High frequency amplification circuit and mobile communication terminal using the same

A high frequency amplification circuit having a variable gain, comprising:

• a terminal group including a signal input terminal to which a high frequency signal to be amplified is to be input, a signal output terminal for outputting the amplified high frequency signal, a gain control terminal to which a control voltage is to be applied, and a reference voltage terminal to which a reference voltage is to be applied;
• an amplifier provided between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal for amplifying the input high frequency signal;
• again control circuit, provided between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal and connected in series to the amplifier, for changing an attenuation of the input high frequency signal in accordance with the control voltage applied to the gain control terminal;
• and
• a reference voltage circuit for generating an internal reference voltage from the reference voltage applied to the reference voltage terminal and supplying the generated internal reference voltage to the gain control circuit;
• wherein:
• the gain control circuit includes a first field effect transistor for receiving the control voltage at a gate terminal thereof, the gain control circuit having a resistance value which is changed in accordance with the given control voltage;
• the reference voltage circuit includes a plurality of second field effect transistors for generating a voltage which is shifted with respect to the reference voltage by a threshold voltage of the second field effect transistors, and a voltage division circuit for dividing the generated voltage;
• the gain control circuit continuously changes the attenuation of the input high frequency signal by the resistance value of the first field effect transistor being continuously changed;
• and
• the reference voltage circuit supplies a voltage obtained by the voltage division circuit to a source terminal and/or a drain terminal of the first field effect transistor as the internal reference voltage, thereby counteracting an influence exerted by a threshold voltage of the first field effect transistor on a change in the attenuation of the high frequency signal in the gain control circuit.

A high frequency amplification circuit having a variable gain, comprising:

• a terminal group including first and second signal input terminals to which first and second high frequency signals to be amplified are respectively to be input, first and second signal output terminals respectively for outputting the amplified high frequency signals, a gain control terminal to which a control voltage is to be applied, and a reference voltage terminal to which a reference voltage is to be applied;
• a first amplifier provided between the first signal input terminal and the first signal output terminal for amplifying the input first high frequency signal;
• a second amplifier provided between the second signal input terminal and the second signal output terminal for amplifying the input second high frequency signal;
• a first gain control circuit, provided between the first signal input terminal and the first signal output terminal and connected in series to the first amplifier, for changing an attenuation of the input first high frequency signal in accordance with the control voltage applied to the gain control terminal;
• a second gain control circuit, provided between the second signal input terminal and the second signal output terminal and connected in series to the second amplifier, for changing an attenuation of the input second high frequency signal in accordance with the control voltage applied to the gain control terminal;
• and
• a reference voltage circuit for generating first and second internal reference voltages from the reference voltage applied to the reference voltage terminal and supplying the generated first and second internal reference voltages respectively to the first and second gain control circuits;
• wherein:
• the first gain control circuit includes a first field effect transistor for receiving the control voltage at a gate terminal thereof, the first gain control circuit having a resistance value which is changed in accordance with the given control voltage;
• the second gain control circuit includes a second field effect transistor for receiving the control voltage at a gate terminal thereof, the second gain control circuit having a resistance value which is changed in accordance with the given control voltage;
• the reference voltage circuit includes a plurality of third field effect transistors for generating a voltage which is shifted with respect to the reference voltage by a threshold voltage of the third field effect transistors, and a voltage division circuit for dividing the generated voltage and generating the first and second internal reference voltages;
• the first and second gain control circuits continuously change the attenuation of the input first and second high frequency signals respectively by the resistance values of the first and second field effect transistors being continuously changed;
• and
• the reference voltage circuit supplies the first and second internal reference voltages generated by the voltage division circuit to source terminals and/or drain terminals of the first and second field effect transistors respectively, thereby counteracting influences exerted by the threshold voltages of the first and second field effect transistors on changes in the attenuation of the high frequency signals in the first and second gain control circuits, respectively.

