Attenuator, variable gain amplifier using the same, and electronic equipment

Abstract

An attenuator attenuates input signals and outputs the signals to an amplifier arranged to amplify signals applied to two input terminals. The attenuator includes first and second output terminals to be respectively connected to the two input terminals of the amplifier, a comparison determination circuit arranged to compare a data variable corresponding to a current attenuation factor with target data corresponding to an attenuation factor as a target value, to output an up signal or a down signal, and an up-down counter arranged to increase or decrease the data variable based upon the up signal or the down signal which is outputted from the comparison determination circuit. The input signals respectively attenuated by different attenuation factors are outputted to the first and second output terminals based upon the data variable outputted from the up-down counter. Since the attenuation factor changes in a stepwise manner by the provision of target data alone from the outside which corresponds to the attenuation factor as the target value, signal distortion is minimized.