Detector for automatic gain control

Abstract

Provided is a detector for automatic gain control (AGC). The detector for AGC is used for a variable gain amplifier (VGA) including at least one VGA cell. The detector for AGC includes: first and second transistors having drains connected in common to a power supply voltage and sources connected in common to a first node, and driven in response to a non-inverting output voltage and an inverting output voltage of the VGA cell, respectively; a first current source connected between the sources of the first and second transistors and a ground voltage to supply a predetermined current; a third transistor having a drain and a source connected to the power supply voltage and a second node, respectively, and driven in response to a pre-set reference voltage; a second current source connected to the source of the third transistor and the ground voltage to supply a predetermined current; and a comparator having a non-inverting input terminal and an inverting input terminal connected to the first and second nodes, respectively, and comparing a peak voltage from the first node with a reference voltage from the second node to output a control voltage with a predetermined level to the VGA cell based on the comparison result. The detector for AGC can continuously and effectively detect an output swing of the VGA.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.