A high frequency amplification circuit having a variable gain, comprising:

• a terminal group including a signal input terminal to which a high frequency signal to be amplified is to be input, a signal output terminal for outputting the amplified high frequency signal, a gain control terminal to which a control voltage is to be applied, and a reference voltage terminal to which a reference voltage is to be applied;
• a signal line connected between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal for allowing the input high frequency signal to flow therethrough;
• an amplifier provided on the signal line for amplifying the input high frequency signal;
• a control voltage circuit for generating an internal control voltage from the control voltage applied to the gain control terminal;
• and
• a gain control circuit provided on the signal line for changing an attenuation of the high frequency signal flowing through the signal line in accordance with the internal control voltage;
• wherein:
• the gain control circuit includes a first field effect transistor provided between the signal input terminal and a ground terminal for receiving the reference voltage at a gate terminal thereof and receiving the internal control voltage at a source terminal and/or a drain terminal thereof, the gain control circuit having a resistance value which is changed in accordance with the given internal control voltage;
• the control voltage circuit includes a second field effect transistor having a threshold voltage which is substantially equal to that of the first field effect transistor, the second field effect transistor being provided for generating the internal reference voltage which is shifted with respect to the control voltage by the threshold voltage;
• the gain control circuit continuously changes the attenuation of the high frequency signal flowing through the signal line by the resistance value of the first field effect transistor being continuously changed;
• and
• the control voltage circuit supplies the internal control voltage to the gain control circuit, thereby counteracting an influence exerted by the threshold voltage of the first field effect transistor on a change in the attenuation of the high frequency signal in the gain control circuit.

A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

• a high frequency circuit block including a synthesizer section, a transmission section, a receiving section, and a common use section;
• wherein:
• the transmission section comprises:
• a modulator for converting an input modulation signal into a plurality of transmission signals having different transmission frequencies from each other;
• and
• a plurality of amplification sections respectively for amplifying the plurality of transmission signals obtained by the modulator;
• each of the plurality of amplification sections comprises:
• a high frequency amplification circuit having a variable gain for amplifying one of the plurality of transmission signals obtained by the modulator;
• a band-pass filter for extracting a signal component of a predetermined band from the transmission signal amplified by the high frequency amplification circuit;
• a high output high frequency amplification circuit having a fixed gain for amplifying the signal extracted by the band-pass filter;
• and
• an isolator, provided between the high output high frequency amplification circuit and the common use section, for allowing the signal in one direction from the high output high frequency amplification circuit toward the common use section;
• and
• at least one of the high frequency amplification circuits comprises:
• a terminal group including a signal input terminal to which a high frequency signal to be amplified is to be input, a signal output terminal for outputting the amplified high frequency signal, a gain control terminal to which a control voltage is to be applied, and a reference voltage terminal to which a reference voltage is to be applied;
• an amplifier provided between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal for amplifying the input high frequency signal;
• a gain control circuit, provided between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal and connected in series to the amplifier, for changing an attenuation of the input high frequency signal in accordance with the control voltage applied to the gain control terminal;
• and
• a reference voltage circuit for generating an internal reference voltage from the reference voltage applied to the reference voltage terminal and supplying the generated internal reference voltage to the gain control circuit;
• wherein:
• the gain control circuit includes at least one first field effect transistor for receiving the control voltage at a gate terminal thereof, the gain control circuit having a resistance value which is changed in accordance with the given control voltage;
• the reference voltage circuit includes a second field effect transistor having a threshold voltage which is substantially equal to that of the at least one first field effect transistor, the second field effect transistor being provided for generating the internal reference voltage which is shifted with respect to the reference voltage by the threshold voltage;
• the gain control circuit continuously changes the attenuation of the input high frequency signal by the resistance value of the at least one first field effect transistor being continuously changed;
• and
• the reference voltage circuit supplies the internal reference voltage to a source terminal and/or a drain terminal of the at least one first field effect transistor, thereby counteracting an influence exerted by the threshold voltage of the at least one first field effect transistor on a change in the attenuation of the high frequency signal in the gain control circuit.

