Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
l~Z363 ~ ~
This inYention relates to the sensing of signals
in charge trans~er devices (CTDs) or other MOS devices, and
more particularly to a circuit for performing a non-destructive
differential sensing of mobile charge in MOS devices.
Many techni~ues have been proposed for clocking,
charge insertion and signal recovery in charge transfer devices.
Some of the problem areas include signal-to-noise ratios,
linearity, and the complexities of the circuitry involved.
When differential sensing i5 employed with CTDs (for example,
with transversal filters) additional problems arise. First, the
desired output voltage signal is small. It is derived by
` subtracting the output signals from the two split-electrode ,
portions, and each of these is normally much larger than the
difference. Thus, even though the sense electrode output voltages
` may be large, the dynamic range of the actual output signal may
` be quite small in comparison. Signal-to-noise and dynamic range
considerations are, therefore, more significant in transversal
filters than in other types of CTDs (such as simple delay lines).
A second problem is that an uncorrectable error
2~ is introduced if the depletion capacitances of the storage
electrodes depend on the electrode output voltages. This error
arises because the depletion capacitance is a function of both
the charge in the individual packet and the potential of the
overlying sense electrode. This error is referred to as
"crosstalk". One prior art solution to this problem has been
;
to clamp the electrodes of the filter at a fixed voltage via
operational amplifiers. This solution eliminates the "cross-
talk" between the charge samples, but imposes severe requirements
on the amplifiers. First, since uncorrelated amplifier noise is
introduced before any subtraction takes place, the amplifier
must have low noise; and second, the amplifier must handle the
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full dynamic range oE the electrode signal, rather than just
that of the difference signal. In the prior art, the problems
associated with clamping the electrodes at a given voltage level
have been worse than the "crosstalk" problem they were to solve.
An article entitled "The Design and Opexation of Practical
Charge-Transfer Transversal Filters" by Richard D. Baertsch et al
in I~EE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. ED-23, No. 2,
Feb. 1976, pg. 133-]41 describes the problems associated with
clamping the electrodes at a given voltage level, and describes
alternative circuits for use with CTDs that do not clamp the
electrodes, thereby avoiding the probl0ms associated with
clamping.
The present invention provides a circuit which
clamps the electrodes at a given voltage level, thereby
eliminating "crosstalk", but without the attendant disadvantages
found in the prior art circuits.
The present invention employs a first inverting
operational amplifier to sense ~e signal on a first electrode
of a CTD. The resultant output signal from this first operational
amplifier, as well as the signal from the second electrode, is
applied to a second operational amplifier operated in a summing
mode. The sense electrodes (of the CTD) as well as the positive
and negative inputs of the two amplifiers, and the feedback
capacitors of each amplifier are precharged to predetermined
voltage levels. These elements are left floating at their
; precharged potential and the operational amplifier outputs are
then connected to their respective feedback capacitors. The
circuit is now in a state to sense the charge difference that
will be transferred under the positive and negative electrode
segments.
Stated in other terms, the present invention
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is a circuit for sensing the difference in charge between a
first output electrode and a second output electrode of an MOS
device, the circuit comprising: an inverting amplifier
responsive to the charge on the first output electrode of the MOS
device; a summing amplifier responsive both to the charge
appearing on the second output electrode of the ~OS device and
to the output signal from the inverting amplifier; means for
precharging the Eirst electrode and the second electrode to a
first predetermined DC voltage level; means for precharging
the feedback capacitor of the inverting amplifier and the
interconnection capacitor between the two amplifiers to a second
predetermined DC voltage level; means for precharging the
feedback capacitor of the summing amplifier to a third predeter-
mined DC voltage level; means for selectively switching the
feedback capacitors of the two amplifiers into, and out of, their
respective feedback circuits; and means for selectively grounding
the first output electrode and the second output electrode.
The invention will now be described in more
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of
one embodiment of the present invention, shown connected to a
transversal filter;
Figure 2 depicts waveforms useful for under-
standing the operation of the circuits depicted in Figures 1
and 3; and
Figure 3 is a simplified schematic diagram of a
second and preferred embodiment of the present invention.
