Abstract: A translinear variable-gain amplifier. The translinear variable gain amplifier receives a differential input voltage and produces a differential output current having a selected gain. The amplifier comprises a buffer amplifier that receives the differential input voltage and produces a differential input current. The amplifier further comprises a translinear gain cell coupled to receive the differential input current and produce the differential output current. The gain cell includes a first adjustable bias source that operates to set a linear input range of the gain cell, and a second adjustable bias source that operates to set a gain value of the gain cell.

Abstract: A differential feedback system that minimizes even order distortion of a differential circuit. The feedback system includes a feedback circuit for use with a differential circuit to reduce even-order distortion and dc offset of a difference output signal produced by the differential circuit. The feedback circuit includes an integrator coupled to receive the difference output signal from the differential circuit and produce an integrator output signal. The feedback circuit also includes a control circuit coupled to the integrator to receive the integrator output signal to produce a control signal that is coupled to the differential circuit, wherein the control signal controls the differential circuit to reduce the even-order distortion and the DC offset.

Abstract: A variable-gain BiCMOS transconductance amplifier (VGA). An NMOS differential pair amplifier with bipolar cascoding provides continuous gain control by adjustment of drain-source voltage to shift the NMOS differential pair from a saturation region operation and high gain to a triode operation and low gain. A simple control circuit is used in order to generate the desired exponential gain to linear control voltage characteristic that is stable over temperature and process. The shift from saturation to triode operation of the input NMOS differential pair simultaneously increases the input linearity as the gain is reduced.

Abstract: A differential integrator that uses a matched resistor array to reduce integrating currents and thereby realize a long time constant. The differential integrator includes a differential operational amplifier having inverting and noninverting amplifier input terminals, and inverting and noninverting amplifier output terminals, the amplifier output terminals form inverting and noninverting output terminals, respectively, of the differential integrator. The differential integrator also includes a noninverting differential integrator input terminal and an inverting differential integrator input terminal. The differential integrator also includes a resistor array that couples the noninverting differential integrator input terminal to the inverting and noninverting input terminals of the amplifier, and the resistor array also couples the inverting differential integrator input terminal to the inverting and noninverting input terminals of the amplifier.

Abstract: A variable-gain BiCMOS transconductance amplifier (VGA). An NMOS differential pair amplifier with bipolar cascoding provides continuous gain control by adjustment of drain-source voltage to shift the NMOS differential pair from a saturation region operation and high gain to a triode operation and low gain. A simple control circuit is used in order to generate the desired exponential gain to linear control voltage characteristic that is stable over temperature and process. The shift from saturation to triode operation of the input NMOS differential pair simultaneously increases the input linearity as the gain is reduced.

Abstract: Envelope limiting for a polar modulator. A system is provided that intelligently compresses the amplitude modulation in a polar modulator so that it can be implemented with a single-stage variable gain amplifier. Limiting the amplitude modulation range on the low side prevents collapse of the transmit signal's time-varying envelope and eases circuit implementation. Limiting the amplitude modulation range on the high side reduces the peak-to-average ratio of the waveform and thereby improves the efficiency of the radio transmitter.

Abstract: A differential integrator that uses a matched resistor array to reduce integrating currents and thereby realize a long time constant. The differential integrator comprises a differential operational amplifier having inverting and noninverting amplifier input terminals, and inverting and noninverting amplifier output terminals, the amplifier output terminals form inverting and noninverting output terminals, respectively, of the differential integrator. The differential integrator also comprises a noninverting differential integrator input terminal and an inverting differential integrator input terminal. The differential integrator also comprises a resistor array that couples the noninverting differential integrator input terminal to the inverting and noninverting input terminals of the amplifier, and the resistor array also couples the inverting differential integrator input terminal to the inverting and noninverting input terminals of the amplifier.

Abstract: A translinear variable-gain amplifier. The translinear variable gain amplifier receives a differential input voltage and produces a differential output current having a selected gain. The amplifier comprises a buffer amplifier that receives the differential input voltage and produces a differential input current. The amplifier further comprises a translinear gain cell coupled to receive the differential input current and produce the differential output current. The gain cell includes a first adjustable bias source that operates to set a linear input range of the gain cell, and a second adjustable bias source that operates to set a gain value of the gain cell.

Abstract: A direct synthesis transmitter. A very efficient and highly linear direct synthesis transmitter is provided that can be used to directly synthesize and transmit any type of modulated signal. The direct synthesis transmitter includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) with controls phase modulation plus an accompanying variable gain amplifier for amplitude modulation. Also included is a system to align the phase and amplitude modulation signals. A transmitter constructed in accordance with the present invention is very efficient and suitable for use in portable radio equipment.

