Patent ID: 8386986

Claim:
A temperature controlled attenuator, comprising: a first attenuation circuit having a first variable attenuation level that is adjustable within a continuous attenuation range, the first attenuation circuit comprising: a first series connected attenuation circuit segment having a first plurality of stacked transistors having a first variable impedance level having a first variable impedance range that is adjustable within a first continuous impedance range; and a first shunt connected attenuation circuit segment having a second plurality of stacked transistors having a second variable impedance level variable within a second variable impedance range that is adjustable within a second continuous impedance range; wherein the first variable attenuation level is based on the first variable impedance level and the second variable impedance level; a control circuit adapted to receive an attenuation control signal, the control circuit being coupled to the first plurality of stacked transistors to control the first variable impedance level based on a signal level of the attenuation control signal and the control circuit being operably associated with the second plurality of stacked transistors to control the second variable impedance level based on the signal level of the attenuation control signal; and a temperature controlled circuit configured to receive a quiescent control signal having a quiescent signal level for defining a quiescent attenuation level within the continuous attenuation range of the first variable attenuation level at a reference temperature, and to detect an operating temperature, the temperature controlled circuit comprising an amplifier operable to generate an attenuation control adjustment signal having a signal level set in accordance with a gain of the amplifier and the operating temperature, wherein the gain is based on a temperature coefficient of an electronic component, the temperature controlled circuit being operable to adjust the quiescent signal level of the quiescent control signal in accordance with the attenuation control adjustment signal to generate the attenuation control signal.