Patent ID: 6049251
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: H03G

Abstract:
A wide-dynamic-range variable-gain amplifier comprising:a first amplifier circuit having a first amplifier input and a first amplifier output, the first amplifier circuit having a variable gain controlled by a first variable gain-control signal, the first amplifier circuit being an amplifier with a high-gain and a low-noise capability;a second amplifier circuit having a second amplifier input and a second amplifier output, the second amplifier circuit having a variable gain controlled by a second variable gain-control signal, the second amplifier circuit being an amplifier with a low-gain and a high-input-overload capability;the first amplifier circuit and the second amplifier circuit being coupled in parallel together so that first and second amplifier inputs are coupled together to form an input of the wide-dynamic-range variable-gain amplifier and first and second amplifier outputs are coupled together to form an output of the wide-dynamic-range variable-gain amplifier, the output response of the wide-dynamic-range variable-gain amplifier being a sum of the output response of the first amplifier circuit responsive to the first variable gain-control signal and the output response of the second amplifier circuit responsive to the second variable gain-control signal.