As stated previously, Figure 1 shows the present
invention applied to a transversal filter 10, depicted
schematically in the Figure. Filter 10 of the Figure is
shown in a simplified form and comprises a storage electrode 11,
.
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transfer electrodes 12a and 12b, a positive sense electrode 13a,
and a negative sense electrode 13b. The inverting input of
operational amplifier 14 is connected to positive sense
electrode 13a, and the inverting input of operational amplifier
15 is connected to negative sense electrode 13b.
The simplified structure of the circuit is
depicted in Figure 1 and attention is directed to it. The
operation of the Figure 1 circuit and some of the basics
` underlying its operation will now be discussed with reference
; 10 to the waveforms contained in Figure 2. It should be noted
that if Figure 1 were to be described in isolation (i.e. without
Figure 3) the number of waveforms employed could be reduced.
However, both in order to be consistent between Figures 1 and 3,
and to simplify the description of the invention, a common set
of waveforms for both Figures 1 and 3 has been used.
Operational amplifier 14, feedback capaci-tor 16,
and field effect transistor (FET) 17 form an inverting amplifier
responsive to the signal on electrode 13a. Since electrode 13a `~ ~;
exhibits a capacitive effect, the feedback element associated `~
with amplifier 14 (i.e. capacitor 16) must likewise have a
capacitive effect. Capacitor 18 is employed to optimize the
noise rejection in the power supply providing the positive
voltage V, as well as to reduce the noise voltage and offset
voltage of amplifier 14. Capacitor 18 will be described in
- more detail later.
operational amplifier 15l feedback capacitor 19,
and FET 20 form an inverting amplifier responsive both to the
signal on electrode 13b and, to the signal received from the
output of amplifier 14 via capacitor 21 and FET 17. In effect,
amplifier 15 functions as a "summing amplifier" summing the two
signals appearing at its inverting input. Consequently, the
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output signal OP, from amplifier 15, is the difference between
the signals appearing on electrodes 13a and 13b, discounting
any gain in the amplifier circuits. '
Of course, when employing capacitive elements in
an amplifier circuit, the operation of the amplifiers is not
quite that simple. Attention is directed to both Figures 1
and 2 so that the detailed switching operation of the amplifier
circuits can be described.
During the time that clock signal 0Prl is high,
field effect transistors 22 and 23 are in the conducting mode,
and precharge the sense electrodes 13a and 13b as well as one
plate of each of capacitors 16, 18, 19 and 21 to V potential.
Additionally, field effect transistor 24 is turned on and
precharges the second plate of each of capacitors 16 and 21 to
a potential of VRl. Field effect transistor 25 is turned on
when 0Pr2 is high and precharges the second plate of capacitor 19
to a potential of VR2. The second plate of capacitor 18 is
connected directly to ground potential. When clock signals 0Prl
and 0Pr2 go to a low level, the sense electrodes 13a and 13b, as ; -~
well as capacitors 16, 18, 19 and 21 are left floating at their
precharge voltage levels.
When clock signals 0En2 and 0Enl go high, FETs
17 and 20 respectively are turned on and connect capacitors
16, 19 and 21 to their respective operational amplifiers. This
closes the feedback loop of each amplifier 14 and 15, which
enables each amplifier 14 and 15 to maintain on nodes A and B,
respectively, the potential applied to their non-inverting (+)
input (i.e. voltage V). By maintaining V potential on nodes A
and B, the VRl potential will be retained on the second plate of
each of capacitors 16 and 21 (i.e. that plate connected to FET
24) and VR2 will be retained on the second plate of capacitor 19
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(i.e. that plate conn~c-ted -to FET 25).
At the falling edge of the 02 clock signal
(i.e. when 02 goes low) the mobile charge under the storage
electrode 11 of filter 10 will be transferred to the sense
electrodes 13a and 13b, and split into charge Q~ on electrode 13a
and charge Q- on electrode 13b. This charge (i.e. Q+ and Q-)
will cause a negative voltage transient at nodes A and B.
