Patent ID: 7053715

Claim:
A circuit for providing a programmable gain comprising: a first programmable gain amplifier (PGA) comprising: a first plurality of impedances coupled in series to divide an input signal into a first plurality of voltage levels; a plurality of amplifiers, each coupled to receive one of the first plurality of voltage levels; and a first plurality of switches, each operable to connect and disconnect one of the amplifiers from an operating current, thereby deactivating the associated amplifier; and a second PGA configured to receive a voltage level from one of the plurality of amplifiers, the second PGA comprising: a second plurality of impedances coupled in series to divide the received voltage level into a second plurality of voltage levels; a second plurality of switches, each operable to connect and disconnect one of the second plurality of voltages to a buffer amplifier; and a circuit operable to operate a number of adjacent switches, of the second plurality of switches, concurrently.