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2-in-1 Low Power, Low Noise Amplifier/Analogue-to-Digital Converter

IP Title: Amplifier With Pulse Coded Output And Remote Signal Reconstruction From The Pulse Output

Detailed Technology Description: None

Industry: Automotive

Sub Category: Engine/Motor

Application Date: May 13, 2004

Application No.: 7,324,035

Others: Google Scholar link
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&sa=G&oi=qs&q=Principe+Pulse+coded+output+author:j-principe

*Abstract

Accurately Translates Analog Signals to Digital Signals, Eliminating the Need for Traditional Amplifiers

This 2-in-1 amplifier and Analog-to-Digital (AD) converter translates analog signals to digital representations. A wide variety of industries and manufacturers rely on AD converters. Current AD converters however, are expensive to build and tend to consume a great deal of power and generate a lot of noise. The University of Florida has developed a solution and is seeking companies interested in commercializing a 2-in-1 amplifier/AD converter that converts the amplifier's analog output into digital representation. The device has an improved circuit that allows a hundred or more of these amplifiers to be placed on a single CMOS chip. This novel technology provides a very economical, compact, low power, low noise system.

Applications

Mobile cellular communications
Micro-chip manufacturing and AD converters
Brain Machine Interfaces (BMI)
Implanted medical devices under the skin

Advantages

Uses simple circuitry that is as small as the amplifier alone, offering low power consumption in comparison to existing technology
Pulses can be transmitted through long distances without affecting the performance because the information for signal reconstruction is embedded in the timing of the pulses, offering high resolution
2-in-1 multiple use eliminates the need to buy or manufacture two separate devices, presenting significant cost savings
The amplifier exhibits 39 dB of gain from 0.9 Hz to 9kHz, providing more precise analog signal
Analog output of the amplifier is translated to a series of digital pulses, eliminating the need for a traditional AD converter

Technology

University of Florida researchers have developed a fully integrated CMOS amplifier that translates analog signals to pulse outputs and is more precise than amplifiers currently on the market, allowing signals down to tens of microvolts. In most analog integrated circuits, reduced power consumption leads to higher noise levels, presenting a major challenge to circuit design. Our researchers were able to overcome these challenges; with this technology the amplified analog signals are sampled by a novel integrate-and-fire asynchronous AD converter. The power dissipation of the whole system is 170 micro-Watt/channel from a 5 V supply. Furthermore, this amplifier rejects the DC drift introduced at the electrode and electrolyte interface, but passes low frequency signals down to the mHz range without using any off-chip capacitors. In addition to its high resolution, this technology shows promise for a whole host of multielectrode applications.

*IP Issue Date: Jan 29, 2008

*IP Publication Date: Nov 29, 2007

*Principal Investigator: Name: Jose Principe
Department:

Name: Dazhi Wei
Department:

Name: Du Chen
Department:

Name: John Harris
Department:

Country/Region: USA

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