Method and system for an LC resonant current gain boosting amplifier

• US 8,410,823 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Yuyu, Pan, Meng-An
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENG, DIANA
• Application Number:
  US11/619,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,280 Days
• Field of Search: 327/103
• US Class Current: 327/103
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/08 Modifications of amplifiers to reduce detrimental influences of internal impedances of amplifying elements wide-band amplifiers with inter-stage coupling networks incorporating these impedances H03F1/42
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/168 Two amplifying stages are coupled by means of a filter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/91 the amplifier has a current mode topology
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45136 One differential amplifier in IC-block form being shown
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/191 Tuned amplifiers H03F3/193, H03F3/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/195 in integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45475 using IC blocks as the active amplifying circuit

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for an integrated LC resonant current gain boosting amplifier may include amplifying within a chip, via an on-chip LC current gain circuit, an alternating current (AC) generated by an on-chip voltage-to-current converter, and converting within the chip, via an on-chip current-to-voltage circuit; the amplified alternating current to an output voltage. The on-chip LC current gain circuit comprises only passive components, which may include one or more resistors, one or more capacitors, and one or more inductors.

Claims

1. A method for processing signals in electronic circuits, the method comprising:

amplifying within a chip, via an on-chip LC current gain circuit, an alternating current (AC) generated by an on-chip voltage-to-current converter; and

converting within said chip, via an on-chip current-to-voltage circuit;

said amplified alternating current to an output voltage.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said on-chip LC current gain circuit comprises only passive components.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said passive components comprise one or more resistors, one or more capacitors, and one or more inductors.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said one or more resistors, one or more capacitors, and one or more inductors have values that cause said amplification of said AC generated by said on-chip voltage-to-current converter.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said on-chip voltage-to-current converter comprises a transconductance stage.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said on-chip current-to-voltage converter comprises a transimpedance amplifier.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said on-chip LC current gain circuit resonates at a frequency that causes said amplification of said AC generated by said on-chip voltage-to-current converter.

8. A system for processing signals in electronic circuits, the system comprising:

an on-chip LC current gain circuit that amplifies within said chip, an alternating current (AC) generated by an on-chip voltage-to-current converter; and

an on-chip current-to-voltage circuit that converts within said chip, said amplified alternating current to an output voltage.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said on-chip LC current gain circuit comprises only passive components.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said passive components comprise one or more resistors, one or more capacitors, and one or more inductors.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more resistors, one or more capacitors, and one or more inductors have values that cause said amplification of said AC generated by said on-chip voltage-to-current converter.

12. The system, according to claim 8, wherein said on-chip voltage-to-current converter comprises a transconductance stage.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein said on-chip current-to-voltage converter comprises a transimpedance amplifier.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein said on-chip LC current gain circuit resonates at a frequency that causes said amplification of said AC generated by said on-chip voltage-to-current converter.

15. A system for processing signals in electronic circuits, the system comprising:

a voltage-to-current converter integrated on a chip;

an LC current gain circuit integrated on said chip, which is coupled to said on-chip voltage-to-current converter; and

a current-to-voltage circuit integrated on said chip, which is coupled to said on-chip LC current gain circuit, wherein said on-chip LC current gain circuit resonates so as to amplify an alternating current (AC) generated by said on-chip voltage-to-current converter.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said on-chip current-to-voltage circuit converts within said chip, said amplified alternating current to an output voltage.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said on-chip LC current gain circuit comprises only passive components.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said passive components comprise one or more resistors, one or more capacitors, and one or more inductors.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said one or more resistors, one or more capacitors, and one or more inductors have values that cause said amplification of said AC generated by said on-chip voltage-to-current converter.

20. The system, according to claim 15, wherein said on-chip voltage-to-current converter comprises a transconductance stage.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein said on-chip current-to-voltage converter comprises a transimpedance amplifier.