Switchless Multi Input Stacked Transistor Amplifier Tree Structure
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multi-input cascode amplifier configuration comprising:
- an input stage comprising a plurality of input transistors configured to receive a plurality of input RF signals; and
a plurality of cascode stages comprising an output stage,wherein the input transistors of the input stage and cascode transistors of the plurality of cascode stages are connected according to a tree structure so that at least one cascode transistor of a first cascode stage of the plurality of cascode stages is coupled to at least two cascode transistors of a second cascode stage of the plurality of cascode stages.
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Abstract
Methods and devices for amplifying a plurality of input RF signals based on a multi-input cascode configuration is described. Transistors of stages of the multi-input cascode configuration are connected according to a tree, where there is at least one cascode transistor that is connected to at least two transistors of a stage below. In one case the stage below is an input stage, and in another case the stage below is a cascode stage. Activation and deactivation of transistors of the stages provide different conduction paths between the input stage and an output stage.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A multi-input cascode amplifier configuration comprising:
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an input stage comprising a plurality of input transistors configured to receive a plurality of input RF signals; and a plurality of cascode stages comprising an output stage, wherein the input transistors of the input stage and cascode transistors of the plurality of cascode stages are connected according to a tree structure so that at least one cascode transistor of a first cascode stage of the plurality of cascode stages is coupled to at least two cascode transistors of a second cascode stage of the plurality of cascode stages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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16. (canceled)
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21. A method for amplifying a plurality of input RF signals according to at least two modes of operation, the method comprising:
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providing an input stage comprising a plurality of input transistors configured to receive the plurality of input RF signals; providing one or more cascode stages comprising an output stage; connecting the input transistors of the input stage and cascode transistors of the one or more cascode stages; based on the connecting, forming a tree structure so that at least one cascode transistor of a first cascode stage of the one or more cascode stages is coupled to at least two transistors of a second stage comprising one of;
a) the one or more cascode stages, and b) the input stage;during a first mode of operation, providing a first conduction path between a first input RF signal of the plurality of input RF signals and the output stage, the first conduction path comprising the at least one cascode transistor of the first stage and one of the at least two transistors of the second stage, thereby amplifying the first input RF signal based on the first conduction path; and during a second mode of operation, providing a second conduction path between a second input RF signal of the plurality of input RF signals and the output stage, the second conduction path comprising the at least one cascode transistor of the first stage and the other of the at least two transistors of the second stage, thereby amplifying the second input RF signal based on the second conduction path.
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22. A multi-input cascode amplifier configuration comprising:
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an input stage comprising a plurality of input transistors configured to receive a plurality of input RF signals; and a plurality of cascode stages comprising an output stage, wherein the input stage and the plurality of cascode stages are arranged in a sequence comprising the input stage as a bottom stage in the sequence and the output stage as the top stage in the sequence so to provide a tree structure having a plurality of different conduction paths from the input stage to the output stage, wherein a number of cascode transistors of a first stage of the plurality of cascode stages is greater than a number of cascode transistors of a second stage of the plurality of cascode stages that is arranged immediately above the first stage.
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Specification