Abstract: A stacked amplifier circuit includes an input stage having first and second input ports respectively defined by inputs of first and second transistors. A transformer arrangement includes first and second primary windings and first and second secondary windings. The first secondary winding is connected to an output of the first input transistor and the second secondary winding is connected to an output of the second input transistor. Portions of the magnetic fields generated by the primary windings couple to their respective secondary windings. An output stage is AC coupled to the first and second secondary windings and has an output connected to the first and second primary windings. The input stage and the output stage are arranged in a stacked configuration such that a bias current of the output stage is reused as bias current for the input stage.

Abstract: A logarithmic detector amplifying (LDA) system is provided for use as a high sensitivity receive booster or replacement for a low noise amplifier in a receive chain of a communication device. The LDA system includes an amplifying circuit configured to receive an input signal having a first frequency and generate an oscillation based on the input signal, a sampling circuit coupled to the amplifying circuit and configured to terminate the oscillation based on a predetermined threshold to periodically clamp and restart the oscillation to generate a series of pulses modulated by the oscillation and by the input signal, and one or more resonant circuits coupled with the amplifying circuit and configured to establish a frequency of operation and to generate an output signal having a second frequency, the second frequency being substantially the same as the first frequency.