Patent ID: 6417702
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: G05F

Abstract:
A method for adapting a semiconductor device having an operating point and used for current-to-voltage conversion, to a variation of input current in order to maintain the operation of the device in a substantially linear portion of a saturation region of a curve belonging to a family of i-v curves selected in response to an input voltage and comprising a linear and an adjacent non-linear portion, wherein said semiconductor device has at least an input current terminal, a bias terminal, and a common terminal, whereby a bias voltage between said bias terminal and said common terminal controls a rate of voltage variation at said input current terminal according to said variation of input current, and the output voltage is present at said input current terminal, said method comprising:setting said bias voltage to a preset value in order to position said operating point of the device to an initial value in the saturation region; detecting a change in level of a direct current component of said input current; and adjusting the bias voltage value in response to said change in order to adapt said operating point of the device to an alternate i-v curve so as to remain in the substantially linear portion of the saturation region of a curve.