US 10,382,010 B2Granted

Attenuation circuit and method of controlling an attenuation circuit

AssigneeAnokiwave, Inc.

InventorsKristian N. Madsen, Robert J. McMorrow

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A circuit for attenuating a signal has an input configured to receive an input signal, an output configured to transmit an output signal, a first attenuation path (having a first active circuit device) between the input and the output, and a second attenuation path between the input and the output. The circuit also has an operational amplifier that, like most operational amplifiers, has a first op-amp input, a second op-amp input, and an op-amp output. In addition, the circuit has a voltage control device coupled with the first op-amp input, and a second active circuit device having a first active terminal coupled with the second op-amp input. A feedback loop is coupled between the op-amp output and a second active terminal of the second active circuit device. Moreover, the op-amp output also is coupled with the first active circuit device.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An attenuator circuit comprising:

an input configured to receive an input signal;
an output configured to transmit an output signal;
a first attenuation path between the input and the output, the first attenuation path having a first active circuit device with a first on-resistance;
a second attenuation path between the input and the output;
and
an attenuation control circuit configured to control attenuation through the first and second attenuation paths,
the attenuation control circuit having a voltage control device and a second active circuit device with a second on-resistance,
the attenuation control circuit having a control output coupled with the first active circuit device to direct a control output signal to the first active circuit device,
the attenuation control circuit having a feedback loop coupled between the control output and the second active circuit device, the feedback loop being configured to direct the control output signal to the second active circuit device,
the control output signal being a function of the second on-resistance,
the second on-resistance being a function of the voltage control device,
the first on-resistance being a function of the control output signal;
and
a switching arrangement configured to controllably direct the input signal to the first attenuation path, the second attenuation path, or both the first and second attenuation paths at the same time in response to the attenuation control circuit changing the second on-resistance of the second active control device.

11 more elements

A circuit for attenuating a signal, the circuit comprising:

an input configured to receive an input signal;
an output configured to transmit an output signal;
a first attenuation path between the input and the output;
a second attenuation path between the input and the output, the first attenuation path having a first active circuit device;
an operational amplifier having a first op-amp input, a second op-amp input, and an op-amp output;
a voltage control device coupled with the first op-amp input;
a second active circuit device having a first active terminal and a second active terminal, the second op-amp input coupled to the first active terminal of the second active circuit device,
a feedback loop coupled between the op-amp output and the second active terminal of the second active circuit device;
and
the op-amp output being coupled with the first active circuit device,
a switching arrangement configured to controllably direct the input signal to the first attenuation path, the second attenuation path, or both the first and second attenuation paths at the same time in response to a second on-resistance of the second active control device being changed.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.