Programmable gain amplifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10122337-B2
Application number	US-201715669798-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2016
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

A programmable gain amplifier includes an active load module, a first differential pair, a second differential pair and a power source module. The first and second differential pairs are electrically connected to the active load module. The power source module is electrically connected to the first current source end of the first differential pair and the second current source end of the second differential pair. The power source module supplies a first current to the first differential pair through the first current source end. The power source module supplies a second current to the second differential pair through the second current source end. The power source module adjusts the potential of the first current, the potential of the second current, or both.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A programmable gain amplifier, comprising:
an active load module comprising a first load end and a second load end, and the second load end of the active load module being electrically connected to an output end of the programmable gain amplifier;
a first differential pair comprising a first input end, a second input end, a first current source end, a first output end and a second output end, the first output end of the first differential pair being electrically connected to the second load end of the active load module, the second output end of the first differential pair being electrically connected to the first load end of the active load module, the first input end of the first differential pair being configured to receive an input signal, and the second input end of the first differential pair being configured to receive a common mode voltage;
a second differential pair comprising a third input end, a fourth input end, a second current source end, a third output end and a fourth output end, the third output end of the second differential pair being electrically connected to the first load end of the active load module, the fourth output end of the second differential pair being electrically connected to the second load end of the active load module, the third input end of the second differential pair being electrically connected to the output end of the programmable gain amplifier and being configured to receive a feedback signal, and the fourth input end of the second differential pair being configured to receive the common mode voltage; and
a power source module electrically connected to the first current source end of the first differential pair and the second current source end of the second differential pair, the power source module being configured to supply a first current to the first differential pair through the first current source end of the first differential pair, the power source module being configured to supply a second current to the second differential pair through the second current source end of the second differential pair, and the power source module being configured to adjust a current potential of the first current, a current potential of the second current or both.

2. The programmable gain amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein the first differential pair comprises a first transistor and a second transistor, the second differential pair comprises a third transistor and a fourth transistor;
a first end of the first transistor is electrically connected to the second load end of the active load module, a second end of the first transistor is electrically connected to the power source module, and a control end of the first transistor is configured to receive the input signal;
a first end of the second transistor is electrically connected to the first load end of the active load module, a second end of the second transistor is electrically connected to the power source module and the second end of the first transistor, and a control end of the second transistor is configured to receive the common mode voltage;
a first end of the third transistor is electrically connected to the first load end of the active load module, a second end of the third transistor is electrically connected to the power source module, and a control end of the third transistor is configured to receive the feedback signal; and
a first end of the fourth transistor is electrically connected to the second load end of the active load module, a second end of the fourth transistor is electrically connected to the power source module and the second end of the third transistor, and a control end of the fourth transistor is configured to receive the common mode voltage.

3. The programmable gain amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein the power source module comprising an adjustable current source, which is electrically connected to one of the first current source end of the first differential pair and the second current source end of the second differential pair, and the adjustable current source adjusts either the potential of the first current or the potential of the second current according to a first control voltage and indication of at least one switching signal.

4. The programmable gain amplifier according to claim 3 , wherein the adjustable current source comprising:
current sources; and
switches, being controlled by the at least one switching signal, wherein each of the switches is connected to one of the current sources in series, the switch and the current source, which are connected in series, are located between and respectively and electrically connected to a current output end and a reference end.

5. The programmable gain amplifier according to claim 3 , wherein the power source module further comprising a fifth transistor, a first end of the fifth transistor is electrically connected to the other one of the first current source end of the first differential pair and the second current source end of the second differential pair, and a control end of the fifth transistor is configured to receive the first control voltage.

6. The programmable gain amplifier according to claim 5 , wherein the power source module further comprising:
a seventh transistor, a first end of the seventh transistor being electrically connected to the first current source end of the first differential pair, a second end of the seventh transistor being electrically connected to the first end of the fifth transistor, and a control end of the seventh transistor being configured to receive a second control voltage; and
an eighth transistor, a first end of the eighth transistor being electrically connected to the second current source end of the second differential pair, a second end of the eighth transistor being electrically connected to a first end of the adjustable current source, and a control end of the eighth transistor being configured to receive the second control voltage.

7. The programmable gain amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein the active load module comprising:
a ninth transistor, a first end of the ninth transistor being configured to receive a first basis voltage, a second end of the ninth transistor being electrically connected to the first load end of the active load module, and a control end of the ninth transistor being electrically connected to the first load end of the active load module; and
a tenth transistor, a first end of the tenth transistor being configured to receive the first basis voltage, a second end of the tenth transistor being electrically connected to the second load end of the active load module, and a control end of the tenth transistor being electrically connected to the first load end of the active load module.

8. The programmable gain amplifier according to claim 1 , further comprising a eleventh transistor and a twelfth transistor,
wherein a first end of the eleventh transistor is configured to receive a first basis voltage, and a control end of the eleventh transistor is electrically connected to the second load end of the active load module; and
a first end of the twelfth transistor is electrically connected to a second end of the eleventh transistor, a second end of the twelfth transistor is configured to receive a second basis voltage, and a control end of the twelfth transistor is configured to receive a first control voltage.

9. The programmable gain amplifier according to claim 8 , further comprising a thirteenth transistor and a fourteenth transistor,
wherein a first end of the thirteenth transistor is configured to receive the first basis voltage, a second end of the thirteenth transistor is electrically connected to the output end of the programmable gain amplifier and the secon

Assignees

• Silicon Integrated Systems Corp

Inventors

• Yang Ssu-Che
• Lin Wen-Chi
• Chen Keng-Nan

Classifications

• H03G3/001

  Digital control of analog signals · CPC title

• H03F1/26

  Modifications of amplifiers to reduce influence of noise generated by amplifying elements · CPC title

• H03G1/0088 Primary

  using discontinuously variable devices, e.g. switch-operated · CPC title

• H03F1/0233

  by using a signal derived from the output signal, e.g. bootstrapping the voltage supply · CPC title

• H03F3/45273

  Mirror types · CPC title