US 6,392,486 B1 · Low-noise common-gate amplifier for wireless communications

Abstract

With emergence of Bluetooth™ and other wireless standards, it has become increasingly desirable and practical to use low-cost wireless links, instead of cables, between devices, such as computers, printers, and personal digital assistants. Vital to these wireless links are the amplifiers that receive transmitted signals. One amplifier form, known as a common-gate amplifier, generally includes bias circuitry that requires large areas of an integrated-circuit chip or increases power usage and adds noise. Accordingly, the inventor devised an exemplary common-gate amplifier that includes an inductor coupled between the gate and drain of an amplifying transistor. The inductor acts as a short circuit at low frequencies, forcing the transistor to function at these frequencies as a diode and thus reduces the need for further bias circuitry. Other inventive embodiments include wireless receivers, transceivers, programmable integrated circuits, and electronic devices that incorporate the exemplary amplifier.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An amplifier comprising

an input node for receiving an input signal;
an output node for outputting an amplified version of the signal;
a supply node for coupling to a voltage supply;
and
a first transistor having a control node and first and second non-control nodes, with the control node inductively coupled to the first non-control node, the first non-control node coupled to the output node, and the second non-control node coupled to the input node.

2 more elements

An integrated amplifier circuit comprising:

first and second supply nodes, output nodes, and input nodes;
first and second transistors having respective first and second control nodes and first and second pairs of non-control nodes, with the first and second control nodes coupled together, one of the first pair of non-control nodes coupled to the first input node and the other of the first pair coupled to the first output node, one of the second pair of non-control nodes coupled to the second input node, the other of the second pair coupled to the second output node;
third and fourth transistors having respective third and fourth control nodes and third and fourth pairs of non-control nodes, with the third and fourth control nodes coupled together, one of the third pair of non-control nodes coupled to the first input node and the other of the third pair coupled to the second supply node, one of the fourth pair of non-control nodes coupled to the second input node, the other of the fourth pair coupled to the second supply node;
a first inductor coupled between the first control node and the first output node;
a second inductor coupled between the second control node and the second output node;
a first resistor coupled between the third control node and the first input node;
a second resistor coupled between the fourth control node and the second input node;
and
a fifth transistor having a fifth pair of non-control nodes coupled between the first control node and the first supply node or between the other of the fourth pair of non-control nodes and second supply node.

6 more elements

A wireless transceiver comprising:

an amplifier comprising:
first and second supply nodes, output nodes, and input nodes;
first and second transistors having respective first and second control nodes and first and second pairs of non-control nodes, with the first and second control nodes coupled together, one of the first pair of non-control nodes coupled to the first input node and the other of the first pair coupled to the first output node, one of the second pair of non-control nodes coupled to the second input node, the other of the second pair coupled to the second output node;
third and fourth transistors having respective third and fourth control nodes and third and fourth pairs of non-control nodes, with the third and fourth control nodes coupled together, one of the third pair of non-control nodes coupled to the first input node and the other of the third pair coupled to the second supply node, one of the fourth pair of non-control nodes coupled to the second input node, the other of the fourth pair coupled to the second supply node;
a first inductor coupled between the first control node and the first output node;
a second inductor coupled between the second control node and the second output node;
a first resistor coupled between the third control node and the first input node;
a second resistor coupled between the fourth control node and the second input node;
and
a fifth transistor having a fifth pair of non-control nodes coupled between the first control node and the first supply node or between the other of the fourth pair of non-control nodes and second supply node;
an antenna having first and second antenna outputs coupled respectively to the first and second inputs of the amplifier;
an down-converter having first and second inputs and an output, with the first input coupled to the first output of the amplifier;
a filter having an input and an output, with the input coupled to the output of the down-converter;
an analog-to-digital converter having an input and an output, with the input coupled to the output of the filter;
a voltage-controlled oscillator having an output coupled to the second input of the down-converter;
and
an up-converter having an input coupled to the output of the voltage-controlled oscillator.

14 more elements

A programmable integrated circuit comprising:

a wireless transceiver comprising:
an amplifier comprising:
first and second supply nodes, output nodes, and input nodes;
first and second transistors having respective first and second control nodes and first and second pairs of non-control nodes, with the first and second control nodes coupled together, one of the first pair of non-control nodes coupled to the first input node and the other of the first pair coupled to the first output node, one of the second pair of non-control nodes coupled to the second input node, the other of the second pair coupled to the second output node;
third and fourth transistors having respective third and fourth control nodes and third and fourth pairs of non-control nodes, with the third and fourth control nodes coupled together, one of the third pair of non-control nodes coupled to the first input node and the other of the third pair coupled to the second supply node, one of the fourth pair of non-control nodes coupled to the second input node, the other of the fourth pair coupled to the second supply node;
a first inductor coupled between the first control node and the first output node;
a second inductor coupled between the second control node and the second output node;
a first resistor coupled between the third control node and the first input node;
a second resistor coupled between the fourth control node and the second input node;
and
a fifth transistor having a fifth pair of non-control nodes coupled between the first control node and the first supply node or between the other of the fourth pair of non-control nodes and second supply node;
an antenna having first and second antenna outputs coupled respectively to the first and second inputs of the amplifier;
an down-converter having first and second inputs and an output, with the first input coupled to the first output of the amplifier;
a filter having an input and an output, with the input coupled to the output of the down-converter;
an analog-to-digital converter having an input and an output, with the input coupled to the output of the filter;
a voltage-controlled oscillator having an output coupled to the second input of the down-converter;
and
an up-converter having an input coupled to the output of the voltage-controlled oscillator;
an interface coupled to an output of the wireless transceiver;
and
a programmable logic device coupled to the interface.

18 more elements

An electronic device comprising:

a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor;
and
a programmable integrated circuit coupled to the processor, the programmable integrated circuit comprising:
a wireless transceiver comprising:
an amplifier comprising:
first and second supply nodes, output nodes, and input nodes;
first and second transistors having respective first and second control nodes and first and second pairs of non-control nodes, with the first and second control nodes coupled together, one of the first pair of non-control nodes coupled to the first input node and the other of the first pair coupled to the first output node, one of the second pair of non-control nodes coupled to the second input node, the other of the second pair coupled to the second output node;
third and fourth transistors having respective third and fourth control nodes and third and fourth pairs of non-control nodes, with the third and fourth control nodes coupled together, one of the third pair of non-control nodes coupled to the first input node and the other of the third pair coupled to the second supply node, one of the fourth pair of non-control nodes coupled to the second input node, the other of the fourth pair coupled to the second supply node;
a first inductor coupled between the first control node and the first output node;
a second inductor coupled between the second control node and the second output node;
a first resistor coupled between the third control node and the first input node;
a second resistor coupled between the fourth control node and the second input node;
and
a fifth transistor having a fifth pair of non-control nodes coupled between the first control node and the first supply node or between the other of the fourth pair of non-control nodes and second supply node;
an antenna having first and second antenna outputs coupled respectively to the first and second inputs of the amplifier;
an down-converter having first and second inputs and an output, with the first input coupled to the first output of the amplifier;
a filter having an input and an output, with the input coupled to the output of the down-converter;
an analog-to-digital converter having an input and an output, with the input coupled to the output of the filter;
a voltage-controlled oscillator having an output coupled to the second input of the down-converter;
and
an up-converter having an input coupled to the output of the voltage-controlled oscillator;
an interface coupled to an output of the wireless transceiver;
and
a programmable logic device coupled to the interface.

22 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low-noise common-gate amplifier for wireless communications

Life of this patent

Low-noise common-gate amplifier for wireless communications

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22