Abstract: The present invention is related to low power low noise amplifiers (LNA) including on/off switching capability, which are preferably used for impulse radio (IR) ultra-wideband (UWB) receivers. In the invention a very low power and high-gain Common-Gate Capacitive Cross Coupling Cascaded LNA is proposed, to provide an optimum gain for large ON times. The invention provides also a Common-Source Cascoded LNA for shorter received pulse widths, with the aim of implementing a fast ON/OFF switching. An input signal is applied to a first amplifying stage and the switching means are coupled to a second amplifying stage so that they do not interfere with the matching network of the first stage. The invention is also related to a method of amplifying a radio frequency signal using a plurality of low noise amplifying elements.

Abstract: The pulse generator comprises: a delay line arranged to receive a digital input signal and to produce a plurality of delay line output signals; first and second pulse generator blocks comprising logic circuitry arranged to generate a plurality of successive first output pulses in response to said different delay line output signals; and pulse combiner circuitry arranged to combine said first output pulses to produce second output pulses. The first pulse generator block is arranged to be responsive to rising edges of said input signal, and the second pulse generator blocks is responsive to falling edges of said input signal. Thus, both rising and falling edges of said input signal are used to create pulses. The device can be used in impulse radio transmitters and receivers.