Patent ID: 7065155

Claim:
An apparatus for use in a transmitter comprising: a variable gain amplifier, the variable gain amplifier including: an inductively loaded folded cascode circuit that inputs an input differential signal having a Voltage Drain-Drain (VDD)-referenced output level and outputs a current; an input current load circuit that inputs the current from the inductively-loaded folded cascode circuit and outputs an output differential signal having a ground-referenced output level; a plurality of gain cells, each gain cell coupled to the input current load circuit and receiving the output differential signal, each gain cell comprising two current mirror circuits; and a plurality of switching circuits, each switching circuit coupled to one of the plurality of gain cells and each switching circuit operating in a positive mode and in a negative mode, the negative mode having an opposite polarity of the positive mode, and wherein the plurality of switching circuits operate to place more of the plurality of gain cells in the positive mode than in the negative mode.