Patent ID: 9553563
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: H03H

Claim:
1. A variable gain passive attenuator configured to attenuate a signal between an input port and an output port, the attenuator comprising: a supply node; a plurality of parallel attenuation paths each comprising one or more cascade transistors that extend between the input port and the output port, wherein each path has a different attenuation level, and wherein a first path has a first number of transistors and a second path has a second number of transistors different than the first number; at least one supply attenuation path that extends between the plurality of attenuation paths and the supply node; a controller that supplies a plurality of control signals to the plurality of parallel attenuation paths and the at least one supply attenuation path and selects one or more paths to achieve a desired level of attenuation between the input port and the output port wherein the controller provides control signals to separately enable at least two of the attenuation paths.