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:
Apr. 23, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 04, 2000
Stephen T. Williams, Laurel, MD (US);
Tony L. Caviglia, Marriotsville, MD (US);
John Matsuzaki, Catonsville, MD (US);
Cadence Design Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A gain adjustment circuit for maintaining the overall gain of a multi-component apparatus at a relatively constant level is disclosed. A multi-component apparatus in which the gain adjustment circuit may be implemented includes a first component and a second component. The first component has a variable gain, and receives as input a control signal which determines the gain of the component. The second component has an adjustable gain, and provides as output an output signal which affects the control signal fed to the first component. The gain adjustment circuit adjusts the adjustable gain of the second component based upon the control signal fed to the first component to maintain the overall gain of the components at a relatively constant level. More specifically, if the control signal is at a level which causes the variable gain of the first component to be high, then the gain adjustment circuit sets the adjustable gain of the second component to a low level. On the other hand, if the control signal is at a level which causes the variable gain to be low, then the gain adjustment circuit sets the adjustable gain of the second component to a high level. By doing so, the gain adjustment circuit maintains the overall gain of the components at a relatively constant level. Thus, even though the gains of the individual components may vary greatly, the overall gain of the components does not.