Signal amplifier and radar chip

Abstract

The invention provides a signal amplifier and a radar chip, and the signal amplifier comprises a programmable gain amplifier and a voltage stabilizing circuit. The alternating current input coil voltage stabilizing circuit is connected with a direct current path of the alternating current input coil programmable gain amplifier so as to supply power to the alternating current input coil programmable gain amplifier; the alternating current input coil programmable gain amplifier comprises a pre-stage amplification circuit and a post-stage amplification circuit; the alternating-current input coil pre-stage amplification circuit and the alternating-current input coil post-stage amplification circuit are coupled to form an alternating-current path, and a direct-current path of the alternating-current input coil pre-stage amplification circuit is connected with a direct-current path of the alternating-current input coil post-stage amplification circuit through a coil tap. The signal amplifier provided by the invention aims to form a programmable gain amplifier with both efficiency and power gain.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of on-chip radio frequency amplification, and particularly to a signal amplifier and radar chip. Background Technology

[0002] A programmable gain amplifier (PGA) is an amplifier whose gain can be adjusted by programming with a digital signal. Its core functions include dynamic range extension and noise suppression.

[0003] Programmable gain amplifiers (PGA) are used in a variety of remote sensing and communication devices, providing excellent performance for signal chains that require high dynamic range. For example, PGAs are used to improve device performance in applications ranging from ultrasound, radar, lidar, and wireless communication to voice analysis. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a signal amplifier and radar chip, which are designed to form a programmable gain amplifier that combines efficiency and power gain.

[0005] According to some embodiments of this application, a first aspect of this application provides a signal amplifier, including: a programmable gain amplifier and a voltage regulator circuit; the voltage regulator circuit is connected to the DC path of the programmable gain amplifier to supply power to the programmable gain amplifier; the programmable gain amplifier includes a pre-amplifier circuit and a post-amplifier circuit; the pre-amplifier circuit and the post-amplifier circuit are coil-coupled to form an AC path, and the DC path of the pre-amplifier circuit is connected to the DC path of the post-amplifier circuit through a coil tap.

[0006] According to some embodiments of this application, the single-stage amplifier circuit in the programmable gain amplifier includes a common-source cascode amplifier and / or a common-source amplifier.

[0007] According to some embodiments of this application, the voltage regulator circuit includes a low-dropout linear regulator.

[0008] According to some embodiments of this application, the voltage regulator circuit is configured to adjust the power supply to change the output power and / or gain of the programmable gain amplifier.

[0009] According to some embodiments of this application, the signal amplifier includes a register for temporarily storing power supply parameters of the voltage regulator circuit, so that the voltage regulator circuit can adjust the power supply; wherein, the power supply parameters correspond to the operating mode of the signal amplifier.

[0010] According to some embodiments of this application, the AC input and AC output terminals of the two cascaded amplifier circuits in the programmable gain amplifier are both coupled coils.

[0011] According to some embodiments of this application, the DC path of the multi-stage amplifier circuit in the programmable gain amplifier is used to divide and / or shunt the power supply of the voltage regulator circuit.

[0012] According to some embodiments of this application, the voltage regulator circuit is further configured to adjust the voltage division ratio of the power supply voltage by the preamplifier circuit and the postamplifier circuit.

[0013] According to some embodiments of this application, the DC paths of the preamplifier circuit and the postamplifier circuit form a single-stage common-source cascode structure; and the AC paths of the preamplifier circuit and the postamplifier circuit form a two-stage common-source structure.

[0014] According to some embodiments of this application, a second aspect of this application provides a signal amplifier, including: a programmable gain amplifier and a voltage regulator circuit; the voltage regulator circuit supplies power to the programmable gain amplifier; the programmable gain amplifier includes a preamplifier circuit and a postamplifier circuit; the DC paths of the preamplifier circuit and the postamplifier circuit are connected in series with the voltage regulator circuit.

[0015] According to some embodiments of this application, the DC paths of the preamplifier circuit and the postamplifier circuit form a single-stage common-source cascode structure; and the AC paths of the preamplifier circuit and the postamplifier circuit form a two-stage common-source structure.

[0016] According to some embodiments of this application, the preamplifier circuit and the postamplifier circuit are coil-coupled to form an AC path, and the DC path of the preamplifier circuit is connected to the DC path of the postamplifier circuit through a coil tap.

[0017] According to some embodiments of this application, a third aspect of this application provides a radar chip including at least one signal transmission link, wherein the programmable gain amplifier in the at least one signal transmission link includes the signal amplifier provided in the first or second aspect above, for transmitting and / or receiving radio frequency signals for radar detection.

