1. A sense amplifier comprising:
a negative capacitance circuit connected between a pair of data lines communicating differential input signals;
a current bias circuit that provides a bias current to the negative capacitance circuit;
a voltage bias circuit that provide a bias voltage to the pair of data lines; and
a comparator that receives differential output signals corresponding to the differential input signals as loaded by the negative capacitance circuit and generates a corresponding data output signal.
2. The sense amplifier of claim 1, wherein the comparator is a differential-to-single-ended amplifier.
3. The sense amplifier of claim 1, wherein at least one of a capacitance of the negative capacitance circuit and a level of the bias current is determined by at least one externally provided control codes.
4. The sense amplifier of claim 3, wherein the negative capacitance circuit comprises:
a capacitor bank including a plurality of capacitances selectively switched inout of the capacitor bank in response to one of the at least one externally provided control codes; and
a pair of cross-connected transistors connected between the capacitor bank and the pair of data lines.
5. The sense amplifier of claim 3, wherein the current bias circuit comprises:
a current source that generates a reference current determined in accordance with one of the at least one externally provided control codes; and
a current mirror that provides the bias current by mirroring the reference current.
6. The sense amplifier of claim 3, wherein the at least one externally provided control codes comprises a first control code and a second control code,
the negative capacitance circuit comprises; a capacitor bank including a plurality of capacitances selectively switched inout of the capacitor bank in response to the first control code, and a pair of cross-connected transistors connected between the capacitor bank and the pair of data lines, and
the current bias circuit comprises; a current source that generates a reference current determined in accordance with the second control code, and a current mirror that provides the bias current by mirroring the reference current.
7. An image sensor comprising:
a pixel providing a pixel signal;
an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuit that converts the pixel signal to differential input signals; and
a pair of data lines communicating the differential input signals;
a sense amplifier that senses and amplifies a voltage difference between the differential input signals, wherein the sense amplifier comprises;
a negative capacitance circuit connected between the pair of data lines;
a current bias circuit that provides a bias current to the negative capacitance circuit;
a voltage bias circuit that provide a bias voltage to the pair of data lines; and
a comparator that receives differential output signals corresponding to the differential input signals as loaded by the negative capacitance circuit and generates a corresponding data output signal.
8. The image sensor of claim 7, further comprising:
a timing controller that provides a first control code setting a capacitance of the negative capacitance circuit and a second control code setting a level of the bias current.
9. The image sensor of claim 7, further comprising:
a replica sense amplifier connected between the pair of data lines to match an impedance of the sense amplifier as connected between the pair of data lines.
10. The image sensor of claim 9, wherein the replica sense amplifier comprises:
a negative capacitance circuit having substantially the same configuration as the negative capacitance circuit in the sense amplifier;
a current bias circuit having substantially the same configuration as the current bias circuit in the sense amplifier; and
a voltage bias circuit having substantially the same configuration as the voltage bias circuit in the sense amplifier.
11. The image sensor of claim 10, wherein the replica sense amplifier is connected between the pair of data lines at one end of the pair of data lines and the sense amplifier is connected between the pair of data lines at another end of the pair of data lines opposite the replica sense amplifier.
12. The image sensor of claim 10, further comprising:
a timing controller that provides a first control code setting a capacitance of the negative capacitance circuit and a second control code setting a level of the bias current.
13. An image processing apparatus comprising:
a lens;
an image sensor configured to convert an optical signal received via the lens into corresponding electrical image data; and
a processor that controls operation of the image sensor,
wherein the image sensor comprises:
a pixel that provides a pixel signal;
an analog-to-digital (ADC) conversion circuit that converts the pixel signal into differential input signals; and
a sense amplifier that senses and amplifies a voltage difference between the differential input signals as communicated to the sense amplifier by a pair of data lines, wherein the sense amplifier comprises;
a negative capacitance circuit connected between the pair of data lines;
a current bias circuit that provides a bias current to the negative capacitance circuit;
a voltage bias circuit that provides a bias voltage to the pair of data lines; and
a comparator that receives differential output signals corresponding to the differential input signals as loaded by the negative capacitance circuit and generates a corresponding data output signal.
14. The image processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sense amplifier further comprises; a timing controller that provides a first control code setting a capacitance of the negative capacitance circuit and a second control code setting a level of the bias current.
15. The image processing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sense amplifier further comprises; a replica sense amplifier connected between the pair of data lines to match an impedance of the sense amplifier as connected between the pair of data lines.
16. The image processing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the replica sense amplifier is connected between the pair of data lines at one end of the pair of data lines and the sense amplifier is connected between the pair of data lines at another end of the pair of data lines opposite the replica sense amplifier.
