Intermediate frequency amplifier circuit for use in receive and transmit modes

• US 6,510,309 B1
• Filed: 11/20/1996
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lawrence, Ed F., Thompson, Philip H., Andrys, Paul R.
• Primary Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US08/752,767
• Time in Patent Office: 2,253 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 455/78, 455/84, 330/301
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/0088 using discontinuously variable devices, e.g. switch-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3052 in bandpass amplifiers (H.F. or I.F.) or in frequency-changers used in a (super)heterodyne receiver H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching

Abstract

An intermediate frequency amplifier for wireless communication applications has the same receive path and transmit path through an off-chip filter. The intermediate frequency amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier and a second amplifier. The second amplifier includes a gain control circuitry. The second amplifier provides gain control for both the receive mode and for the transmit mode of operation. The IF amplifier can be used in a variety of communication applications, including cordless telephones, cellular phones, PHS phones, wireless modems, radios, and other devices.

Claims

1. A high frequency amplification system, comprising:

an off-chip filter and a high frequency amplification;

circuit integrated on a single substrate, the amplification circuit operating in a receive mode and in a transmit mode, the amplification circuit comprising;

a first switch having a receive input, a transmit input, and a common output;

a first amplifier having a first input and a first output, the first input coupled to the common output of the first switch, the first output coupleable to the off-chip filter;

a second amplifier having a second input coupleable to the off-chip filter and a second output; and

a second switch having a common input, a transmit output, and a receive output, the common input being coupled to the second output.

2. The amplification system of claim 1 wherein in the receive mode, the first switch couples the receive input to the common output, and the second switch couples the common input to the receive output, and in the transmit mode, the first switch couples the transmit input to the common output, and the second switch couples the common input to the transmit output.

3. The amplification system of claim 2 wherein the signal path through the first amplifier and the second amplifier is the same in the receive mode and in the transmit mode.

4. The amplification system of claim 3 further comprising:

a gain control circuit coupled to the second amplifier, the gain control circuit adjusting the gain of the second amplifier.

5. The amplification system of claim 4 wherein the gain control circuit includes a resistive network.

6. The amplification system of claim 1 wherein the receive input and the transmit input are differential inputs, the first output is a single output, the second input is a single input, and the second output is a differential output.

7. The amplification system of claim 1 wherein the first and second switches are unidirectional.

8. An intermediate frequency amplifier system, comprising:

an off-chip filter; and

an intermediate frequency amplifier;

circuit integrated on a single semiconductor substrate and for use in a receive mode and in a transmit mode, the intermediate frequency amplifier circuit comprising;

a first intermediate frequency switch circuit having a receive input, a transmit input, and a first switch output;

a first amplifier circuit having a first amplifier input and a first amplifier output, the first amplifier input coupled to the first switch output;

a second amplifier having a second amplifier input and a second amplifier output, the second amplifier input being in communication with the first amplifier output through the off-chip filter; and

a second intermediate frequency switch circuit having a second switch input, a transmit output, and a receive output;

the second switch input being coupled to the second amplifier output, wherein the intermediate frequency amplifier circuit has a unidirectional signal path through the first and second amplifiers for both the receive mode and the transmit mode.

9. The intermediate frequency amplifier circuit of claim 8 wherein in the receive mode, the first intermediate frequency switch circuit couples the receive input to the first switch output, and the second intermediate frequency switch circuit couples the second switch input to the receive output, and in the transmit mode, the first intermediate frequency switch circuit couples the transmit input to the first switch output, and the second intermediate frequency switch circuit couples the second switch input to the transmit output.

10. The intermediate frequency amplifier circuit of claim 8 further comprising:

a gain control circuit coupled to the second amplifier, the gain control circuit adjusting the gain of the second amplifier.

11. The intermediate frequency amplifier circuit of claim 8 wherein the first amplifier is a totem pole amplifier.

12. The intermediate frequency amplifier circuit of claim 8 wherein the second amplifier includes a common gate amplifier and a common source amplifier.

13. The intermediate frequency amplifier circuit of claim 10 wherein the gain control circuit includes a resistive network and FET switches.

14. The intermediate frequency amplifier circuit of claim 8 wherein the circuit is implemented on a GaAs substrate.

15. The intermediate frequency amplifier circuit of claim 8 wherein the first and second amplifiers include MESFETs.

16. An intermediate frequency amplifier system, comprising:

an off-chip filter; and

an intermediate frequency amplifier circuit integrated on a single semiconductor substrate and having a receive mode and a transmit mode, the intermediate frequency amplifier comprising;

first intermediate frequency switch means for coupling a receive input to a first switch output in the receive mode and for coupling a transmit input to the first switch output in the transmit mode;

first amplifier means for amplifying a signal on the first switch output;

second amplifier means for amplifying the amplified signal from the first amplifier means the off-chip filter being coupled between the first amplifier means and the second amplifier means; and

a second intermediate frequency switch means for coupling a receive output to the second amplifier means in the receive mode and for coupling a transmit output to the second amplifier means in the transmit mode.

17. The amplifier of claim 16 wherein the receive input and the transmit input are differential inputs, and the receive output and transmit output are differential outputs.

18. The amplifier of claim 16 wherein the single semiconductor substrate is GAAs.

19. The amplifier of claim 16 wherein the first amplifier means includes a current mirror coupled to a totem pole amplifier circuit.

20. The amplifier of claim 19 wherein the second amplifier means includes a common gate amplifier and a common source amplifier.