Patent ID: 6940342
Filing Date: 2005-09-06
Classification: H03G

Abstract:
1. A method of providing n gain steps in an amplifier, comprising the steps of: charging a switchable capacitor circuit with an input voltage during a sample period and a feedback voltage during a feedback period for the n gain steps, the switchable capacitor circuit having a first capacitance configuration for a first group of the n gain steps and a second capacitance configuration that is different than the first capacitance configuration for a second group of the n gain steps; wherein the switchable capacitor circuit includes a sampling capacitance in the sample period and a feedback capacitance in the feedback period, the gain of a given step corresponding to the sampling un capacitance divided by the feedback capacitance, the gain of second group being selected from the group consisting of (a+x+½)/(a−x−½), (a+x+1)/(a−x), (a+x)/(a−x−1), (2a)/(a−x) and (c+x)/c.