[0018] According to some embodiments of this application, the signal transmission link includes a phase shifter, the programmable gain amplifier, and a power amplifier connected in sequence.

[0019] According to some embodiments of this application, the programmable gain amplifier and the power amplifier share a common power supply system.

[0020] According to some embodiments of this application, the power supply system includes a power controller for regulating the output voltage of the voltage regulator circuit of the programmable gain amplifier.

[0021] According to some embodiments of this application, the radio frequency signal is a continuously modulated frequency signal.

[0022] The technical solution provided in this application has at least the following advantages: the AC equivalent circuit of the signal amplifier is a cascaded amplifier circuit with greater gain. Furthermore, higher gain provides a larger dynamic range for gain control in programmable amplifiers, especially in high-frequency bands like millimeter waves where gain is lacking; higher gain also improves the gain-added efficiency (PAE) of the entire link. The DC equivalent circuit of the signal amplifier can operate directly under high-voltage power supply, overcoming the low voltage withstand capability of high-node CMOS processes, thus avoiding the use of additional low-voltage power rails or complex on-chip voltage regulator circuits that convert high voltage to low voltage. In addition, by controlling the total power supply voltage (AVDD) of the multi-stage amplifier circuit and the VDS (voltage difference between drain and source) ratio of each stage amplifier circuit, the VDS of each stage amplifier circuit can be independently adjusted, achieving the purpose of programmable gain. Attached Figure Description

[0023] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the signal transmission link in the relevant radar field; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the module structure of the amplifier provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 This is a specific structural example of the first type of amplifier provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 This is a specific structural example of the second type of amplifier provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the corresponding signal amplifier when the two-stage amplifier circuit provided in the embodiments of this application constitutes a programmable gain amplifier; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the corresponding signal amplifier when the three-stage amplifier circuit provided in the embodiments of this application constitutes a programmable gain amplifier; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the programmable gain amplifier and the power amplifier when the programmable gain amplifier has a single-stage cascode amplification structure. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the programmable gain amplifier and the power amplifier when the programmable gain amplifier has a two-stage CS amplification structure. Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the specific structure of the signal amplifier provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the voltage regulator circuit provided in this embodiment of the application, which is also connected to a coil tap; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure provided in this application, which shows how the voltage ratio between cascaded amplifier circuits is changed by the current shunting relationship between the amplifying sub-circuits. Detailed Implementation

[0025] In the description of the embodiments of this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0026] In the description of the embodiments of this application, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features.

[0027] In the description of the embodiments in this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A exists, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the related objects before and after it have an "or" relationship.

[0028] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0029] In the description of the embodiments of this application, when a component "includes" another component, other components are not excluded unless otherwise stated, and other components may be further included. The term "component" can refer to: layer, film, region, portion, structure, etc.

[0030] Programmable gain amplifiers (PGAs) are commonly used in signal transmission links in radar detection fields such as wireless communication (WiFi), Bluetooth, ultra-wideband (UWB), and frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar.

[0031] In the field of radar detection, radar chips integrate the transceivers required for radar detection in the form of semiconductor integrated circuits. The transceiver includes a signal generator, a signal transmission link, and a signal reception link. The signal generator produces a local oscillator signal with a specific waveform; the signal transmission link, including power amplifiers, converts the local oscillator signal into a detection signal and sends it to the transmitting antenna; the signal reception link includes low-noise amplifiers and downmixers, which amplify and down-convert the echo signal from the receiving antenna using the local oscillator signal to output an intermediate frequency (IF) signal.

[0032] Taking a continuous frequency modulated millimeter-wave radar as an example, the signal generator can be a millimeter-wave generator implemented with an oscillator. The local oscillator signal generated by the signal generator is amplified by a power amplifier to form a detection signal, which is then converted into electromagnetic waves and radiated into free space by one or more transmitting antennas (TX_Antenna). The electromagnetic waves are reflected and / or refracted by objects to form an echo. This echo is converted into an electrical signal (i.e., an echo signal) by a receiving antenna (RX_Antenna). This echo signal is amplified by a low-noise amplifier and then mixed with the local oscillator signal in a down-mixer to obtain an intermediate frequency signal.

[0033] In some chip examples, the radar chip also includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the down-mixer to convert the intermediate frequency (IF) signal into a digital signal. To ensure that the gain range of the IF signal output from the down-mixer matches the dynamic gain range of the ADC, the signal receiving link also includes a programmable gain amplifier (VGA) positioned between the down-mixer and the ADC.

