Abstract:
A variable gain amplifier includes at least two amplifiers for amplifying a signal, the at least two amplifiers being connected in series with one another, and a variable resistor having a resistance that is controlled in accordance with a voltage applied to a control terminal, the variable resistor being connected between the outputs of two of the at least two amplifiers having opposite output phases. As a result, the variable gain amplifier is capable of a low-gain operation and an attenuating operation in a high-frequency amplifier used in a communications device for transmitting and receiving high-frequency signals.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to variable gain amplifiers, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a high-frequency variable gain amplifier, preferably for use in a communications device for transmitting and receiving high-frequency signals, which is capable of a low-gain operation and an attenuating operation. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A receiver circuit for wireless communications involves a considerably wide range of reception levels. For this reason, a level control is required in a radio frequency band amplification unit at a location upstream of a reception mixer. Meanwhile, in a transmitter circuit, an adjustment of the transmission power level is required in order to reduce distortions on the receiving end and to control the transmission power level in accordance with the distance to the receiver. The amplification and attenuation operations in accordance with the level of an input signal and the adjustment of the transmission power level have been achieved by a variable gain amplifier primarily composed of an amplifier and a variable resistor. 
     FIG. 5 shows an example of such a variable gain amplifier. As shown in FIG. 5, in the variable gain amplifier, between an input terminal  71  to which a high-frequency signal is applied and an output terminal  72  from which a high-frequency signal is output, a common-source FET  73  is provided as an amplifier. The gate of the FET  73  is connected to the input terminal  71  via a capacitor  75 , and the drain of the FET  73  is connected to the output terminal  72  via a capacitor  76 . Furthermore, the drain of the FET  73  is connected to a drain power supply terminal  77  via an inductor  80  so that a voltage is applied from the drain power supply terminal  77  to the drain of the FET  73 . The gate of the FET  73  is connected to a gate power supply terminal  78  via a resistor  81  so that a voltage is applied from the gate power supply terminal  78  to the gate of the FET  73 . 
     Furthermore, between the drain and the gate of the FET  73 , a FET  74  is provided as a variable resistor which negatively feeds back output from the drain of the FET  73  to the gate of the FET  73 . The drain of the FET  74  is connected to the drain of the FET  73 , and the source of the FET  74  is connected to the gate of the FET  73  via a capacitor  83 . The capacitor  83  is provided in order to separate DC voltage between the drain and the gate of the FET  73 . Furthermore, between the source and the drain of the FET  74 , a resistor  84  is provided so that the source voltage and the gate voltage of the FET  74  will be substantially the same. Furthermore, the gate of the FET  74  is connected to a control terminal  79  via a resistor  82  so that a voltage is applied from the control terminal to the gate of the FET  74  via the resistor  82 . 
     When the voltage applied to the control terminal  79  is changed, the gate voltage of the FET  74  changes accordingly, and in accordance therewith, the resistance between the source and the drain of the FET  74  changes, such that the FET  74  functions as a variable resistor. When the gate voltage of the FET  74  increases, the resistance between the source and the drain of the FET  74  decreases. As a result, the amount of negative feedback from the drain of the FET  73  to the gate of the FET  73  increases, decreasing the gain of the FET  73 . On the other hand, when the gate voltage of the FET  74  decreases, the resistance between the source and the drain of the FET  74  increases. Consequently, the amount of negative feedback from the drain of the FET  73  to the gate of the FET  73  decreases, increasing the gain of the FET  73 . variable gain amplifier. 
     FIG. 6 shows a multistage variable gain amplifier that is implemented using the variable gain amplifier shown in FIG.  5 . In the multistage variable gain amplifier, between an input terminal  71  to which a high-frequency signal is applied and an output terminal  72  to which a high-frequency signal is output, FETs  85  and  91  are provided as amplifiers, upstream and downstream of the variable gain amplifier shown in FIG. 5, respectively. 
     More specifically, between the input terminal  71  and the output terminal  72 , a common-source FET  85  used as an amplifier, the variable gain amplifier shown in FIG. 5, and a common-source FET  91  used as an amplifier are provided. The gate of the FET  85  is connected to the input terminal  71  via a capacitor  86 , and the drain of the FET  85  is connected to the capacitor  75  of the variable gain amplifier shown in FIG.  5 . The gate of the FET  91  is connected to the capacitor  76  of the variable gain amplifier shown in FIG. 5, and the drain of the FET  91  is connected to the output terminal  72  via a capacitor  92 . 
