US 12,381,528 B2
Bidirectional variable gain amplifiers for radio frequency communication systems
John Jackson Nisbet, Ottawa (CA); and Hamed Golestaneh, Stittsville (CA)
Assigned to Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/650,425.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/200,477, filed on Mar. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0294404 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. H03G 3/30 (2006.01); H03F 3/24 (2006.01); H04B 1/40 (2015.01)
CPC H03G 3/3042 (2013.01) [H03F 3/245 (2013.01); H04B 1/40 (2013.01); H03F 2200/294 (2013.01); H03F 2200/451 (2013.01); H03G 2201/103 (2013.01); H03G 2201/307 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wireless device comprising:
an antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements;
a plurality of radio frequency signal conditioning circuits each operatively associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of antenna elements and including a bidirectional variable gain amplifier, the bidirectional variable gain amplifier including a first amplifier including an input connected to a transmit/receive port, a second amplifier including an output connected to a transmit port, a third amplifier including an input connected to a receive port, a fourth amplifier including an output connected to the transmit/receive port and to the input of the first amplifier, and a switch circuit configured to connect an output of the first amplifier to an input of the second amplifier in a transmit mode, and to connect an output of the third amplifier to an input of the fourth amplifier in a receive mode, the fourth amplifier being a first common-drain amplifier including a first transistor having a drain connected to a power supply voltage, a gate that is connected to the output of the third amplifier in the receive mode, and a source connected to the input of the first amplifier, the first amplifier including a first pair of input transistors and a second pair of input transistors that are selectable, the first pair of input transistors configured to provide a signal inversion when selected and the second pair of input transistors configured to provide no signal inversion when selected, a first transistor of the first pair of input transistors including a drain connected to a drain of a first transistor of the second pair of input transistors, and a source connected to a source of a second transistor of the second pair of input transistors; and
a transceiver connected to the plurality of radio frequency signal conditioning circuits.
 
8. A bidirectional variable gain amplifier comprising:
a first amplifier including an input connected to a transmit/receive port, the first amplifier including a first pair of input transistors and a second pair of input transistors that are selectable, the first pair of input transistors configured to provide a signal inversion when selected and the second pair of input transistors configured to provide no signal inversion when selected, a first transistor of the first pair of input transistors including a drain connected to a drain of a first transistor of the second pair of input transistors, and a source connected to a source of a second transistor of the second pair of input transistors;
a second amplifier including an output connected to a transmit port;
a third amplifier including an input connected to a receive port;
a fourth amplifier including an output connected to the transmit/receive port and to the input of the first amplifier, the fourth amplifier being a first common-drain amplifier including a first transistor having a drain connected to a power supply voltage, a gate that is connected to the output of the third amplifier in a receive mode, and a source connected to the input of the first amplifier; and
a switch circuit configured to connect an output of the first amplifier to an input of the second amplifier in a transmit mode, and to connect an output of the third amplifier to an input of the fourth amplifier in the receive mode.
 
16. A front end system comprising:
a power amplifier;
a low noise amplifier; and
a bidirectional variable gain amplifier including a first amplifier including an input connected to a transmit/receive port, a second amplifier including an output connected to an input of the power amplifier at a transmit port, a third amplifier including an input connected to an output of the low noise amplifier at a receive port, a fourth amplifier including an output connected to the transmit/receive port and to the input of the first amplifier, and a switch circuit configured to connect an output of the first amplifier to an input of the second amplifier in a transmit mode, and to connect an output of the third amplifier to an input of the fourth amplifier in a receive mode, the fourth amplifier being a first common-drain amplifier including a first transistor having a drain connected to a power supply voltage, a gate that is connected to the output of the third amplifier in the receive mode, and a source connected to the input of the first amplifier, the first amplifier including a first pair of input transistors and a second pair of input transistors that are selectable, the first pair of input transistors configured to provide a signal inversion when selected and the second pair of input transistors configured to provide no signal inversion when selected, a first transistor of the first pair of input transistors including a drain connected to a drain of a first transistor of the second pair of input transistors, and a source connected to a source of a second transistor of the second pair of input transistors.