Gain-control stage for a variable gain amplifier

A gain-control stage for generating a first gain-control signal (Vc+) and a second gain-control signal (Vc−) for controlling a gain value of an external variable-gain amplifying unit, the gain-control stage comprising:

• a first differential amplifier unit, comprising:
• a first input interface configured to receive a reference voltage signal (VRef) and a variable gain-control voltage signal (VGC);
• a first amplifying stage comprising a controllable first current source, configured to provide a first biasing current (IB1) having a first biasing current amount that depends on a current voltage value of a control voltage signal (V1), the first amplifying stage being connected to a first polarization voltage supply line for providing a first polarization voltage (Vcc) to a second polarization voltage supply line (GND) for providing, via the first current source, a second polarization voltage as a reference polarization voltage, and to the first input interface, the first amplifying stage being configured to provide, via a first output interface, the first and the second gain-control signals (Vc+, Vc−) in dependence on the variable gain-control voltage signal, the reference voltage signal and the first biasing current (IB1);
• and
• a second differential amplifier unit for providing the current voltage value of the control voltage signal, comprising:
• a second input interface configured to receive the reference voltage signal (VRef) and the variable gain-control voltage signal (VGC);
• a second amplifying stage comprising a second current source, configured to provide a second biasing current (IB2) having a second biasing current amount, the second amplifying stage connected to the first polarization voltage supply line via an active load unit, to the second polarization voltage supply line via the second current source, and to the second input interface, the second amplifying stage being configured to provide, via a second output interface, the current voltage value of the control voltage signal (V1) to the controllable first current source of the first differential amplifier unit,
• wherein the second amplifying stage of the second differential amplifier unit comprises a second long-tailed pair circuit with a current mirror load as the active load unit.