Patent ID: 9473109
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: H03H,H04M

Claim Text:
1. A digital step attenuator comprising: a radio frequency (RF) input terminal; an RF output terminal; an attenuation control circuit configured to generate a plurality of switch control signals operable to control an amount of attenuation between the RF input terminal and the RF output terminal, the plurality of switch control signals including a first switch control signal; and a plurality of attenuation stages configured to receive the plurality of switch control signals, the plurality of attenuation stages arranged in a cascade between the RF input terminal and the RF output terminal, the plurality of attenuation stages including a first attenuation stage including a first switching circuit that receives the first switch control signal at a switch control input, the first switching circuit including a first field effect transistor (FET) switch, a first gate resistor electrically connected between a gate of the first FET switch and the switch control input, a first pulse generation circuit, and a first gate resistor bypass switch, the first pulse generation circuit configured to generate a pulse operable to turn on the first gate resistor bypass switch and bypass the first gate resistor in response to a transition of the first switch control signal.