Patent ID: 7893761

Claim:
A method for providing amplification of an RF signal comprising: providing an RF input signal; amplifying with an amplifier the RF input signal to provide an RF output signal; measuring an amplitude of the RF output signal to provide an amplitude measurement for determining an applied control voltage for controlling a gain of the amplifier; and, adjusting a control signal provided to a variable gain amplifier (VGA) in the amplifier in response to the applied control voltage and one of said amplitude measurement and a supply voltage applied to the amplifier, the VGA for performing the amplifying within the amplifier, the adjusting of the control signal comprising regulating a voltage of the control signal such that over a finite normal operating range of the gain for the amplifier during use, the first derivative of the gain of the amplifier as a function of the applied control voltage is positive and the gain of the amplifier is constrained between a value at a first endpoint of the range and a value at a second other endpoint of the range.