[0034] In some chip examples, radar chips also integrate a microprocessor system containing a processor core to form a SoC (System on Chip), which can use the obtained physical quantities to perform target judgment, localization and identification, thereby improving the data processing efficiency of radar chips.

[0035] In one example, refer to Figure 1 The signal transmission link 10 includes a phase shifter 11, a phase shifter buffer stage 12, a programmable gain amplifier 13, and a power amplifier 14, which are connected in sequence.

[0036] Phase shifter 11 is used to adjust the phase of the radio frequency signal to be transmitted. Phase shifter buffer stage 12 is an optional device in signal transmission link 10, used to isolate phase shifter 11 and programmable gain amplifier 13. Programmable gain amplifier 13 is used to amplify the output power of the output signal corresponding to phase shifter buffer stage 12 to adapt to power amplifier 14 generating a probe signal with sufficient power. Therefore, programmable gain amplifier 13 needs sufficiently high gain and moderate output power. In addition, programmable gain amplifier 13 needs to have a large gain adjustment range to adapt to functions such as power back-off of power amplifier 14.

[0037] Because amplifiers in the signal transmission link operate based on the characteristics of transistors, and the performance of transistors is easily affected by environmental factors. For example, when the temperature decreases, the amplification performance of transistors increases, and the gain of the power amplifier increases.

[0038] Furthermore, due to the semiconductor nature of radar chips, their circuitry may be affected by PVT (Process, Voltage, Temperature) or command control, causing them to operate in a state that could result in significant errors. This can easily lead to deviations in measurement results. For example, the transceiver of a radar chip may experience higher operating losses due to PVT, or produce detection signals with poor linearity.

[0039] This application provides an amplifier, proposing a power amplifier structure that facilitates gain compensation and minimizes the impact of gain compensation on the amplifier's performance. It should be noted that the amplifier proposed in this application may be a power amplifier, a low-noise power amplifier, or a programmable gain amplifier, etc. The amplifier proposed in this application is applicable to products with any amplification structure design. This application uses a radar chip as an example for detailed description, and the scope of the claims is determined by the literal meaning of the claims.

[0040] Specifically, embodiments of this application provide an amplifier comprising: an amplification component and an adjustment component. The amplification component includes an input terminal formed according to a first coil; the adjustment component includes a second coil coupled to the first coil. The adjustment component is configured to adjust the quality factor of the second coil by an adjustment signal to adjust the gain of the amplification component. The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It is understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely for explaining the present application and not for limiting the present application. Furthermore, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the present application are shown in the drawings, not all structures.

[0041] refer to Figure 2 The amplifier 100 includes an amplification component 101 and a regulation component 110.

[0042] Amplification component 101 is used to amplify signals. Amplification component 101 includes a first coil for transmitting signals. The first coil transmits the radio frequency signal to be amplified or amplified by amplification component 101 via electromagnetic coupling. For example... Figure 2 The amplification component 101 shown includes a coupling transmission circuit 102, which can be used to receive or output radio frequency (RF) signals. The coupling transmission circuit 102 includes a transformer or coupled transmission lines, etc. A first coil (102a, or 102b) is any coil in the coupling transmission circuit 102 for transmitting RF signals. The shape of the first coil may be, for example, a ring or a line segment. In the radar chip, the RF signal can be a continuously modulated (FM) signal.

[0043] The adjustment assembly 110 includes a second coil 120, which is coupled to the first coil. The second coil may be, for example, ring-shaped or segment-shaped. In one example, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the second coil 120 is coupled to the secondary coil 102b of the transformer. It should be noted that... Figure 2 The example of coupling the second coil 120 does not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this application. In other embodiments, the second coil may also be coupled to the primary coil 102a of the coupling transmission circuit 102.

[0044] The adjustment component 110 is configured to adjust the quality factor Q1 of the second coil 120 under the control of the adjustment signal, thereby adjusting the gain of the amplifier component 101. Specifically, by adjusting the quality factor Q1 of the second coil 120, the quality factor of the first coil is adjusted. After the quality factor of the first coil is adjusted, the input power of the RF signal actually input to the amplifier component 101 changes, and the output power of the amplifier component 101 changes accordingly, that is, the total gain of the amplifier component 101 and the first coil changes accordingly. The quality factor Q1 of the second coil 120 can be adjusted by changing at least one of the power supply parameters, equivalent resistance, and parasitic capacitance of the branch containing the second coil 120. The bandwidth, gain, etc. of the amplifier component are compensated using the coupled first and second coils.

