LINEARIZATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VARIABLE ATTENUATORS
First Claim
1. A variable attenuator, comprising:
- at least one series transistor, including a first series transistor, provided in main signal path between an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal for receiving a RF input signal and the output terminal for outputting an attenuated RF output signal, wherein the first series transistor includes at least a first drain terminal, a first source terminal, and a first body terminal, wherein the first drain terminal and the first source terminal are part of the main signal path;
at least one first shunt transistor connected between the input terminal and ground;
at least one second shunt transistor connected between the output terminal and ground;
at least one bootstrapping body bias circuit, including a first bootstrapping body bias circuit to connect either the first drain terminal or the first source terminal to the first body terminal, wherein each bootstrapping body bias circuit is associated with a respective resistance or impedance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for provided for linearization systems and methods for variable attenuators. The variable attenuators can include series transistors along a main signal path from the input to output, as well as shunt transistors. A bootstrapping body bias circuit can be used with one or of the series transistors to allow the body of a connected transistor to swing responsive to a received RF input signal. As the RF signal increases and affects the gate-to-source voltage difference of a transistor, a bootstrapping body bias circuit can adaptively adjust the threshold voltage of the connected transistor and compensate the channel resistance variation resulting from gate-to-source voltage swing. The bootstrapping body bias circuit can be implemented using passive elements, active elements, or a combination thereof.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A variable attenuator, comprising:
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at least one series transistor, including a first series transistor, provided in main signal path between an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal for receiving a RF input signal and the output terminal for outputting an attenuated RF output signal, wherein the first series transistor includes at least a first drain terminal, a first source terminal, and a first body terminal, wherein the first drain terminal and the first source terminal are part of the main signal path; at least one first shunt transistor connected between the input terminal and ground; at least one second shunt transistor connected between the output terminal and ground; at least one bootstrapping body bias circuit, including a first bootstrapping body bias circuit to connect either the first drain terminal or the first source terminal to the first body terminal, wherein each bootstrapping body bias circuit is associated with a respective resistance or impedance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for a variable attenuator, comprising:
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providing at least one series transistor, including a first series transistor, along a main signal path between an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal for receiving a RF input signal and the output terminal for outputting an attenuated RF output signal, wherein the first series transistor includes at least a first drain terminal, a first source terminal, and a first body terminal, wherein the first drain terminal and the first source terminal are part of the main signal path; connecting at least one first shunt transistor between the input terminal and ground; connecting at least one second shunt transistor between the output terminal and ground; and providing at least one bootstrapping body bias circuit, including a first bootstrapping body bias circuit to connect either the first drain terminal or the first source terminal to the first body terminal, wherein each bootstrapping body bias circuit is associated with a respective resistance or impedance. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification