Abstract: Amplifiers with new circuit topologies for gain shaping and gain control are described herein. An example amplifier circuit with gain control includes a differential transistor pair, a main transistor pair coupled to the differential transistor pair, an auxiliary transistor pair coupled to the differential transistor pair, and a resistive impedance coupled between base terminals of the auxiliary transistor pair. The resistive impedance can include a pair of matched resistors coupled between base terminals of the auxiliary transistor pair. The amplifier can also include a capacitor coupled from a virtual ground node between the pair of matched resistors to ground. The amplifier circuits described herein can present a preferred gain response as compared to other amplifiers, at both midband and peaking frequencies. The amplifier circuits also offer additional options for control of gain at midband frequencies, among other benefits.

Abstract: Amplifiers with differential transformers for high peaking frequency are described herein. An example amplifier includes a differential transistor pair, an auxiliary transistor pair coupled to the differential transistor pair, a differential transformer coupled between base terminals of the auxiliary transistor pair, and a bias circuit coupled between base terminals of the auxiliary transistor pair. The differential transformer can be embodied as a coupled-line transformer. The bias circuit can include a first bias circuit coupled between a first coupled line of the differential transformer and a base terminal of a first transistor among the auxiliary transistor pair, and a second bias circuit coupled between a second coupled line of the differential transformer and a base terminal of a second transistor among the auxiliary transistor pair.

Abstract: Amplifiers with bias control for DC coupled single-ended distributed amplifiers of multi-stage amplifiers are described herein. An example amplifier with input bias control includes a distributed amplifier cell having an input coupled to a first distributed transmission line and an output coupled to a second distributed transmission line, an input coupling network coupled between the first distributed transmission line and the input of the distributed amplifier cell, and a bias interface circuit coupled between the input coupling network and the input of the distributed amplifier cell. The amplifier can also include a bias control circuit configured to control an amplifier input bias generated by the bias interface circuit at the input of the distributed amplifier cell.

Abstract: Amplifiers with temperature-adaptive gain and peaking gain control are described. An example semiconductor device includes an amplifier, a temperature sense circuit to provide a temperature control signal based on an operating temperature of the amplifier, and a level shifter to bias shift an output of the amplifier based on the temperature control signal. The level shifter can be further configured to adjust a peaking gain of the amplifier based on the temperature control signal in some cases.

Abstract: An enhanced electrical circuit can employ conductive fill components that can facilitate providing desirable resistive stabilization of the electrical circuit and other desirable circuit qualities without having to use a physical resistor. The electrical circuit can comprise a transmission line, which can be a microstrip line, that can have defined dimensions. The electrical circuit can comprise respective conductive fill components that can be in proximity to desired sides of the transmission line, wherein the respective conductive fill components can provide the desired resistive stabilization for the electrical circuit. The respective conductive fill components can be separated from, and not in contact with, each other based on respective gaps of a defined size(s) between respective adjacent conductive fill components. The respective conductive fill components can be across a single layer or multiple layers of conductive fill components.

Abstract: A distributed amplifier system comprising an impedance matching network configured to match an input impedance to an output impedance of the signal source, and a DC block configured to block DC components in the input signal. A variable gain amplifier adjusts the gain applied to the input signal based on a gain control signal to generate a gain adjusted signal. An emitter follower circuit receives and processes the gain adjusted signal to introduce gain peaking to create a modified signal. A distributed amplifier receives and amplifies the modified signal from the emitter follower circuit, to create an amplified signal. The distributed amplifier includes a termination network and one or more impedance matching elements configured for gain shaping the amplified signal. The gain peaking introduced by the emitter follower circuit is controlled by a variable current source. The distributed amplifier may be an open collector distributed amplifier.

Abstract: Amplifiers with temperature-adaptive gain and peaking gain control are described. In one example, a temperature-adaptive amplifier includes an amplifier, a temperature sense circuit, and a peaking control level shifter to bias shift the output of the amplifier and adjust a peaking gain of the amplifier based on the temperature control signal. The peaking control level shifter can adjust a peaking gain of the amplifier based on the temperature control signal. The temperature-adaptive control can help to compensate for peaking gain in amplifiers based on the operating temperature of the amplifier. The control can help to compensate for unwanted changes in amplifier peaking gain, over time, resulting in more consistent peaking gain over the full operating frequency range of amplifiers.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has an amplifier and common mode suppression (CMS) circuit formed on a common substrate. The CMS circuit has a first input and second input coupled for receiving an input signal and further has a first output coupled to a first input of the amplifier and a second output coupled to a second input of the amplifier to reduce common mode. The CMS circuit further has a ground plane, a first conductive trace disposed over the ground plane and coupled between the first input and first output, second conductive trace disposed over the ground plane and coupled between the second input and second output, and third conductive trace disposed over the ground plane with a first end of the third conductive trace coupled to the ground plane and a second end of the third conductive trace open circuit to form a resonator.

Abstract: Aspects of temperature dependent stabilization and peaking control in amplifiers are described. An example amplifier includes a variable gain amplifier, a power amplifier, a variable compensation element coupled to the variable gain amplifier, and a controller that directs operation of the variable compensation element to adjust one or more operating characteristics of the amplifier. In one aspect, the variable compensation element comprises a variable impedance, and the controller varies the impedance across inputs of the variable gain amplifier based on temperature to stabilize the amplifier. In another aspect, the variable compensation element comprises a negative capacitance, and the controller varies a coupling of the negative capacitance across inputs of the variable gain amplifier based on temperature to linearize gain of the amplifier.

Abstract: A distributed amplifier system comprising an impedance matching network configured to match an input impedance to an output impedance of the signal source, and a DC block configured to block DC components in the input signal. A variable gain amplifier adjusts the gain applied to the input signal based on a gain control signal to generate a gain adjusted signal. An emitter follower circuit receives and processes the gain adjusted signal to introduce gain peaking to create a modified signal. A distributed amplifier receives and amplifies the modified signal from the emitter follower circuit, to create an amplified signal. The distributed amplifier includes a termination network and one or more impedance matching elements configured for gain shaping the amplified signal. The gain peaking introduced by the emitter follower circuit is controlled by a variable current source. The distributed amplifier may be an open collector distributed amplifier.

Abstract: Systems, circuits, and methods for amplifying signals are provided. An illustrative circuit may include an amplifier that amplifies an input signal received at an input node of the amplifier and provides an amplified version of the input signal as an output signal at an output node of the amplifier. The circuit may further include at least one Continuous-Time Linear Equalizer (CTLE) circuit component connected with the amplifier, the CTLE circuit component providing an ultra-wide dynamic peaking control range for the amplifier.

Abstract: Systems, circuits, and methods for a cross-coupled differential transistor amplifier. The cross-coupled transistor amplifier can be used in a multi-section amplifier, such as a 6-section differential distributed amplifier. Each cross coupled transistor includes a first transistor and a second transistor, wherein a drain of the first transistor is connected via at least one capacitor and at least one resistor to a gate of the second transistor, and a drain of the second transistor is connected via at least one additional capacitor and at least one additional resistor to a gate of the first transistor.

Abstract: A system configured as part of an integrated circuit to block DC components from an amplifier comprising a matching network and an emitter follower circuit. The matching comprises an input configured to receive an input signal having a DC component. A voltage divider network comprises at least one resistor, and at least one capacitor. The network receives the signal and DC component and the voltage divider network blocks the DC component to generate a network output signal. The emitter follower (EF) circuit with EF devices configured to process the network output signal to generate an EF circuit output signal on an EF output. A biasing circuit generates a bias signal for the EF device. The bias signal has a value that is controlled by a bias control signal. Aias control signal generator compares the EF circuit output signal to a reference voltage, and generates the bias control signal.

Abstract: Aspects of an amplifier with bias stabilization are described. In one example, an amplifier includes an output amplifier stage having an input terminal, a biasing leg having a biasing node coupled to the input terminal, and a bias feedback network coupled between the input terminal of the output amplifier stage and the biasing leg. The bias feedback network can include a difference amplifier, a bypass stage, and a reference voltage generator in one example. The difference amplifier can generate a bias control signal based on a difference between a bias voltage at a base terminal of the output amplifier stage and a voltage reference generated by the reference voltage generator. The bias feedback network generates the bias control signal and controls the bias voltage based on feedback, to keep the bias voltage and bias current constant over process, temperature, gain and other variations for consistent performance.

Abstract: Amplifiers with temperature-adaptive gain and peaking gain control are described. In one example, a temperature-adaptive amplifier includes an amplifier, a temperature sense circuit, and a peaking control level shifter to bias shift the output of the amplifier and adjust a peaking gain of the amplifier based on the temperature control signal. The peaking control level shifter can adjust a peaking gain of the amplifier based on the temperature control signal. The temperature-adaptive control can help to compensate for peaking gain in amplifiers based on the operating temperature of the amplifier. The control can help to compensate for unwanted changes in amplifier peaking gain, over time, resulting in more consistent peaking gain over the full operating frequency range of amplifiers.

Abstract: A distributed amplifier system comprising an impedance matching network configured to match an input impedance to an output impedance of the signal source, and a DC block configured to block DC components in the input signal. A variable gain amplifier adjusts the gain applied to the input signal based on a gain control signal to generate a gain adjusted signal. An emitter follower circuit receives and processes the gain adjusted signal to introduce gain peaking to create a modified signal. A distributed amplifier receives and amplifies the modified signal from the emitter follower circuit, to create an amplified signal. The distributed amplifier includes a termination network and one or more impedance matching elements configured for gain shaping the amplified signal. The gain peaking introduced by the emitter follower circuit is controlled by a variable current source. The distributed amplifier may be an open collector distributed amplifier.

Abstract: A distributed amplifier system comprising an impedance matching network configured to match an input impedance to an output impedance of the signal source, and a DC block configured to block DC components in the input signal. A variable gain amplifier adjusts the gain applied to the input signal based on a gain control signal to generate a gain adjusted signal. An emitter follower circuit receives and processes the gain adjusted signal to introduce gain peaking to create a modified signal. A distributed amplifier receives and amplifies the modified signal from the emitter follower circuit, to create an amplified signal. The distributed amplifier includes a termination network and one or more impedance matching elements configured for gain shaping the amplified signal. The gain peaking introduced by the emitter follower circuit is controlled by a variable current source. The distributed amplifier may be an open collector distributed amplifier.

Abstract: A distributed amplifier system comprising an impedance matching network configured to match an input impedance to an output impedance of the signal source, and a DC block configured to block DC components in the input signal. A variable gain amplifier adjusts the gain applied to the input signal based on a gain control signal to generate a gain adjusted signal. An emitter follower circuit receives and processes the gain adjusted signal to introduce gain peaking to create a modified signal. A distributed amplifier receives and amplifies the modified signal from the emitter follower circuit, to create an amplified signal. The distributed amplifier includes a termination network and one or more impedance matching elements configured for gain shaping the amplified signal. The gain peaking introduced by the emitter follower circuit is controlled by a variable current source. The distributed amplifier may be an open collector distributed amplifier.

Abstract: A distributed amplifier system comprising an impedance matching network configured to match an input impedance to an output impedance of the signal source, and a DC block configured to block DC components in the input signal. A variable gain amplifier adjusts the gain applied to the input signal based on a gain control signal to generate a gain adjusted signal. An emitter follower circuit receives and processes the gain adjusted signal to introduce gain peaking to create a modified signal. A distributed amplifier receives and amplifies the modified signal from the emitter follower circuit, to create an amplified signal. The distributed amplifier includes a termination network and one or more impedance matching elements configured for gain shaping the amplified signal. The gain peaking introduced by the emitter follower circuit is controlled by a variable current source. The distributed amplifier may be an open collector distributed amplifier.

Abstract: An enhanced electrical circuit can employ conductive fill components that can facilitate providing desirable resistive stabilization of the electrical circuit and other desirable circuit qualities without having to use a physical resistor. The electrical circuit can comprise a transmission line, which can be a microstrip line, that can have defined dimensions. The electrical circuit can comprise respective conductive fill components that can be in proximity to desired sides of the transmission line, wherein the respective conductive fill components can provide the desired resistive stabilization for the electrical circuit. The respective conductive fill components can be separated from, and not in contact with, each other based on respective gaps of a defined size(s) between respective adjacent conductive fill components. The respective conductive fill components can be across a single layer or multiple layers of conductive fill components.