AMPLIFIER WITH PROGRAMMABLE OFF VOLTAGE
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- multiple amplifier stages to amplify an input signal and provide an output signal, the multiple amplifier stages being coupled in parallel and comprising at least one switchable amplifier stage, each switchable amplifier stage being operated in an on state or an off state and comprisinga gain transistor to amplify the input signal and provide an amplified signal in the on state and to not amplify the input signal in the off state, anda cascode transistor coupled to the gain transistor and to buffer the amplified signal and provide the output signal in the on state, the cascode transistor being disabled based on an off voltage in the off state, the off voltage being greater than zero volts or having one of multiple possible values.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An amplifier with multiple stages and having improved reliability is described. The multiple amplifier stages are coupled in parallel and include at least one switchable amplifier stage. Each switchable amplifier stage may be operated in an on state or an off state and includes a gain transistor and a cascode transistor. The gain transistor amplifies an input signal and provides an amplified signal in the on state and is disabled in the off state. The cascode transistor buffers the amplified signal and provides an output signal in the on state and is disabled based on an off voltage in the off state. The off voltage may be greater than zero volts or may have one of multiple possible values. The off voltage may be generated based on an output signal level, e.g., may be set to different values for different ranges of output signal level.
33 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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multiple amplifier stages to amplify an input signal and provide an output signal, the multiple amplifier stages being coupled in parallel and comprising at least one switchable amplifier stage, each switchable amplifier stage being operated in an on state or an off state and comprising a gain transistor to amplify the input signal and provide an amplified signal in the on state and to not amplify the input signal in the off state, and a cascode transistor coupled to the gain transistor and to buffer the amplified signal and provide the output signal in the on state, the cascode transistor being disabled based on an off voltage in the off state, the off voltage being greater than zero volts or having one of multiple possible values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An integrated circuit comprising:
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multiple amplifier stages to amplify an input signal and provide an output signal, the multiple amplifier stages being coupled in parallel and comprising at least one switchable amplifier stage, each switchable amplifier stage being operated in an on state or an off state and comprising a gain transistor to amplify the input signal and provide an amplified signal in the on state and to not amplify the input signal in the off state, and a cascode transistor coupled to the gain transistor and to buffer the amplified signal and provide the output signal in the on state, the cascode transistor being disabled based on an off voltage in the off state, the off voltage being greater than zero volts or having one of multiple possible values. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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amplifying an input signal with a gain transistor to obtain an amplified signal in an on state; buffering the amplified signal with a cascode transistor and providing an output signal in the on state; and disabling the cascode transistor with an off voltage in an off state, the off voltage being greater than zero volts or having one of multiple possible values. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus comprising:
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means for amplifying an input signal to obtain an amplified signal in an on state; means for buffering the amplified signal and providing an output signal in the on state; and means for disabling the means for buffering with an off voltage in an off state, the off voltage being greater than zero volts or having one of multiple possible values. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification