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US 7,598,808 B2Granted
Gigabit ethernet transceiver with analog front end
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorsArya R. Behzad, Klaas Bult, Ramon A. Gomez, Chi-Hung Lin, Tom W. Kwan, Oscar E. Agazzi, John L. Creigh, Mehdi Hatamian, David E. Kruse, Arthur Abnous, Henry Samueli
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Abstract
Circuitry to remove switches from signal paths in integrated circuit programmable gain attenuators. Programmable gain attenuators and programmable gain amplifiers commonly switch between signal levels using semi-conductor switches. Such switches may introduce non-linearities in the signal. By isolating the switches from the signal path linearity of the PGA can be improved.
Claims18
A programmable gain amplifier (PGA) comprising:
- a plurality of impedances coupled in series to divide an input signal into a plurality of voltage levels;
- a plurality of buffers, each coupled to receive one of the plurality of voltage levels;
- and
- a plurality of switches, each operable to connect and disconnect one of the buffers from an operating current, thereby deactivating the associated amplifier.
1 more element
A circuit for providing a programmable gain comprising:
- a first programmable gain amplifier (PGA) comprising:
- a first plurality of impedances coupled in series to divide an input signal into a first plurality of voltage levels;
- a first plurality of buffers, each coupled to receive one of the first plurality of voltage levels;
- and
- a first plurality of switches, each operable to connect and disconnect one of the first plurality of buffers from an operating current, thereby deactivating the associated buffer;
- and
- a second PGA configured to receive a voltage level from one of the first plurality of buffers, the second PGA comprising:
- a second plurality of impedances coupled in series to divide the received voltage level into a second plurality of voltage levels;
- and
- a second plurality of switches, each operable to connect and disconnect one of the second plurality of voltages to a second buffer.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.