Patent · US Expired

First stage amplifier circuit

US6246282A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 3, 1999
Grant dateJun 12, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 3, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03G3/3084
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A first stage amplifier circuit includes an amplifier, a variable feedback resistance, a comparator and a shift register. The amplifier amplifies an input signal supplied thereto. The variable feedback resistance includes two or more feedback resistors and one or more switches for changing the connection of the feedback resistors and thereby changing the composite resistance of the feedback resistors. The variable feedback resistance is connected between the output terminal and the input terminal of the amplifier. The comparator judges whether or not the output signal of the amplifier exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The shift register has one or more stages corresponding to the switches of the variable feedback resistance. The shift register operates the switches of the variable feedback resistance one by one and successively reduces the composite resistance of the variable feedback resistance as long as the output signal of the amplifier is judged by the comparator to exceed the threshold value. Therefore, the gain of the amplifier is controlled adequately by the digital feedback resistance control circuit, thereby both a wide dynamic range and high speed response of the …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.