Abstract: An active mixer circuit, and an associated method, includes a feedback element which increases the linearity of the mixer circuit so that the mixer circuit is operable over a wider dynamic range than typically permitted of conventional, active mixer circuits. The mixer circuit includes a transconductance stage including a pair of transconductance transistors. Signals are applied through both of the transconductance transistors in parallel. The feedback element is coupled to an output side of a first of the transconductance transistors. And, a mixing stage is coupled to an output side of a second of the transconductance transistors.

Abstract: Gain control apparatus, and an associated method, for a radio transmitter, such as the radio transmitter forming a portion of a mobile station. Gain control is effectuated by controlling the level of bias current at which a power amplifier is biased. Signals to be transmitted by the radio transmitter are also applied to the power amplifier to be amplified thereat. Because the gain of a power amplifier is directly proportional to the bias level at which the amplifier is biased, gain control is effectuated through control of the bias current by which the power amplifier is biased.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier for use in communications electronics includes first and second gain stages, switching circuitry that can switch the output of the first stage between the collector (common-emitter configuration) and the emitter (emitter-follower configuration) of the input transistor, thereby achieving high-gain or unity-gain, and an input-output path that can feed back a portion of the output signal to the input gain stage (high-gain mode) or couple a portion of the input signal directly to the output (low-gain mode) depending on the switch.

Abstract: A manner by which to effectuate closed-loop power control in a two-way communication system. A switched-current, exponential DAC (digital-to-analog converter) is utilized to generate a reference signal responsive to detection of successive power control bits received by the communication device. The reference signal is step-wise exponentially related to previous values, thereby to cause a step-wise increase, or decrease, in the value of the reference signal. The reference signal is utilized to effectuate an increase or decrease in the power levels of signals generated by the communication device.

Abstract: A mixer circuit, and an associated method, mixes together differential input signals with differential mixing signals to form differential output signals. The differential output signals are substantially linearly related to the input signals over an entire range of input signal values. The mixer circuit forms, in exemplary implementations, portions of a radio receiver device or a radio transmitter device, such as the radio receiver and transmitter portions of a cellular radio telephone.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for generating a gain control signal for controlling operation of a variable gain amplifier. Gain control circuitry includes a delta sigma modulator which exhibits a noise transfer function for shifting noise components of a gain control signal formed therefrom upwards in frequency. Undesired modulation of portions of a received signal to be amplified by the amplifier, together with noise components of the gain control signal, thereby do not interfere with operation of apparatus in which the variable gain amplifier forms a portion.

Abstract: A differential amplifier with adjustable linearity is disclosed herein. The differential amplifier includes a differential pair amplifier and a linearization circuit. The differential pair amplifier receives a differential input voltage and amplifies the differential input voltage to produce an amplified output voltage. The linearization circuit receives the amplified output voltage and generates a compensation signal in response thereto. The compensation signal, which has a magnitude adjustable in response to a linearity adjustment signal, is applied to the differential pair amplifier. The differential pair amplifier uses the compensation signal to apply compensation to the amplification of the differential input voltage. Thus, the linearity of the differential amplifier is adjustable by modifying the linearity adjustment signal. The differential pair amplifier includes a bipolar differential transistor pair having their emitters coupled together to form a common emitter node.

Abstract: A multi-purpose current source which provides both a PTAT and a constant current source and which requires only one precision external or laser trimmed resistance. The PTAT constant current circuit includes a differential amplifier having one input coupled to a V.sub.PTAT reference voltage and the other input coupled to a V.sub.bg scaling circuit. The tail current for the differential amplifier is held constant at the current level of an associated constant current source based upon V.sub.bg. Therefore, the amount of current output from the PTAT current source will be dependent upon the current of the constant current source, rather than upon a resistance value. By setting the scaling circuit appropriately, the current that flows through the output leg of the differential amplifier in the PTAT current source when the ambient temperature is equal to 25.degree. C. will be equal to one half the tail current through the differential amplifier, and thus one half the current output from the constant current source.

Abstract: An analog circuit for multiplying a first input signal with a second input signal. The inventive analog circuit is capable of linear operation with a low voltage power source. A first pair of transistors is coupled as a first differential pair, and a second pair of transistors is coupled as a second differential pair. The first differential pair is coupled to the second differential pair in a manner that is similar to the corrections made between a first and second differential pair of a conventional Gilbert mixer. However, the emitter degeneration resistors of the present invention are not coupled to the collectors of a third differential pair, as is the case in conventional Gilbert mixers. Rather, the degeneration resistors of the present invention are coupled directly to the negative power supply terminal.