output side of the isolator to zero during DC offset adjustment and to a constant voltage different from zero during gain adjustment, and outputting the reference voltage on the output side to the output side of the isolator;
a comparison circuit that compares an output voltage of the variable gain amplifier circuit with an output voltage of the second voltage setting circuit; and
a control circuit that controls the DC offset adjustment circuit and the gain adjustment circuit in response to an output signal of the comparison circuit, wherein
the first voltage setting circuit includes:
a first differential amplifier circuit that includes an inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal to which constant currents are supplied; and
a first switch provided between the inverting input terminal and the non-inverting input terminal of the first differential amplifier circuit;

the second voltage setting circuit includes:
a second differential amplifier circuit that includes an inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal to which constant currents are supplied; and
a second switch provided between the inverting input terminal and the non-inverting input terminal of the second differential amplifier circuit; and

the control circuit outputs the first and second control signals, and controls on/off of the first and second switches to exclusively control the DC offset adjustment circuit and the gain adjustment circuit.

2. The signal processing circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
the control circuit controls the DC offset adjustment circuit depending on the output signal from the comparison circuit at a time when the first switch and the second switch are in on-states.

3. The signal processing circuit according to claim 2 , wherein
the control circuit controls the gain adjustment circuit depending on the output signal from the comparison circuit at a time when the first switch and the second switch are in off-states.

4. The signal processing circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
the DC offset adjustment circuit includes a variable current source with a current value that is changed depending on a control signal from the control circuit, and
the variable gain amplifier circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit with an input terminal that is supplied with a current from the variable current source.

5. The signal processing circuit according to claim 2 , wherein
the DC offset adjustment circuit includes a variable current source with a current value that is changed depending on a control signal from the control circuit, and
the variable gain amplifier circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit with an input terminal that is supplied with a current from the variable current source.

6. The signal processing circuit according to claim 3 , wherein
the DC offset adjustment circuit includes a variable current source with a current value that is changed depending on a control signal from the control circuit, and
the variable gain amplifier circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit with an input terminal that is supplied with a current from the variable current source.

7. The signal processing circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
the first voltage setting circuit includes:
a first transistor including a main current path connected to a constant current source in series;
a voltage/current conversion circuit that converts a voltage that is generated on the main current path of the first transistor into a current; and
a differential amplifier circuit including an input terminal supplied with an output current from the voltage/current conversion circuit.

8. The signal processing circuit according to claim 2 , wherein
the first voltage setting circuit includes:
a first transistor including a main current path connected to a constant current source in series;
a voltage/current conversion circuit that converts a voltage that is generated on the main current path of the first transistor into a current; and
a differential amplifier circuit including an input terminal supplied with an output current from the voltage/current conversion circuit.

9. The signal processing circuit according to claim 3 , wherein
the first voltage setting circuit includes:
a first transistor including a main current path connected to a constant current source in series;
a voltage/current conversion circuit that converts a voltage that is generated on the main current path of the first transistor into a current; and
a differential amplifier circuit including an input terminal supplied with an output current from the voltage/current conversion circuit.

10. The signal processing circuit according to claim 4 , wherein
the first voltage setting circuit includes:
a first transistor including a main current path connected to a constant current source in series;
a voltage/current conversion circuit that converts a voltage that is generated on the main current path of the first transistor into a current; and
a differential amplifier circuit including an input terminal supplied with an output current from the voltage/current conversion circuit.

11. The signal processing circuit according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a second transistor including a main current path connected to the main current path of the first transistor in parallel and that supplies an output current to a load; and
a switch that switches a connection point of one input terminal of the voltage/current conversion circuit between a drain of the first transistor and a drain of the second transistor.

12. The signal processing circuit according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a second transistor including a main current path connected to the main current path of the first transistor in parallel and that supplies an output current to a load; and
a switch that switches a connection point of one input terminal of the voltage/current conversion circuit between a drain of the first transistor and a drain of the second transistor.

13. The signal processing circuit according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a second transistor including a main current path connected to the main current path of the first transistor in parallel and that supplies an output current to a load; and
a switch that switches a connection point of one input terminal of the voltage/current conversion circuit between a drain of the first transistor and a drain of the second transistor.

14. The signal processing circuit according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a second transistor including a main current path connected to the main current path of the f

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk
• Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corp

Inventors

• Majima Hideaki

Classifications

• H03K5/24 Primary

  the characteristic being amplitude · CPC title

• H03F2200/375

  Circuitry to compensate the offset being present in an amplifier · CPC title

• H03G3/30

  in amplifiers having semiconductor devices · CPC title

• H03G2201/103

  being an amplifying element · CPC title

• H01P1/36

  Isolators · CPC title