A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

• a high frequency circuit block including a synthesizer section, a transmission section, a receiving section, and a common use section;
• wherein:
• the transmission section comprises:
• a modulator for converting an input modulation signal into a plurality of transmission signals having different transmission frequencies from each other;
• and
• a plurality of amplification sections respectively for amplifying the plurality of transmission signals obtained by the modulator;
• each of the plurality of amplification sections comprises:
• a high frequency amplification circuit having a variable gain for amplifying one of the plurality of transmission signals obtained by the modulator;
• a band-pass filter for extracting a signal component of a predetermined band from the transmission signal amplified by the high frequency amplification circuit;
• a high output high frequency amplification circuit having a fixed gain for amplifying the signal extracted by the band-pass filter;
• and
• an isolator, provided between the high output high frequency amplification circuit and the common use section, for allowing the signal in one direction from the high output high frequency amplification circuit toward the common use section;
• and
• at least one of the high frequency amplification circuits comprises:
• a terminal group including a signal input terminal to which a high frequency signal to be amplified is to be input, a signal output terminal for outputting the amplified high frequency signal, a gain control terminal to which a control voltage is to be applied, and a reference voltage terminal to which a reference voltage is to be applied;
• an amplifier provided between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal for amplifying the input high frequency signal;
• a gain control circuit, provided between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal and connected in series to the amplifier, for changing an attenuation of the input high frequency signal in accordance with the control voltage applied to the gain control terminal;
• and
• a reference voltage circuit for generating an internal reference voltage from the reference voltage applied to the reference voltage terminal and supplying the generated internal reference voltage to the gain control circuit;
• wherein:
• the gain control circuit includes a first field effect transistor for receiving the control voltage at a gate terminal thereof, the gain control circuit having a resistance value which is changed in accordance with the given control voltage;
• the reference voltage circuit includes a plurality of second field effect transistors for generating a voltage which is shifted with respect to the reference voltage by a threshold voltage of the second field effect transistors, and a voltage division circuit for dividing the generated voltage;
• the gain control circuit continuously changes the attenuation of the input high frequency signal by the resistance value of the first field effect transistor being continuously changed;
• and
• the reference voltage circuit supplies a voltage obtained by the voltage division circuit to a source terminal and/or a drain terminal of the first field effect transistor as the internal reference voltage, thereby counteracting an influence exerted by a threshold voltage of the first field effect transistor on a change in the attenuation of the high frequency signal in the gain control circuit.

A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

• a high frequency circuit block including a synthesizer section, a transmission section, a receiving section, and a common use section;
• wherein:
• the transmission section comprises:
• a modulator for converting an input modulation signal into a plurality of transmission signals having different transmission frequencies from each other;
• and
• a plurality of amplification sections respectively for amplifying the plurality of transmission signals obtained by the modulator;
• each of the plurality of amplification sections comprises:
• a high frequency amplification circuit having a variable gain for amplifying one of the plurality of transmission signals obtained by the modulator;
• a band-pass filter for extracting a signal component of a predetermined band from the transmission signal amplified by the high frequency amplification circuit;
• a high output high frequency amplification circuit having a fixed gain for amplifying the signal extracted by the band-pass filter;
• and
• an isolator, provided between the high output high frequency amplification circuit and the common use section, for allowing the signal in one direction from the high output high frequency amplification circuit toward the common use section;
• and
• at least one of the high frequency amplification circuits comprises:
• a terminal group including first and second signal input terminals to which first and second high frequency signals to be amplified are respectively to be input, first and second signal output terminals respectively for outputting the amplified high frequency signals, a gain control terminal to which a control voltage is to be applied, and a reference voltage terminal to which a reference voltage is to be applied;
• a first amplifier provided between the first signal input terminal and the first signal output terminal for amplifying the input first high frequency signal;
• a second amplifier provided between the second signal input terminal and the second signal output terminal for amplifying the input second high frequency signal;
• a first gain control circuit, provided between the first signal input terminal and the first signal output terminal and connected in series to the first amplifier, for changing an attenuation of the input first high frequency signal in accordance with the control voltage applied to the gain control terminal;
• a second gain control circuit, provided between the second signal input terminal and the second signal output terminal and connected in series to the second amplifier, for changing an attenuation of the input second high frequency signal in accordance with the control voltage applied to the gain control terminal;
• and
• a reference voltage circuit for generating first and second internal reference voltages from the reference voltage applied to the reference voltage terminal and supplying the generated first and second internal reference voltages respectively to the first and second gain control circuits;
• wherein:
• the first gain control circuit includes a first field effect transistor for receiving the control voltage at a gate terminal thereof, the first gain control circuit having a resistance value which is changed in accordance with the given control voltage;
• the second gain control circuit includes a second field effect transistor for receiving the control voltage at a gate terminal thereof, the second gain control circuit having a resistance value which is changed in accordance with the given control voltage;
• the reference voltage circuit includes a plurality of third field effect transistors for generating a voltage which is shifted with respect to the reference voltage by a threshold voltage of the third field effect transistors, and a voltage division circuit for dividing the generated voltage and generating the first and second internal reference voltages;
• the first and second gain control circuits continuously change the attenuation of the input first and second high frequency signals respectively by the resistance values of the first and second field effect transistors being continuously changed;
• and
• the reference voltage circuit supplies the first and second internal reference voltages generated by the voltage division circuit to source terminals and/or drain terminals of the first and second field effect transistors respectively, thereby counteracting influences exerted by the threshold voltages of the first and second field effect transistors on changes in the attenuation of the high frequency signals in the first and second gain control circuits, respectively.

