Monolithic attenuator, limiter, and linearizer circuits using non-linear resistors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017366168-A1
Application number	US-201615369575-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 5, 2016
Priority date	Jun 17, 2016
Publication date	Dec 21, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Monolithic attenuator, limiter, and linearizer circuitry to be integrated with other circuitry on a chip are provided. According to one aspect, a monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit comprises an input terminal, an output terminal, a first resistor having a first terminal coupled to the input terminal and a second terminal coupled to the output terminal, and a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to the first or second terminal of the first resistor and a second terminal coupled to ground. At least the first resistor is a non-linear resistor whose resistance changes as a function of the voltage across the resistor. The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit may be part of a “Pi” or “Tee” topology. According to another aspect, a non-linear shunt resistor coupled to the input of an amplifier circuit can operate to linearize the gain of the amplifier circuit over a range of input levels.

First claim

1 . A monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit, comprising:
an input terminal; an output terminal; a first resistor having a first terminal coupled to the input terminal and a second terminal coupled to the output terminal; and a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to the first or second terminal of the first resistor and a second terminal coupled to ground, wherein at least the first resistor is a non-linear resistor.

2 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 1 wherein the second resistor comprises a linear resistor.

3 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 1 wherein the second resistor comprises a non-linear resistor.

4 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 1 wherein the second resistor is coupled between the first terminal of the first resistor and ground and wherein the circuit further comprises a third resistor coupled between the second terminal of the first resistor and ground.

5 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 4 wherein the second resistor comprises a linear resistor.

6 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 5 wherein the third resistor comprises a linear resistor.

7 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 5 wherein the third resistor comprises a non-linear resistor.

8 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 4 wherein the second resistor comprises a non-linear resistor.

9 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 8 wherein the third resistor comprises a linear resistor.

10 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 8 wherein the third resistor comprises a non-linear resistor.

11 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 1 wherein the first resistor and a third resistor are connected in series between the input terminal and the output terminal and wherein the second resistor is coupled to the terminal of the first resistor that is connected directly to the third resistor.

12 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 11 wherein the second resistor comprises a linear resistor.

13 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 12 wherein the third resistor comprises a linear resistor.

14 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 12 wherein the third resistor comprises a non-linear resistor.

15 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 11 wherein the second resistor comprises a non-linear resistor.

16 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 15 wherein the third resistor comprises a linear resistor.

17 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 15 wherein the third resistor comprises a non-linear resistor.

18 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 1 further comprising an amplifier circuit having an amplifier output and having an amplifier input connected to the output terminal of the monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit.

19 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 18 wherein the amplifier circuit comprises a Radio Frequency (RF) amplifier.

20 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 18 wherein the amplifier circuit comprises a microwave frequency amplifier.

21 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 18 wherein the amplifier circuit is constructed using a same process as the monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit.

22 . The monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit of claim 21 wherein the amplifier circuit and the monolithic attenuator and limiter circuit are fabricated on a same wafer die.

23 . A linearizer circuit, comprising:
an input terminal; an output terminal coupled to the input terminal; and a non-linear resistor having a first terminal coupled to the input terminal and a second terminal coupled to ground.

24 . A linearized amplifier, comprising:
an input terminal; an output terminal; an amplifier circuit having an input coupled to the input terminal and an output coupled to the output terminal; and a non-linear resistor having a first terminal coupled to the input terminal and a second terminal coupled to ground.

25 . The linearized amplifier of claim 24 wherein the non-linear resistor linearizes the linearized amplifier by providing an input-voltage-dependent gain adjustment.

Assignees

• Qorvo Us Inc

Inventors

• Roberg Michael
• Schafer Scott

Classifications

• H03F2200/451

  the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier · CPC title

• H03F3/213

  in integrated circuits · CPC title

• H03H11/24 Primary

  Frequency-independent attenuators · CPC title

• H03F3/195

  in integrated circuits · CPC title

• H03F1/3276

  using the nonlinearity inherent to components, e.g. a diode · CPC title