US 6,747,510 B2 · Apparatus, system, and method for amplifying a signal, and applications thereof

Abstract

An upstream amplifier is integrated on a substrate with a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to form an integrated circuit. In an embodiment, a low-pass filter is also integrated on the substrate. The output signal level of the upstream amplifier is controllable. In embodiments, fine adjustments are made to the output signal level of the upstream amplifier by varying a bias current of the DAC. A software control bit is used to switch between a power-on mode of operation and a power-down mode of operation. The upstream amplifier transmits in a burst mode. The power consumption of the upstream amplifier scales with the amplifier's output signal level. A high degree of matching is attained between the positive and negative paths of the upstream amplifier. This provides high immunity from common-mode disturbances such as substrate noise, clock spurs, and glitches caused by a gain change.

Claims39

Dependent claims

An integrated circuit amplifier, comprising:

a substrate;
a plurality of switched current mirrors disposed on the substrate;
an internal transistor amplifier disposed on the substrate;
a level shifter, disposed on the substrate, coupled to an input port of the internal transistor amplifier;
and
a switch, disposed on the substrate, used to couple the level shifter to a voltage source or to a current sink to ground, wherein the integrated circuit amplifier produces an output current proportional to an input current when the switch couples the level shifter to the current sink to ground, and wherein the output current is turned off when the switch couples the level shifter to the voltage source.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus, system, and method for amplifying a signal, and applications thereof

Life of this patent

Apparatus, system, and method for amplifying a signal, and applications thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39