17. The image processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the image processing apparatus is a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera.
18. A method of operating a sense amplifier, the method comprising:
receiving differential input signals via a pair of data lines in a negative capacitance circuit;
amplifying a voltage difference between differential output signals corresponding to the differential input signals as loaded by the negative
capacitance circuit using a differential-to-single-ended amplifier to generate a corresponding data output signal;
providing a bias voltage to the pair of data lines using a voltage bias circuit;
providing a bias current to the negative capacitance circuit using a current bias circuit;
defining a capacitance of the negative capacitance circuit in accordance a first control code provided to the sense amplifier; and
defining a level of the bias current is accordance with a second control code provided to the sense amplifier.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the differential input signals are defined during a predetermined time period by a single data bit stored in a single bit Static Random Access Memory (SRAM).
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A container assembly comprising an open-ended container and a closure system therefor including:
(i) flexible membrane closing the open end of the container;
(ii) a seal between the flexible membrane and the container; and
(iii) a rigid closure mounted on the container having a resiliently deformable member juxtaposed to the flexible membrane, the resiliently deformable member pressing the flexible membrane against the container in the vicinity of the seal, thereby reinforcing the seal sufficiently to withstand pressures generated on heating of the contents of the container.
2. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein the container and the rigid closure include a respective cam and follower, relative movement between the cam and follower in a predetermined direction causing the rigid closure and the container to approach one another, thereby increasing the pressure exerted by the resiliently deformable member on the flexible membrane.
3. A container assembly according to claim 2 wherein the cam and follower include co-operating screw threads formed respectively on the container and the rigid closure.
4. A container assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the container includes a neck having an annular flange defining the said seal, the resilient member being substantially congruent with the flange whereby the resilient member presses the flexible membrane against the flange.
5. A container assembly according to claim 2 or any claim dependent therefrom, wherein the rigid closure includes a laminar member and an annular skirt depending downwardly therefrom, the cam or the follower being provided on an inner wall of the skirt.
6. A container assembly according to claim 5 wherein the laminar member is a circular disc, the skirt depending from the outer periphery thereof.
7. A container assembly according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the laminar member is spaced from the flexible membrane by a distance less than the maximum possible extension of the flexible member towards the laminar member.
8. A container assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the resiliently deformable member comprises a foamed material secured to the rigid closure.
9. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the flexible membrane comprises a metal foil or a plastic film with a functional barrier layer adhesively secured on the container neck.
10. A container assembly according to any of claims 4 to 9 wherein the container neck is generally cylindrical.
11. A container assembly according to any preceding claim including a lifting tab hingeably secured to the flexible membrane by the same material as that of the flexible membrane.
12. A container assembly according to any preceding claim in which the container is a metal, plastic or composite can.
13. A container assembly according to claim 12 wherein the rigid cap supports of the body of the can in a radial direction.
14. A method of forming a container assembly according to claim 2, comprising the steps of:
(i) securing a flexible membrane on the open end of the container by use of adhesives or heat-sealing, thereby forming a seal;
(ii) engaging the cam and follower of a rigid closure and the container with one another; and
(iii) moving the rigid closure and the container relative to one another to cause relative movement between the cam and follower in the predetermined direction, thereby causing the resiliently deformable member to press the flexible membrane against the container in the vicinity of the seal sufficiently to maintain the seal against pressures generated in the container on heating of its contents.
15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the container has a neck including the step of securing the said flexible membrane on the open end of the said container neck by use of a heat-sealing method such as heat contact, ultrasonic, induction or hot air heating.
16. A method according to claim 14 wherein the step of moving the rigid closure and the container relative to one another includes rotating the rigid closure and the container relative to one another.
17. A method according to claim 14 or claim 16 wherein the container has a neck and wherein the step of adhesively securing the flexible membrane on the open end of the container includes the sub steps of applying adhesive material to the flexible membrane andor the container neck; engaging the flexible membrane and the container neck with one another to define the seal; and curing the adhesive material.
18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the substep of curing the adhesive material includes heating thereof.
19. A method of packaging a food product, comprising the steps of placing the food product in an open ended container; closing the open end of the container with a container closure to provide a container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 13; and heating the container assembly and the food product therein, the container closure system maintaining the seal between the flexible membrane and the container during such heating.
20. A method of packaging a food product comprising the steps of closing an open end of a container having two open ends with a closure to provide a container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 13; placing a food product in the container; closing the other open end of the container by flanging a container end thereto; and heating the container and the food product therein, the container closure system maintaining the seal between the flexible membrane and the container during such heating.
21. A method according to claim 19 or claim 20 wherein the step of heating includes cooking the food product in the container.