Attenuator circuit apparatus

• US 5,448,207 A
• Filed: 09/14/1994
• Issued: 09/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kohama, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Gensler, Paul
• Application Number:
  US08/305,565
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 333/81 R, 333/81 A, 327/306, 327/308
• US Class Current: 333/81.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/245 using field-effect transistor

Abstract

An attenuator circuit which has a small insertion loss and also has a broad tolerance toward the fluctuation of the element parameter. An attenuator stage having the largest attenuation quantity of a plurality of attenuator stages is formed with a π-type attenuator stage, and an attenuator stage having the smallest attenuation quantity of the plurality of attenuator stages is formed with a T-type attenuator stage. In this way, an attenuator stage having a large attenuation quantity whose precision of the attenuation quantity is apt to be detracted is formed with a π-type attenuator stage so that the precision becomes high, further, an attenuator stage having a small attenuation quantity is formed with a T-type attenuator stage so that the insertion loss can be lowered.

Claims

1. An attenuator circuit apparatus having a plurality of series connected attenuator stages, wherein:

an attenuator stage having the largest attenuation quantity of said plurality of attenuator stages is composed of a π

-type attenuator stage; and

an attenuator stage having the smallest attenuation quantity of said plurality of attenuator stages is composed of a T-type attenuator stage.

2. The attenuator circuit apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said π

-type attenuator stage and said T-type attenuator stage comprise;

an active element which is connected in parallel to a resistance means connected in series with respect to a signal path; and

an active element which is connected in series with respect to a resistance means which is connected in the shunt position with respect to said signal path.

3. The attenuator circuit apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said π

-type attenuator stage is utilized in such an attenuator stage of said plurality of attenuator stages that an attenuation quantity of 10 dB or more is required.

4. The attenuator circuit apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said active element is a field effect transistor whose semiconductor material is compound semiconductor.