Patent · US Expired

Continuous variable-gain low-noise amplifier

US7164318B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
3References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 26, 2004
Grant dateJan 16, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 26, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03F2200/372
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Continuous variable-gain low-noise amplifier. The amplifier continuously adjusts its gain between well-defined high and low values by using a cascode current-steering circuit to partition signal current between two different nodes of an output loading network. A shunt feedback network connected from an intermediate node of the loading network to the input provides negative feedback that linearizes the amplifier as its gain is decreased. The circuit degrades the noise figure at lower gains by varying the gain without directly dumping the signal current to the power supply. The circuit produces only small changes in input and output impedances and preserves an improved reverse-isolation cascode characteristic as the gain is controlled.

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