High efficiency switch-mode operational amplifiers
This technology is a switch-mode operational amplifier architecture that uses phase-shifted pulse-width modulation (PWM) to improve the power efficiency of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) analog and mixed-signal circuits.
Unmet Need: Reducing power consumption in analog amplification
Current analog signal processing systems commonly rely on Class A amplifiers because they provide excellent linearity and simple circuit design, but they suffer from poor power efficiency, wasting a significant portion of consumed energy as heat. As integrated circuits continue to shrink and demand grows for low-power, high-performance CMOS electronics, this inefficiency increases power consumption and thermal management challenges. Improving amplifier efficiency while maintaining the linearity required for precision signal processing is therefore essential for enabling more energy-efficient, scalable mixed-signal integrated circuits.
The Technology: Phase-shifted Pulse-Width-Modulation for efficient analog amplification
This technology replaces conventional Class A amplifiers with a switch-mode operational amplifier architecture designed for fully integrated CMOS mixed-signal systems. The architecture uses pulse-width-modulation (PWM), including phase-shifted PWM reference waveforms, to improve power efficiency while maintaining the high linearity required for analog signal processing. The design supports near rail-to-rail output swing, enables scalable digital implementation, and can be converted to voltage-mode analog output using a simple RC filter.
The architecture has been validated through circuit simulations and has been submitted for fabrication to enable experimental testing and verification of its performance.
Applications:
- Low-power mixed-signal integrated circuits
- Low-power consumer electronics
- Ultra-low voltage electronic systems
- High dynamic range signal processing
- Precision analog signal processing
- Integrated CMOS communication and sensing systems
- Energy-efficient IoT devices
- Industrial circuit design research
- Research tool for improved circuit design
Advantages:
- Improves power efficiency compared with Class A amplifiers
- Maintains high linearity for signal processing
- Supports low-power CMOS mixed-signal integration
- Scalable digital implementation
- Achieves near rail-to-rail output swing
- Reduced power consumption
- Reduced heat generation
- Ultra-low voltage operation
Lead Inventor:
Patent Information:
Patent Pending (US15/021620)
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU14039
Licensing Contact: Greg Maskel