DC-Blocking Amplifier Circuit With Aliasing Tone Cancellation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Amplifiers with switched-capacitor feedback circuits generate aliasing tones due to clock signal mixing, affecting output signals by incorporating lower frequency components that existing solutions fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of aliasing tone cancellation circuits with storage blocks and frequency-selective or delay circuits to cancel or reduce the aliasing tones generated by switched-capacitor feedback, using capacitors and switches to alternate charge sharing and signal processing to mitigate the effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a switched-capacitor feedback circuit is used to provide high impedance for stabilizing operating points, then the operating point stability is improved, but aliasing tones are generated due to clock signal mixing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating point stabilityVSAvoidaliasing tone
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An aliasing tone cancellation circuit is introduced as an intermediary component between the switched-capacitor feedback circuit and the amplifier input. This cancellation circuit generates an anti-aliasing signal that counteracts the aliasing tone produced by the switched-capacitor feedback, effectively eliminating the harmful interference while preserving the high-impedance stabilization function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The aliasing tone cancellation circuit performs preliminary anti-action by generating a canceling signal before the aliasing tone affects the amplifier output. The cancellation circuit is designed to produce an signal that is equal in magnitude but opposite in phase to the expected aliasing tone, thereby neutralizing it before it can degrade the output signal quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Productivity

If the amplifier processes the aliasing tone, then the aliasing tone is amplified, but the output signal quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal processing capabilityVSAvoidoutput signal degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The aliasing tone cancellation circuit employs feedback mechanisms to continuously monitor and counteract aliasing tones. By sampling the output signal and generating a corresponding canceling signal that is fed back to the amplifier input, the system dynamically compensates for aliasing effects, preventing signal quality deterioration while maintaining full signal processing capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful aliasing tone into a beneficial canceling signal. The aliasing tone generated by the switched-capacitor feedback is deliberately captured and processed to create an equal and opposite signal that, when combined with the original signal, eliminates the aliasing artifact and improves overall output quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP4106188B1DC-blocking amplifier with aliasing tone cancellation circuit
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 MEDIATEK INC
  • EP4106188B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4106188B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4106188B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides an amplifier circuit, wherein the amplifier circuit includes an input terminal, a capacitor, an amplifier, a feedback circuit and an aliasing tone cancellation circuit. The input terminal is configured to receive a first input signal. The capacitor is coupled to the input terminal. The amplifier is configured to receive the input signal through the capacitor to generate an output signal. The feedback circuit is coupled between an input node and an output node of the amplifier, and is configured to generate a feedback signal according to the output signal, wherein the feedback circuit includes a storage block including a switched-capacitor. The aliasing tone cancellation circuit is coupled between the input terminal of the amplifier circuit and the input node of the amplifier, and configured to generate a signal to cancel or reduce an aliasing tone of the feedback signal according to the input signal.