Method and apparatus for optimizing power dissipation in a low noise amplifier

Abstract

A method and a low noise amplifier are provided such that the low noise amplifier has a power dissipation that is adaptive to the noise interference levels. The low noise amplifer includes (i) first, second and third differential amplifiers connected in series each having a terminal for receiving a power supply current; and (ii) first and second switches responsive to a control signal, the first and second switches configured such that, (a) when the control signal is in a first state, the first switch and the second switch enable independent currents to flow in the terminals for receiving a power supply current; and (b) otherwise, the first switch and the second switch enable the terminal for receiving a power supply current of the second differential amplifier to reuse a current provided to the terminal for receiving a power supply current of the third differential amplifier. The control signal is provided by a radio frequency noise power detector, which senses an output signal of the low noise amplifier.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.