Switchable clamps across attenuators

A radio frequency (RF) receiver front-end comprising:

• a first signal path having a first signal path input and a first signal path output;
• a low noise amplifier (LNA) disposed in the first signal path;
• a series arrangement of one or more first attenuators disposed at an output of the LNA in the first signal path;
• a clamping circuit switchably connected, through a clamping switch to the one or more first attenuators and configured to clamp an input signal i) at an input of any first attenuator of the one or more first attenuators or ii) at the first signal path output, thereby maintaining a signal power level at the first signal path output at less than a set threshold.

A radio frequency (RF) receiver front-end comprising:

• a first signal path having a first signal path input;
• a low noise amplifier (LNA) disposed in the first signal path;
• a series arrangement of one or more attenuators coupling the first signal path input to an input of the LNA;
• the series arrangement of the one or more attenuators being disposed in the first signal path;
• a clamping circuit switchably connected, through a clamping switch (S11), to the series arrangement of one or more attenuators and configured to switchably clamp an input signal through the first signal path i) at an input of any attenuator of the one or more attenuators or ii) at an output of the series arrangement of the one or more attenuators, thereby maintaining a signal power level at an output of the LNA at less than a set threshold.

A reconfigurable radio frequency (RF) circuit configurable to be operated according to a first mode a second mode, and a third mode, the circuit comprising an amplifier;

• a first, second and third series arrangement of one or more attenuators;
• and
• corresponding first, second and third switchable clamping arrangements configured to switchably clamp a signal through the reconfigurable RF circuit i) at an input of any attenuator of the respective first, second and third series arrangement or ii) at an output of the respective first, second and third series arrangement;
• wherein the reconfigurable RF circuit is configured
• i) in the first mode, to convey the signal from a first input, through the amplifier and the third series arrangement, to an output of the RF circuit, the third switchable clamping arrangement being active, the first and the second clamping arrangement being inactive,
• ii) in the second mode, to convey the signal from a second input, through the first series arrangement and the amplifier, to the output of the RF circuit, at least one of the first and third switchable clamping arrangement being active, the second clamping arrangement being inactive, and
• iii) in the third mode to convey the signal from the second input, through the third series arrangement, to the output of the RF circuit, at least one of the first and second switchable clamping arrangement being active, the third clamping arrangement being inactive.