     Furthermore, the drain of the FET  85  is connected to a drain power supply terminal  87  via an inductor  89  so that a voltage is applied from the drain power supply terminal  87  to the drain of the FET  85 . The gate of the FET  85  is connected to a gate power supply terminal  88  via a resistor  90  so that a voltage is applied from the gate power supply terminal  88  to the gate of the FET  85 . 
     Furthermore, the drain of the FET  91  is connected to a drain power supply terminal  93  via an inductor  95  so that a voltage is applied from the drain power supply terminal  93  to the drain of the FET  91 . The gate of the FET  91  is connected to a gate power supply terminal  94  via a resistor  96  so that a voltage is applied from the gate power supply terminal  94  to the gate of the FET  91 . The variable gain amplifier is thus implemented as a multistage variable gain amplifier. 
     In the variable gain amplifiers shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in order to provide the FET  74  used as a variable resistor between the drain and the gate of the FET  73  used as an amplifier, the capacitor  83  is connected in series with the FET  74 , separating DC voltage between the drain and the gate of the FET  73 . 
     However, the capacitor  83  has a high impedance in lower frequencies if the capacitance thereof is small, causing limitations on gain control with respect to lower frequencies. Thus, when the variable gain amplifier is implemented in a microwave monolithic integrated circuit (hereinafter abbreviated as MMIC), the capacitor  83  occupies a significantly large area, thereby increasing the size of the MMIC. Furthermore, depending on the capacitance of the capacitor  83 , the phase of the feedback is reversed from negative to positive around the cutoff frequency of the capacitor  83 , destabilizing the circuit and causing an oscillation. 
     Furthermore, when the variable gain amplifier is implemented in an MMIC, in order to test whether the FETs in the MMIC have been properly arranged, the drain, the source, and the gate of each of the FETs must be connected to a tester for DC voltage. Thus, if the source of the FET  74  used as a variable resistor is separated from external terminals (gate power supply terminal, drain power supply terminal, etc.) for DC voltage by the capacitor  83 , a testing terminal must be provided and connected to the source of the FET  74 , thereby further increasing the chip size of the MMIC. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to solve the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a variable gain amplifier in which oscillations around the cutoff frequency of a DC-cutoff capacitor used in a feedback circuit are prevented, and which allows for a much smaller MMIC implementation. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a variable gain amplifier includes at least two amplifiers for amplifying a signal, the at least two amplifiers being connected in series with one another, and a variable resistor having a resistance that is controlled in accordance with a voltage applied to a control terminal, the variable resistor being connected between the outputs of two of the at least two amplifiers having opposite output phases from each other. 
     According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a variable gain amplifier includes at least two amplifiers for amplifying a signal, the at least two amplifiers being connected in series with one another, and a variable resistor having a resistance that is controlled in accordance with a voltage applied to a control terminal, the variable resistor being connected between the inputs of two of the at least two amplifiers having opposite input phases from each other. 
     In the variable gain amplifiers according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the DC-cutoff capacitor connected in series with the source of the FET used as a variable resistor, which has been required in the conventional variable gain amplifiers, is eliminated. Thus, the variable gain amplifiers are free from the drawbacks due to the DC-cutoff capacitor, i.e., oscillations, and limitations on gain control with respect to lower frequencies. 
     Furthermore, when the variable gain amplifiers according to preferred embodiments of the present invention are implemented in an MMIC, the DC-cutoff capacitor connected to the source of the FET used as a variable resistor, and the resistor for equalizing the source voltage and the drain voltage of the FET used as a variable resistor, which have been required in the conventional variable gain amplifiers, are eliminated. In addition, the testing terminal, also required in the conventional variable gain amplifiers, can also be eliminated by connecting the source of an FET used as the variable resistor to a drain power supply terminal for DC voltage. Accordingly, the size of the MMIC according to preferred embodiments of the present invention is greatly reduced compared with the conventional MMIC. 
