Programmable voltage variable attenuator
US10236863B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 12, 2016 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03H11/245
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A programmable voltage variable attenuator (VVA) that enables selection among multiple analog, continuous attenuation ranges. Some embodiments include a dual-mode interface to enable digitally programming a DAC and provide the analog output to control the attenuation level of the VVA, or alternatively apply an externally provided analog voltage to directly control the VVA attenuation level. A VVA may be used in conjunction with a digital step attenuator (DSA). Some embodiments include circuitry for changing the VVA reference impedance. The attenuator architecture of the VVA includes one or more variable resistance shunt elements and/or series elements which may be a resistor and FET circuit controlled by a provided variable analog voltage. The multiple resistance element architecture may be implemented with stacked FET devices. Embodiments for the VVA may be based, for example, on T-type, Bridged-T type, Pi-type, L-pad type, reflection type, or balanced coupler type attenuators.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.