A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

• a high frequency circuit block including a synthesizer section, a transmission section, a receiving section, and a common use section;
• wherein:
• the transmission section comprises:
• a modulator for converting an input modulation signal into a plurality of transmission signals having different transmission frequencies from each other;
• and
• a plurality of amplification sections respectively for amplifying the plurality of transmission signals obtained by the modulator;
• each of the plurality of amplification sections comprises:
• a high frequency amplification circuit having a variable gain for amplifying one of the plurality of transmission signals obtained by the modulator;
• a band-pass filter for extracting a signal component of a predetermined band from the transmission signal amplified by the high frequency amplification circuit;
• a high output high frequency amplification circuit having a fixed gain for amplifying the signal extracted by the band-pass filter;
• and
• an isolator, provided between the high output high frequency amplification circuit and the common use section, for allowing the signal in one direction from the high output high frequency amplification circuit toward the common use section;
• and
• at least one of the high frequency amplification circuits comprises:
• a terminal group including a signal input terminal to which a high frequency signal to be amplified is to be input, a signal output terminal for outputting the amplified high frequency signal, a gain control terminal to which a control voltage is to be applied, and a reference voltage terminal to which a reference voltage is to be applied;
• a signal line connected between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal for allowing the input high frequency signal to flow therethrough;
• an amplifier provided on the signal line for amplifying the input high frequency signal;
• a control voltage circuit for generating an internal control voltage from the control voltage applied to the gain control terminal;
• and
• a gain control circuit provided on the signal line for changing an attenuation of the high frequency signal flowing through the signal line in accordance with the internal control voltage;
• wherein:
• the gain control circuit includes a first field effect transistor provided between the signal input terminal and a ground terminal for receiving the reference voltage at a gate terminal thereof and receiving the internal control voltage at a source terminal and/or a drain terminal thereof, the gain control circuit having a resistance value which is changed in accordance with the given internal control voltage;
• the control voltage circuit includes a second field effect transistor having a threshold voltage which is substantially equal to that of the first field effect transistor, the second field effect transistor being provided for generating the internal reference voltage which is shifted with respect to the control voltage by the threshold voltage;
• the gain control circuit continuously changes the attenuation of the high frequency signal flowing through the signal line by the resistance value of the first field effect transistor being continuously changed;
• and
• the control voltage circuit supplies the internal control voltage to the gain control circuit, thereby counteracting an influence exerted by the threshold voltage of the first field effect transistor on a change in the attenuation of the high frequency signal in the gain control circuit.