     Other features, elements, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments below with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a variable gain amplifier according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a variable gain amplifier according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a variable gain amplifier according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a variable gain amplifier according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a conventional single-stage variable gain amplifier; and 
     FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a conventional multistage variable gain amplifier. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A variable gain amplifier according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.  1 . 
     In the variable gain amplifier shown in FIG. 1, between an input terminal  1  to which a high-frequency signal is applied and an output terminal  2  from which a high-frequency signal is output, common-source FETs  3 ,  4 , and  6  are provided as amplifiers. The gate of the FET  3  is connected to the input terminal  1  via a capacitor  7 , the drain of the FET  3  is connected to the gate of the FET  4  via a capacitor  8 , the drain of the FET  4  is connected to the gate of the FET  6  via a capacitor  9 , and the drain of the FET  6  is connected to the output terminal  2  via a capacitor  10 . 
     Furthermore, the drain of the FET  3  is connected to a drain power supply terminal  11  via an inductor  18  so that a voltage is applied from the drain power supply terminal  11  to the drain of the FET  3 . The gate of the FET  3  is connected to a gate power supply terminal  12  via a resistor  19  so that a voltage is applied from the gate power supply terminal  12  to the gate of the FET  3 . The drain of the FET  4  is connected to a drain power supply terminal  14  via an inductor  21  so that a voltage is applied from the drain power supply terminal  14  to the drain of the FET  4 . The gate of the FET  4  is connected to a gate power supply terminal  15  via a resistor  22  so that a voltage is applied from the gate power supply terminal  15  to the gate of the FET  4 . The drain of the FET  6  is connected to a drain power supply terminal  16  via an inductor  23  so that a voltage is applied from the drain power supply terminal  16  to the drain of the FET  6 . The gate of the FET  6  is connected to a gate power supply terminal  17  via a resistor  24  so that a voltage is applied from the gate power supply terminal  17  to the gate of the FET  6 . 
     Furthermore, between the drain of the FET  3  and the drain of the FET  4 , a FET  5  is provided as a variable resistor which negatively feeds back output from the drain of the FET  4  to the drain of the FET  3 . The drain of the FET  5  is connected to the drain of the FET  4 , and the source of the FET  5  is connected to the drain of the FET  3 . Furthermore, the gate of the FET  5  is connected to a control terminal  13  via a resistor  20  so that a voltage is applied from the control terminal  13  to the gate of the FET  5  via the resistor  20 . 
     When the voltage applied to the control terminal  13  is changed, the gate voltage of the FET  5  changes accordingly, and in accordance therewith, the resistance between the source and the drain of the FET  5  changes, with the FET  5  thus functioning as a variable resistor. When the gate voltage of the FET  5  increases, the resistance between the source and the drain of the FET  5  decreases. As a result, the amount of negative feedback from the drain of the FET  4  to the drain of the FET  3  increases, thereby decreasing the combined gain of the FET  3  and the FET  4 . On the other hand, when the gate voltage of the FET  5  decreases, the resistance between the source and the drain of the FET  5  increases. As a result, the amount of negative feedback from the drain of the FET  4  to the drain of the FET  3  decreases, increasing the combined gain of the FET  3  and the FET  4 . The variable gain amplifier is thus implemented as a three-stage variable gain amplifier. 
     In the three-stage variable gain amplifier according to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention, the DC-cutoff capacitor connected in series with the source of the FET used as a variable resistor, which has been required in the conventional variable gain amplifiers, is eliminated. Thus, the three-stage variable gain amplifier is free from the drawbacks due to the DC-cutoff capacitor, i.e., oscillations, and limitations on gain control with respect to lower frequencies. 
     Furthermore, when the three-stage variable gain amplifier is implemented in an MMIC, the DC-cutoff capacitor connected to the source of the FET used as a variable resistor, and the resistor for equalizing the source voltage and the drain voltage of the FET used as a variable resistor, which have been required in the conventional variable gain amplifiers, are eliminated. In addition, the testing terminal, also required in the conventional variable gain amplifiers, can also be eliminated because the source of the FET  5  used as a variable resistor is connected to the drain power supply terminal  11  for DC voltage. Accordingly, the size of the MMIC according to other preferred embodiments of the present invention is greatly reduced compared with the conventional MMIC. 
