Variable gain control system and method for an amplifier
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsMarco Vigilante, Chinmaya Mishra
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An amplifier circuit for a millimeter wave (mmW) communication system includes an amplifier coupled to a matching network, and a variable gain control circuit in the matching network, the variable gain control circuit having an adjustable gain control resistance, the adjustable gain control resistance having adjustable segments and a center node therebetween, the center node coupled to an alternating current (AC) ground.
Claims29
An amplifier circuit for a millimeter wave (mmW) communication system, comprising:
- an amplifier coupled to a matching network, the matching network having a load inductance;
- and
- a variable gain control circuit in the matching network, the variable gain control circuit having an adjustable gain control resistance coupled to the load inductance, the adjustable gain control resistance having adjustable segments and a center node therebetween, the center node coupled to a ground.
A method for providing amplifier gain control, comprising:
- amplifying a millimeter wave (mmW) signal with an amplifier circuit, the amplifier circuit coupled to a matching network, the matching network having a load inductance;
- coupling a common mode current to a ground through the matching network;
- and
- independently varying a resistance of adjustable segments of an adjustable gain control resistance coupled to the load inductance.
A device, comprising:
- means for amplifying a millimeter wave (mmW) signal, the amplifying means coupled to a matching means, the matching means having inductive means;
- means for coupling a common mode current to a ground;
- and
- means for independently varying a resistance of adjustable segments of an adjustable gain control resistance coupled to the inductive means.
A gain control system for an amplifier circuit, comprising:
- a transconductance amplifier coupled to a matching network, the transconductance amplifier comprising n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor devices, the matching network having a load inductance;
- and
- a variable gain control circuit in the matching network, the variable gain control circuit having an adjustable gain control resistance coupled to the load inductance, the adjustable gain control resistance comprising p-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor devices, the adjustable gain control resistance having adjustable segments and a center node coupled to at least a portion of each of the adjustable segments, the center node further coupled to an alternating current (AC) ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.