Patent ID: 8200179
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: H03F,H03G,H04L

Abstract:
1. A receiver for a communication link, the receiver comprising: a combined variable-gain amplifier and analog equalizer circuit comprising: a current-mode logic (CML) amplifier having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a gain control terminal, the amplifier operable to amplify, with an adjustable gain, a signal received at the input terminal and provide the amplified signal at the output terminal; an inductive load circuit coupled to the output terminal of the CML amplifier and having an inductance such that the CML amplifier has a first gain at frequencies below a predetermined frequency value and a second gain at frequencies in a predetermined frequency range above the predetermined frequency value, wherein the second gain is higher than the first gain; a gain controller connected to the output and gain-control terminals of the CML amplifier and adapted (i) to receive the amplified signal at the output terminal of the CML amplifier as a feedback and (ii) to provide a gain-control signal to the gain-control terminal of the CML amplifier based on the feedback signal; and the CML amplifier is adapted to adjust the first and second gains based on the pain-control signal.