AI Patent Summary

Patent Document
#US6459335B1
United States Patent
Abstract
An auto-calibration circuit minimizes input offset voltage in an integrated circuit analog input device. The auto- calibration circuit may also calibrate a plurality of analog input devices on an integrated circuit die or in a multi-chip package (MCP). The auto-calibration circuit and analog input device(s) may be fabricated in combination with a microcontroller system on an integrated circuit die or in an MCP. The auto-calibration circuit controls input offset volt- age compensation circuit that counteracts or compensates for input offset voltage so as to minimize voltage error at the output of the analog input device. A digital control circuit applies a digital word to the input offset voltage compen- sation circuit for generating the required input offset voltage compensation. A linear search or binary search of various values of the digital word may be used by the digital control circuit. The digital control circuit switches the inputs, the output and feedback-gain determining resistors for the ana- log input device during a calibration mode. A voltage comparator compares the output of the analog input device and a voltage reference. When the output of the analog input device is equal to or greater than the voltage reference, the comparator output signals the digital control circuit by changing its output logic level. The input offset voltage compensation circuit of the analog input device has a storage register or memory that retains the digital word which compensates for the input offset voltage. 33 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets » Amp fset trim Digital Control ‘. 200
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Patent Classification & AI Product Mapping
Authoritative patent classification definitions mapped to real-world technology domains and commercial product categories.
CPC H03M1/00
Confidence: High
Official Definition
Analogue/digital conversion; Digital/analogue conversion
ELECTRICITY > ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY > CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
AI Technology & Product Mapping
Technology Domain:
Analog & Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits
Product Category:
Data Converters & Microcontrollers
Plain-English Summary:
Circuits and methods for converting signals between analog (continuous wave) and digital (binary) formats.
Relation to Claims:
The patent deals with analog input devices (like ADCs) integrated with digital control circuits, falling directly under analog-to-digital conversion interface systems.
CPC H03M1/10
Confidence: High
Official Definition
Calibration or testing
ELECTRICITY > ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY > CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
AI Technology & Product Mapping
Technology Domain:
Analog & Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits
Product Category:
Data Converters & Microcontrollers
Plain-English Summary:
Methods and circuits for calibrating or testing data conversion equipment to ensure accuracy and performance.
Relation to Claims:
The core invention is an auto-calibration circuit designed to minimize input offset voltage in analog input devices.
CPC H03M1/1009
Confidence: High
Official Definition
Calibration
ELECTRICITY > ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY > CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
AI Technology & Product Mapping
Technology Domain:
Analog & Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits
Product Category:
Data Converters & Microcontrollers
Plain-English Summary:
Specific sub-techniques and structural implementations for calibrating data converters.
Relation to Claims:
Covers the specific structural calibration mechanisms disclosed in the patent, such as using a digital control circuit and a voltage comparator.
CPC H03M1/1014
Confidence: High
Official Definition
Calibration at one point of the transfer characteristic, i.e. by adjusting a single reference value, e.g. bias or gain error
ELECTRICITY > ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY > CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
AI Technology & Product Mapping
Technology Domain:
Analog & Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits
Product Category:
Data Converters & Microcontrollers
Plain-English Summary:
Calibrating a conversion device at a single specific point on its operating curve, such as adjusting for bias or offset voltage errors.
Relation to Claims:
The patent specifically targets minimizing input offset voltage, which constitutes single-point calibration of the input device's bias or offset.
CPC H03M1/1019
Confidence: High
Official Definition
Calibration at one point of the transfer characteristic, i.e. by adjusting a single reference value, e.g. bias or gain error by storing a corrected or correction value in a digital look-up table
ELECTRICITY > ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY > CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
AI Technology & Product Mapping
Technology Domain:
Analog & Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits
Product Category:
Data Converters & Microcontrollers
Plain-English Summary:
Single-point calibration where the correction factor is stored digitally in a memory, register, or look-up table.
Relation to Claims:
The abstract explicitly details that the input offset voltage compensation circuit has a 'storage register or memory that retains the digital word which compensates' for the offset.