The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 15, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 28, 1996
Andrew C Barber, Venice, CA (US);
Harris Corporation, Melbourne, FL (US);
Abstract
A linearized voltage controlled amplifier (VCA) circuit uses the resistance of a gain control MOSFET to control amplifier gain in accordance with a DC gain control voltage. A gain control voltage is applied to the gain control MOSFET's gate through a gate input resistor that forms a voltage divider with a feedback resistor from the output of the amplifier. Since the VCA's output terminal is a low impedance node, the voltage divider network applies most of the gain control voltage to the gate of the gain control MOSFET. Conversely, a small fraction of the amplifier output signal is coupled to the gain control MOSFET's gate, to reduce distortion. The linearized VCA circuit is augmented by a gate drive correction circuit, through which the gain control voltage is coupled to the VCA's gain control MOSFET. The gate drive correction circuit is comprised of a difference amplifier and a compensating MOSFET that is matched with the gain control MOSFET of the VCA circuit for controlling its gate drive voltage.