Amplifier circuit for a two-wire interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9571046-B2
Application number	US-201113994677-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2011
Priority date	Dec 17, 2010
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to an amplifier circuit ( 10 a, 10 b ) for a two-wire interface, comprising a first current path ( 1 ), comprising a voltage-controlled current source (T 1 ) having a gate (GT 1 ), which is connected to an input connection (E 1 ) of the amplifier circuit. A second current path ( 2 ) of the amplifier circuit comprises a voltage-controlled current source (T 2 ), which is connected in series with the second resistor (R 2 ). The first resistor (R 1 ) and a parallel connection of the first and second current paths ( 1, 2 ) are connected in series between an output connection (A) and a reference voltage connection (B) of the amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit ( 10 a, 10 b ) makes it possible to adjust the gain and to provide a supply voltage and a useful signal over a common conducting track (L).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An amplifier circuit for a two-wire interface, comprising:
an input terminal for the application of an input signal;
an output terminal for coupling out an output signal;
a reference voltage terminal for the application of a reference potential;
a first resistor;
a second resistor;
a first current path, comprising a voltage-controlled current source with a control terminal, wherein the control terminal of the voltage-controlled current source of the first current path is connected to the input terminal;
a second current path, comprising a voltage-controlled current source, wherein the voltage-controlled current source of the second current path is connected in series to the second resistor; and
a third current path, comprising a voltage-controlled current source having a control terminal,
wherein the first and second current paths are arranged in a parallel circuit,
wherein the first resistor and the parallel circuit of the first and second current paths are connected in series between the output terminal and the reference voltage terminal,
wherein the third current path is connected between the output terminal and the reference voltage terminal, and
wherein the control terminal of the voltage-controlled current source of the third current path is fed back to the first current path without an interconnection with the second current path.

2. The amplifier circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage-controlled current source of the second current path has a control terminal for application of a reference signal, and
wherein the voltage-controlled current source of the second current path is constructed in such a manner that a fixed voltage potential is applied between the second resistor and the reference voltage terminal to the second current path when the reference signal is applied to the control terminal of the voltage-controlled current source in the second current path.

3. The amplifier circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the first current path comprises a resistor or a current source, wherein the resistor of the first current path or the current source is connected between the voltage-controlled source of the first current path and the reference voltage terminal,
wherein the voltage-controlled current source of the third current path comprises a control terminal, and
wherein the control terminal of the controllable current source in the third current path is connected between the controllable current source of the first current path and the resistor of the first current path, or the current source.

4. The amplifier circuit according to claim 1 , comprising:
a fourth current path, comprising a voltage-controlled current source with a control terminal,
wherein the second current path comprises a resistor or a current source,
wherein the resistor of the second current path or the current source of the second current path is connected between the voltage-controlled current source of the second current path and the reference voltage terminal, and
wherein the control terminal of the voltage-controlled current source in the fourth current path is connected between the controllable voltage source of the second current path and the resistor of the second current path or the current source of the second current path.

5. The amplifier circuit according to claim 4 , wherein the voltage-controlled current sources of the first, second, third and fourth current paths are each constructed as transistors, in particular as MOSFET transistors or as bipolar transistors.

6. The amplifier circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the input terminal and the control terminal of the voltage-controlled current source in the second current path are connected to one another via a third resistor.

7. A microphone amplifier, comprising:
an input terminal for the application of an input signal;
an output terminal for outputting an output signal;
an additional output terminal for outputting an additional output signal;
an amplifier circuit according to claim 1 for generating the output signal by amplifying the input signal;
a voltage generator for generating an additional output signal, with a supply potential terminal for the application of a supply voltage,
wherein the amplifier circuit is connected between the input terminal of the microphone amplifier and the output terminal of the microphone amplifier in such a manner that the input terminal of the amplifier circuit is connected to the input terminal of the microphone amplifier and the output terminal of the amplifier circuit is connected to the output terminal of the microphone amplifier, and
wherein the supply voltage terminal of the voltage generator is connected to the output terminal of the microphone amplifier.

8. The microphone amplifier according to claim 7 , comprising:
a controllable switch that can be switched into a first and a second state, wherein in the first state, the controllable switch connects the input terminal of the microphone amplifier to a terminal for the application of a reference signal and the input terminal of the microphone amplifier is disconnected from the terminal for the application of a reference signal.

9. The microphone amplifier according to claim 8 , wherein the control terminal of the voltage-controlled current source of the second current path is connected to the terminal for the application of a reference signal.

10. The microphone amplifier according to claim 9 , wherein the amplifier circuit is constructed in such a manner that in a state of proper operation, the amplifier circuit generates the output signal at a level inside a voltage range of the supply voltage for the voltage generator, and in a state of improper operation, the amplifier circuit generates the output signal at a level outside the voltage range of the supply voltage for the voltage generator, the voltage range being required so that the voltage generator generates the additional output signal at a target level, and
wherein the amplifier circuit is constructed in such a manner that it is switched back from the improper operating state into the proper operating state when the reference signal is supplied to the input terminal of the microphone amplifier and the reference signal has the target level.

11. The microphone amplifier according to claim 10 , comprising:
a control circuit for controlling a first and second state of the controllable switch,
wherein the control circuit is constructed in such a manner that the control circuit switches the controllable switch from the second state into the first state if the control circuit determines that the amplifier circuit is being operated in an improper operating state.

12. The microphone amplifier according one of claims 8 - 11 , comprising:
an additional voltage generator for generating the reference signal and an additional reference signal,
wherein the additional voltage generator has a voltage supply terminal for the application of the supply voltage,
wherein the supply voltage terminal of the additional voltage generator is connected to the output terminal of the microphone amplifier,
wherein the additional reference signal is fed to the voltage generator, and
wherein the voltage generator is constructed in such a manner that the voltage generator generates the additional output signal that is necessary for operation of a microphone connected to the additional output terminal if the additional voltage generator generates the additional reference signal at a level in a target level range of the additional reference signal.

13. The microphone amplifier according to claim 12 , wherein the

Assignees

• Fröhlich Thomas
• Dünser Wolfgang
• Ams Ag

Inventors

• Fröhlich Thomas
• Dünser Wolfgang

Classifications

• H03F2200/03

  the amplifier being designed for audio applications · CPC title

• H03F2200/48

  the output of the amplifier being coupled out by a capacitor · CPC title

• H04R1/04

  Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor (in electric hearing aids H04R25/00) · CPC title

• H03F3/185 Primary

  with field-effect devices (H03F3/187 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04R3/00

  Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title