Dual-range linearized transimpedance amplifier system
| DWPI Title: Transimpedance amplifier system i.e. dual-range linearized transimpedance amplifier system, for use on common substrate as e.g. integrated circuit, has linearizer adding signals, where output signals are linearly related to current signal |
| Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier system is disclosed which simultaneously generates a low-gain output signal and a high-gain output signal from an input current signal using a single transimpedance amplifier having two different feedback loops with different amplification factors to generate two different output voltage signals. One of the feedback loops includes a resistor, and the other feedback loop includes another resistor in series with one or more diodes. The transimpedance amplifier system includes a signal linearizer to linearize one or both of the low- and high-gain output signals by scaling and adding the two output voltage signals from the transimpedance amplifier. The signal linearizer can be formed either as an analog device using one or two summing amplifiers, or alternately can be formed as a digital device using two analog-to-digital converters and a digital signal processor (e.g. a microprocessor or a computer). |
| Use: Transimpedance amplifier system i.e. dual-range linearized transimpedance amplifier system, for use on a common substrate as an integrated circuit (IC) and multi-chip module, or on a printed circuit board, for receiving an input current signal from a current source i.e. photodetector, and generating a low-gain output signal and a high-gain output signal. Can also be used as a hybrid circuit. |
| Advantage: The system uses the high-gain output signal for small input current signals, where the high-gain output signal can be generated from the one voltage signal to provide an optimal signal-to-noise level. The system allows multiple portions of a transient signal having a low intensity to be accurately determined from the high-gain output signal and allows multiple portions of the transient signal having an intensity that saturates the high-gain output signal to be accurately determined from the low-gain output signal, if the current signal is present only for a short time duration. |
| Novelty: The system (10) has a signal linearizer (24) e.g. analog device, scaling down an output voltage signal (V1) from a transimpedance amplifier (12) to form a scaled-down voltage signal and scaling up another output voltage signal (V2) from the amplifier to form a scaled-up voltage signal. The linearizer adds the scaled-down voltage signal to the latter voltage signal to generate a low-gain output signal (V-lo) and the scaled-up voltage signal to the former voltage signal to generate a high-gain output signal (V-hi). The output signals are linearly related to an input current signal (I-in). |
| Filed: 10/20/2009 |
| Application Number: US2009582318A |
| Tech ID: SD 11248.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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