Patent ID: 6678224
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An optical disk playback apparatus comprising:an optical pickup for reading information data recorded on an optical disk and generating an RF signal corresponding to the information data; a head amplifier for amplifying an output signal from the pickup; and a variable gain amplifier receiving an output signal from the head amplifier, and outputting an output signal with a predetermined amplitude by adjusting the output signal from the head amplifier in amplitude, wherein the variable gain amplifier includes a current control circuit comprising: a first circuit receiving a control voltage and a reference potential, and outputting a current in accordance with the control voltage and the reference potential, a second circuit receiving the control voltage and the reference potential, and outputting a current in accordance with the control voltage and the reference potential, and a third circuit outputting a current output generated by adding an output of the first circuit and an output of the second circuit, wherein the current output changes in accordance with different functions in a range where the control voltage input is lower than the reference potential and a range where the control voltage is not lower that the reference potential; said variable gain amplifier having a gm amplifier a transconductance of which is changed by controlling a collector current of an amplifier transistor in accordance with the current output from the current control circuit, and a gain control sensitivity of the gm amplifier is substantially equal both in a range where the control voltage applied to the current control circuit is lower than the reference potential and a range where the control voltage applied to the current control circuit is not lower than the reference potential; said variable gain amplifier comprising, a gm amplifier a transconductance of which is changed by controlling a collector current of an amplifier transistor in accordance with the current output from the current control circuit, and a gain control sensitivity of the gm amplifier is substantially equal both in a range where the control voltage applied to the current control circuit is lower than the reference potential and a range where the control voltage applied to the current control circuit is not lower than the reference potential, a bipolar type operational amplifier circuit having an inverting input terminal for receiving an output signal from the gm amplifier, and having a non-inverting input terminal connected to the reference potential, and a feedback resistor connected between the inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the operational amplifier circuit.