     Although the arrangement is such in the first preferred embodiment that the FET  5  used as a variable resistor is preferably connected between the drain of the FET  3  and the drain of the FET  4  having the opposite output phases from each other, other arrangements are possible as long as a variable resistor is connected between the drains of two FETs having the opposite output phases from each other. For example, the FET  5  may be connected between the drain of the FET  4  and the drain of the FET  6 . Furthermore, since the FET  5  is used as a variable resistor, the FET  5  may be connected with the drain and the source thereof being reversed. 
     Furthermore, although the variable gain amplifier according to the first preferred embodiment has been described as a three-stage variable gain amplifier, the variable gain amplifier may be implemented with two amplification stages, or four or more amplification stages, and the variable range of gain can be increased by connecting the outputs of non-adjacent FETs having the opposite output phases from each other. 
     A variable gain amplifier according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.  2 . 
     The variable gain amplifier according to the second preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, is implemented as a four-stage variable gain amplifier by connecting a common-source FET  31 , used as an amplifier, to the three-stage variable gain amplifier according to the first preferred embodiment. In the four-stage variable gain amplifier, between an input terminal  1  to which a high-frequency signal is applied and an output terminal  2  from which a high-frequency signal is output, common-source FETs  3 ,  4 ,  6 , and  31  are provided as amplifiers. The gate of the FET  3  is connected to the input terminal  1  via a capacitor  7 , the drain of the FET  3  is connected to the gate of the FET  4  via a capacitor  8 , the drain of the FET  4  is connected to the gate of the FET  6  via a capacitor  9 , the drain of the FET  6  is connected to the gate of the FET  31  via a capacitor  10 , and the drain of the FET  31  is connected to the output terminal  2  via a capacitor  34 . 
     Furthermore, the drain of the FET  31  is connected to a drain power supply terminal  32  via an inductor  35  so that a voltage is applied from the drain power supply terminal  32  to the drain of the FET  31 . The gate of the FET  31  is connected to a gate power supply terminal  33  via a resistor  36  so that a voltage is applied from the gate power supply terminal  33  to the gate of the FET  31 . The voltages applied to the drains and the gates of the FETs  3 ,  4 , and  6  are the same as in the variable gain amplifier shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Furthermore, between the drain of the FET  3  and the drain of the FET  31 , a FET  5  is provided as a variable resistor that negatively feeds back output from the drain of the FET  31  to the drain of the FET  3 . The drain of the FET  5  is connected to the drain of the FET  31 , and the source of the FET  5  is connected to the drain of the FET  3 . The gate of the FET  5  is connected to a control terminal  13  via a resistor  20  so that a voltage is applied from the control terminal  13  to the gate of the FET  5  via the resistor  20 . 
     When the gate voltage of the FET  5  increases, the resistance between the source and the drain of the FET  5  decreases. As a result, the amount of negative feedback from the drain of the FET  31  to the drain of the FET  3  increases, decreasing the combined gain of the FET  3  to the FET  31 . When the gate voltage of the FET  5  decreases, the resistance between the source and the drain of the FET increases. Consequently, the amount of negative feedback from the drain of the FET  31  to the drain of the FET  3  decreases, increasing the combined gain of the FET  3  to the FET  31 . The variable gain amplifier is thus implemented as a four-stage variable gain amplifier. 
     In a variable gain amplifier with an even number of amplification stages, such as the one described above, the amplifier in the first stage (the FET  3 ) and the amplifier in the final stage (FET  31 ) have opposite output phases from each other, allowing variation of the combined gain of the amplifiers from the first stage to the final stage. Accordingly, even if the number of stages is smaller than the variable gain amplifier according to the first preferred embodiment, a larger variable range of gain can be provided. Obviously, the advantages of the first preferred embodiment are also achieved by the second preferred embodiment. 
     When a smaller variable range of gain suffices, such a variable range can be provided by connecting a variable resistor between the outputs of adjacent FETs having the opposite output phases from each other, similarly to the first preferred embodiment. 
     A variable gain amplifier according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.  3 . 
