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US 2025/0337381 A1Published application
Gain stage degeneration inductor switching without the use of switches
AssigneeSkyworks Solutions, Inc.
InventorsJunhyung Lee, Johannes Jacobus Emile Maria Hageraats
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are signal amplifier architectures that provide a plurality of gain modes. Different gain modes can use different paths through the amplifier architecture. Switches that are used to select the path through the amplifier architecture can be configured to also provide targeted impedance in a degeneration block or matrix. The switches that select the gain path are provided in the amplifier architecture and are thus not needed or used in the degeneration block, thereby reducing the size of the package for the amplifier architecture, improving the noise figure (NF), improving impedance matching, and eliminating the need for control logic associated with the degeneration block or matrix.
Claims20
An amplifier comprising:
- a gain stage configured to receive an input signal and to generate an amplified output signal using a first amplification path or a second amplification path, each of the first amplification path and the second amplification path including a gain stage transistor and a gain switch such that a state of the gain switches determines the amplification path of the input signal to generate the amplified output signal;
- and
- a degeneration matrix coupled to the gain stage, the degeneration matrix including a first inductor and a second inductor, the degeneration matrix not including any switches, the degeneration matrix configured to provide a first tailored impedance comprising the first inductor and the second inductor and a second tailored impedance comprising the second inductor such that responsive to the gain switch of the first amplification path being in an ON state and the gain switch of the second amplification path being in an OFF state the first tailored impedance is provided to the gain stage and responsive to the gain switch of the first amplification path being in an OFF state and the gain switch of the second amplification path being in an ON state the second tailored impedance is provided to the gain stage.
A front end architecture comprising:
- an amplifier including a gain stage configured to receive an input signal and to generate an amplified output signal using a first amplification path or a second amplification path, each of the first amplification path and the second amplification path including a gain stage transistor and a gain switch such that a state of the gain switches determines the amplification path of the input signal to generate the amplified output signal;
- the amplifier also including a degeneration matrix coupled to the gain stage, the degeneration matrix including a first inductor and a second inductor, the degeneration matrix not including any switches, the degeneration matrix configured to provide a first tailored impedance comprising the first inductor and the second inductor and a second tailored impedance comprising the second inductor such that responsive to the gain switch of the first amplification path being in an ON state and the gain switch of the second amplification path being in an OFF state the first tailored impedance is provided to the gain stage and responsive to the gain switch of the first amplification path being in an OFF state and the gain switch of the second amplification path being in an ON state the second tailored impedance is provided to the gain stage;
- a filter assembly coupled to the amplifier to direct frequency bands to select inputs of the amplifier;
- and
- a controller implemented to control the amplifier to provide a plurality of gain modes such that, in a low gain mode, the amplifier directs signals along a bypass path that bypasses the gain stage.
2 more elements
A wireless device comprising:
- a diversity antenna;
- a filter assembly coupled to the diversity antenna to receive signals and to direct frequency bands along select paths;
- an amplifier including a gain stage configured to receive an input signal and to generate an amplified output signal using a first amplification path or a second amplification path, each of the first amplification path and the second amplification path including a gain stage transistor and a gain switch such that a state of the gain switches determines the amplification path of the input signal to generate the amplified output signal;
- the amplifier also including a degeneration matrix coupled to the gain stage, the degeneration matrix including a first inductor and a second inductor, the degeneration matrix not including any switches, the degeneration matrix configured to provide a first tailored impedance comprising the first inductor and the second inductor and a second tailored impedance comprising the second inductor such that responsive to the gain switch of the first amplification path being in an ON state and the gain switch of the second amplification path being in an OFF state the first tailored impedance is provided to the gain stage and responsive to the gain switch of the first amplification path being in an OFF state and the gain switch of the second amplification path being in an ON state the second tailored impedance is provided to the gain stage;
- and
- a controller implemented to control the amplifier to provide a plurality of gain modes such that, in a low gain mode, the amplifier directs signals along a bypass path that bypasses the gain stage.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.