Multiple stage attenuator
US6980056B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10L19/18
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An attenuator includes a first stage 601a having a first operational amplifier 602a and a tapped resistor 603a. Tapped resistor 603a has an input for receiving input data, an output coupled to an output of first operational amplifier 602a, and a plurality of taps for selectively presenting a sequence of voltages to a noninverting input of first operational amplifier 602a. Each of these sequences of voltages corresponds to an attenuation step such that first stage 601a steps the attenuation produced by the attenuator from an intermediate value to a predetermined ending value. A second stage 601b includes a second operational amplifier 602b and a tapped resistor 603b. Tapped resistor 603b includes an input for receiving analog data from first stage 601a, an output coupled to an output of second operational amplifier 602b, and a plurality of taps for selectively presenting a sequence of voltages to a noninverting input of operational amplifier 602b. Each of the sequence of voltages corresponds to an attenuation step, a second stage 601b stepping the attenuation from a predetermined starting value to the intermediate value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.