Amplifier circuit

• US 6,218,906 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2000
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Lohninger, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/520,278
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 330/290, 330/302, 330/311, 330/85, 330/98, 330/99, 330/296
• US Class Current: 330/311
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/22 by use of cascode coupling, i.e. earthed cathode or emitter stage followed by earthed grid or base stage respectively
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/302 in bipolar transistor amplifiers H03F1/303, H03F1/305, H03F1/307 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/481 A resistor being used as sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/483 A shunting switch being paralleled to the sensor

Abstract

An amplifier circuit has a first transistor and a second transistor of a first conductivity type, which are operated in a cascode circuit together with a first resistor. In addition, the amplifier circuit includes a first capacitor, which precedes the control input of the first transistor. A third transistor of a second conductivity type is provided, whose control input is connected to one end of the controlled path of the second transistor and whose controlled path is connected on one end to a second supply potential. A fourth transistor of the second conductivity type is provided, whose control input is connected to the other end of the controlled path of the third transistor and whose controlled path is connected on one end to the control input of the third transistor. A second resistor is connected between the control input of the fourth transistor and one terminal of the first capacitor. Finally, a third resistor is connected between the other end of the controlled path of the fourth transistor and the other terminal of the first capacitor.

Claims

1. An amplifier circuit, comprising:

a first transistor of a first conductivity type having a control input receiving an input signal and a controlled path having a first end to be connected to a first supply potential and a second end;

a second transistor of the first conductivity type having a control input receiving a bias potential and a controlled path with a first end connected to said second end of said controlled path of said first transistor and a second end outputting an output signal; and

a first resistor having a first terminal connected to said second end of said controlled path of said second transistor and a second terminal to be connected to a second supply potential;

a capacitor having a first terminal connected to said control input of said first transistor and a second terminal;

a third transistor of a second conductivity type having a control input connected to said second end of said controlled path of said second transistor and a controlled path with a first end to be connected to the second supply potential and a second end;

a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type having a control input connected to said second end of said controlled path of said third transistor and a controlled path with a first end connected to said control input of said third transistor and a second end;

a second resistor connected between said control input of said fourth transistor and said second terminal of said capacitor; and

a third resistor connected between said second end of said controlled path of said fourth transistor and said first terminal of said capacitor.

2. The amplifier circuit according to claim 1, including a further capacitor coupling said control input of said fourth transistor to the first supply potential.

3. The amplifier circuit according to claim 1, including another capacitor coupling said second end of said controlled path of said fourth transistor to the first supply potential.

4. The amplifier circuit according to claim 1, including a fourth resistor connected between said control input and said second end of said controlled path of said second transistor for generating said bias potential.

5. The amplifier circuit according to claim 4, including an additional capacitor connected between said control input of said second transistor and the first supply potential.

6. The amplifier circuit according to claim 4, including a fifth resistor having a first terminal connected to one of the first supply potential and the second supply potential and a second terminal connected to a node point between said second resistor and said capacitor.

7. The amplifier circuit according to claim 6, including a series circuit having a controlled switch and a sixth resistor connected in series with said controlled switch, said series circuit connected in parallel with said first resistor.

8. The amplifier circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first transistor, said second transistor, said third transistor, and said fourth transistor are bipolar transistors, said first end and said second end of said controlled path of said bipolar transistors are formed by an emitter and collector, respectively, and said control input is formed by a base of said bipolar transistors.