Wideband amplifier with one-bit step attenuation
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorSeok Bae Park
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The wideband amplifier includes a cascoded circuit comprising a first transistor and a second transistor, a third transistor, a first resistor, and a bias control circuit coupled between the first resistor and the third transistor to provide attenuation function of the amplifier. The bias control circuit includes a second resistor and a switch coupled to the second resistor in parallel. The resistor is coupled to the first resistor and a collector of the third transistor in series. The wideband amplifier requires a single bias control circuit, which includes one resistor and one MOSFET switch, to implement attenuation function, which simplifies the design process. The wideband amplifier consumes much less current while providing attenuation, which saves power consumption.
Claims13
A wideband amplifier, comprising:
- a cascoded circuit comprising a first transistor and a second transistor, wherein an emitter of the second transistor is coupled to a collector of the first transistor in series;
- a third transistor, wherein a base of the third transistor is coupled to a base of the first transistor in series;
- a first resistor coupled to a supply voltage source;
- a bias control circuit coupled between the first resistor and the third transistor, wherein the bias control circuit is configured to control attenuation;
- an input terminal for receiving an input signal, wherein the input terminal is coupled to the bases of the first transistor and the third transistor;
- and
- an output terminal for outputting an output signal, wherein the output terminal is coupled to a collector of the second transistor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.