     The variable gain amplifier according to the third preferred embodiment differs from the three-stage variable gain amplifier according to the first preferred embodiment only with respect to the point at which the FET  5  used as a variable resistor is connected. 
     More specifically, between the gate of the FET  4  and the gate of the FET  6 , the FET  5  is provided as a variable resistor that negatively feeds back a portion of input to the gate of the FET  6  to the gate of the FET  4 . The drain of the FET  5  is connected to the gate of the FET  6 , and the source of the FET  5  is connected to the gate of the FET  4 . Furthermore, the gate of the FET  5  is connected to the control terminal  13  via the resistor  20  so that a voltage is applied from the control terminal  13  to the gate of the FET  5  via the resistor  20 . The variable gain amplifier according to the third preferred embodiment is equally advantageous as the variable gain amplifier according to the first preferred embodiment. 
     Although the arrangement is such in the third preferred embodiment that the FET  5  used as a variable resistor is connected between the gate of the FET  4  and the gate of the FET  6  having the opposite input phases from each other, other arrangements are possible as long as a variable resistor is connected between the gates of two FETs having the opposite input phases from each other. For example, the FET  5  may be connected between the gate of the FET  3  and the gate of the FET  4 . Similarly, in the variable gain amplifier according to the second preferred embodiment, having an even number of amplification stages, the variable resistor may be connected between the inputs, not between the outputs, of the amplifiers in the first stage and the last stage having the opposite input phases from each other, which is equally advantageous as the variable gain amplifier according to the second preferred embodiment. 
     A variable gain amplifier according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.  4 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the variable gain amplifier according to the fourth preferred embodiment includes an input matching unit  51  and an output matching unit  52 , and matching capacitors  45  and  46  for improving gain, in addition to the three-stage variable gain amplifier according to the first preferred embodiment. 
     Between the input terminal  1  and the three-stage variable gain amplifier shown in FIG. 1, the input matching unit  51  including an inductor  41  and a capacitor  42  is connected. One end of the inductor  41  is connected to the input terminal  1 , and the other end thereof is connected to the capacitor  7  of the variable gain amplifier shown in FIG.  1 . One end of the capacitor  42  is connected to the input terminal  1 , and the other end thereof is connected to the ground. Thus, the input matching unit  51  matches the impedance on the side of the input terminal  1  to which the variable gain amplifier is connected and the input impedance of the variable gain amplifier. 
     Furthermore, between the output terminal  2  and the three-stage variable gain amplifier shown in FIG. 1, the output matching unit  52  including an inductor  43  and a capacitor  44  is connected. One end of the inductor  43  is connected to the output terminal  2 , and the other end thereof is connected to the capacitor  10  of the variable gain amplifier shown in FIG.  1 . One end of the capacitor  44  is connected to the output terminal  2 , and the other end thereof is connected to the ground. Thus, the output matching unit  52  matches the impedance on the side of the output terminal to which the variable gain amplifier is connected and the output impedance of the variable gain amplifier. 
     Furthermore, one end of the matching capacitor  45  is connected to the drain power supply terminal  11 , and the other end thereof is connected to the ground. The matching capacitor  45  defines a matching circuit in association with the inductor  18  connected between the drain of the FET  3  and the drain power supply terminal  11 , increasing the gain of the FET  3  in a desired frequency band. 
     Furthermore, one end of the matching capacitor  46  is connected to the drain power supply terminal  14 , and the other end thereof is connected to the ground. The matching capacitor  46  defines a matching circuit in association with the inductor  21  connected between the drain of the FET  4  and the drain power supply terminal  14 , increasing the gain of the FET  4  in a desired frequency band. 
     Obviously, it is equally advantageous as the fourth preferred embodiment to add an input matching unit, an output matching unit, and matching capacitors to the variable gain amplifiers according to the second and the third preferred embodiments. 
     Although the amplifiers are implemented by FETs in the above-described preferred embodiments, alternatively, other types of amplifiers such as transistors may be used, and also, variable resistors other than FETs may be used. Furthermore, when a variable gain amplifier according to various preferred embodiments of the present invention is implemented in an MMIC, the capacitors may be implemented by MIM capacitors, and the inductors may be implemented by thin-film coils or microstrip lines. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.