Consequently, the output voltage signal from amplifier 14 will
charge in a positive direction from the voltage level VRl to
cause a charge equal to Q+ to flow out of capacitor 16. This
process is necessary to re-establish the potential V at node A.
In designs where the values of capacitors 16 and 21 are equal,
an equal amount of charge will flow out of capacitor 21 into
node B, once the latter is at the potential V. Operational
amplifier 15 will re-establish a potential of V to node B by
adding to it, or removing from it, a charge equal to the
difference between the charges Q+ and Q-. This will result in
the output signal OP of amplifier 15 changing from a voltage VR2
by a voltage equal to the charge difference between the sense
electrodes 13a and 13b scaled by the capacitance value of
capacitor 19.
Capacitor 18 is employed to optimize the circuit
for noise rejection and to reduce the voltage offset of amplifier
14 as stated previously. The values of the capacitors are
chosen both so that the capacitance value between node A and
ground is equal to the capacitance value between node B and
ground, and so that there will be symmetry in the circuit. The
capacitance of sense electrode 13a is equal to the capacitance
of sense electrode 13b (by design of filter 10). Capacitor 16
is made equal in value to capacitor 21 (for symmetry), and
consequently capacitor 18 must be equal in value to capacitor 19
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3~i3
to meet the above stated criterion in equal capacitance values
connected to nodes A and B. Clock signal 01 is applied to
transfer electrode 12b of transversal filter lO to provide for
proper operation of filter lO. Clock signal ~ , which is 180
out of phase with signal ~1, causes FET 26 to turn on (when signal
goes high) and thus cause a ground potential to be applied
to node B. Similarly, when ~ goes high, FET 27 turns on and
applies ground potential to node A~ ~pplying ground potential
to nodes A and B in this manner is necessary to transfer the
charge out of sense electrodes 13a and 13b. From Figure 2
it can be readily seen that when 01 is high and E'ETs 26 and 27
are therefore turned on, 0Prl is low and consequently FETs 22
and 23 are turned off. It should also be noted that the required
output signal is present on the output of operational amplifier
15 (i.e. signal OP) only during the time period that signal 02
is low.
Sample values for the circuit of Figure 1,
applied to a 70 sense electrode transversal filter are as
follows:
Capacitor 16 = Capacitor 21 = 20 pF
Capacitor 18 = Capacitor 19 = 5 pF
Frequency of signal 0Prl = 32 KHz
Operational amplifiers 14 and 15 have high
input impedance (e.g. MOS construction)
V >VR2 >VRl (note: VRl ~Ground voltage)
~ Figure 3 depicts a simplified schematic of the
; preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be noted that
Figure 3 is identical to Figure 1 except for the addition of
three extra components namely: FET 28, FET 29 and capacitor 30.
The circuit of Figure 3 functions in a similar fashion to the
circuit of Figure 1, so its operation will not be discussed
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in detail; only the differences of Figure 3 will be described.
The components of the preferred embodiment are interconnected
as shown in Figure 3, and attention is directed to that Figure.
The effect of FE~ 28, FET 29, and capacitor 30 is to reduce
the offset voltage of amplifier 15 and to attenuate the l/f
portion of the noise spectrum of amplifier 15 (where f is the
frequency of the noise). The remainder of the circuit functions
in the same manner as does the circuit of Figure 1, and includes
the same advantages as does the Figure 1 circuit. Capacitor 30
has a value of approximately 1.5 pF. Capacitor 30 does not affect
the capacitive balance between nodes A and B (mentioned earlier ;
in reference to Figure 1) since capacitor 30 does not form a
part of the active circuit during the period that the desired
output is present on the output of amplifier 15. As was
mentioned previously, the desired output signal is present at
the output of amplifier 15 only during the time period that
signal 02 is low. Capacitor 30, of course, is only an active
component of the circuit during the time periods that 0Prl and
0EnO are high.
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