APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:
- Digital video and still photography cameras
- Any integrated circuit designs using CMOS technology to drive capacitive loads internally or externally
ADVANTAGES:
- Provides an efficient solution for high speed, low power analog interfaces
- Can sink or source current over the process voltage range
- Works with any existing amplifier design
- Offers a more efficient means of driving large capacitive loads
ABSTRACT:
Bradley Krieger of Berkeley Lab has developed a technology to drive analog signals off-chip from an Active Pixel Sensor (APS) to another integrated circuit, such as an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), for processing. By providing an efficient means to drive analog signals off-chip at high resolution and high speed with low power consumption, the Berkeley Lab invention offers a practical alternative for digital video and still photography chipsets that operate at very high frame rates or resolution.
The invention extends the functionality of earlier designs; it can drive large capacitive loads with lower power consumption than existing designs and can be added to any existing CMOS amplifier circuit to increase drive capability for non-sinusoidal signals.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE: Successful prototype implementation at 25 MHz pixel rate with 12 bit resolution in a 0.35 um CMOS technology.
STATUS: Available for license.
REFERENCE NUMBER: IB-2721
