Patent ID: 9423422
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: G01R,H03K

Claim Text:
1. A probe for a measurement instrument, comprising: an input terminal configured to receive an input signal from a device under test (DUT); an output terminal configured to transmit an output signal to a measurement instrument; and a clamping circuit comprising: a first precision rectifier configured to clamp a positive voltage portion of the internal probe signal to produce a first intermediate signal; a first level shifter configured to adjust a direct current (DC) bias of the first intermediate signal to produce a second intermediate signal; a second precision rectifier configured to clamp a negative voltage portion of the internal probe signal to produce a third intermediate signal; and a second level shifter configured to adjust a DC bias of the third intermediate signal to produce the analog output signal, the clamping circuit being disposed in a signal path between the input terminal and the output terminal and configured to clamp an internal probe signal between an upper clamping threshold and a lower clamping threshold to produce the output signal, the upper clamping threshold corresponding to a positive voltage level and the lower clamping threshold corresponds to a negative voltage level, wherein the clamping circuit operates with substantial gain and amplitude linearity throughout a range between the upper clamping threshold and the lower clamping threshold.