[0045] Taking the input power of the radio frequency signal as Pin as an example, when the adjustment signal decreases the quality factor Q1 of the second coil 120, the quality factor Q2 of the first coil decreases, reducing the signal gain of the amplifier component 101, resulting in a decrease in the actual output power Pout of the amplifier component 101. When the adjustment signal increases the quality factor Q1 of the second coil 120, the quality factor Q2 of the first coil increases, increasing the signal gain of the amplifier component 101, resulting in an increase in the actual output power Pout of the amplifier component 101.

[0046] Regarding the adjustment component 110, firstly, it adjusts the gain of the amplification component 101 through electromagnetic coupling with the first coil. There is no direct circuit connection between the adjustment component 110 and the amplification component 101; that is, the DC equivalent circuit of the adjustment component 110 is independent of the DC equivalent circuit of the amplification component 101. Therefore, the adjustment component 110 has minimal impact on the intrinsic performance of the amplification component 101. Secondly, the adjustment component 110 adjusts the quality factor of the second coil 120 through an adjustment signal, and then adjusts the quality factor of the first coil through the coupling effect. This adjustment method is easy to control.

[0047] In some practical applications, the gain adjustment of the amplification component 101 can be used to compensate for gain changes caused by variations in the environmental parameters of the amplification component 101. As mentioned earlier, the RF power amplifier in a radar chip operates based on the characteristics of transistors. The performance of transistors is easily affected by environmental factors, causing the gain of the RF power amplifier to change under different environments; for example, when the temperature decreases, the amplification performance of the transistors increases, and the gain of the RF power amplifier increases. In this case, the adjustment component 110 can compensate for the gain change caused by temperature by adjusting the gain of the amplification component 101. That is, in some embodiments, the adjustment signal is a compensation signal set according to the current PVT (Process, Voltage, Temperature) parameters of the amplifier 100.

[0048] In one example, the adjustment signal is configured to compensate for the gain of amplifier component 101 under different PVT parameters based on the current PVT parameters of amplifier component 101. For example, if the temperature of the environment in which amplifier component 101 is located decreases, the gain of amplifier component 101 increases. In this case, the gain of amplifier component 101 can be reduced by decreasing the quality factor Q1 of second coil 120 through the adjustment signal, thereby keeping the gain of amplifier component 101 constant. As another example, if the temperature of the environment in which amplifier component 101 is located increases, the gain of amplifier component 101 decreases. In this case, the gain of amplifier component 101 can be increased by increasing the quality factor Q1 of second coil 120 through the adjustment signal, thereby keeping the gain of amplifier component 101 constant.

[0049] Gain compensation of amplification component 101 by adjusting component 110 is superior to temperature compensation by changing the DC equivalent circuit of amplification component 101 (e.g., changing the bias current of amplification component 101 to change its transconductance, changing the power supply voltage of amplification component 101, or directly adding an adjustable resistor to the input of amplification component 101). Firstly, it avoids altering the bias current of the amplification component 101, thus preventing changes in the static gate-source voltage Vgs of the transistors within the amplification component 101. This makes the transient voltage of the transistor's gate-drain voltage Vdg easier to control, improving reliability. Specifically, adjusting the static bias current changes the static gate-source voltage Vgs of the transistor, making the transient voltage of the transistor's gate-drain voltage Vdg difficult to control. For example, when the temperature decreases, reducing the bias current keeps the amplifier's gain constant, i.e., the output voltage swing remains constant. Simultaneously, the static gate-source voltage Vgs decreases, meaning its downward swing decreases. Since the swings of the amplifier's gate-drain voltage Vdg and gate-source voltage Vgs are typically out of phase, the gate-drain voltage Vdg swing will increase, leading to excessive swing at low temperatures and reliability issues. Furthermore, bias current is typically used for corner calibration; using it simultaneously for temperature compensation complicates both calibration processes.

[0050] Secondly, it avoids changing the power supply voltage of the amplification component 101, thereby avoiding the introduction of power supply voltage regulation circuits, such as low dropout linear regulators (LDOs), into the circuit structure; thus avoiding problems such as increased chip area, chip heat generation, and additional power consumption caused by power supply voltage regulation circuits.

[0051] Third, compared to the adjustable resistor directly connected to the input terminal (the adjustment of the adjustable resistor is determined by the control signal voltage and the bias voltage), the parameter is changed through coupling. The DC equivalent circuit of the adjustment component 110 and the amplification component 101 are independent of each other. The adjustment of the adjustment component 110 is only controlled by the adjustment signal, and the control of its adjustment degree is more precise and simple.

[0052] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the gain compensation or calibration of the amplification component 101 by adjusting component 110 is independent of the corner calibration of the amplifier. It is mainly used for the gain calibration of the amplification component 101 under different environmental parameters, thereby stabilizing the gain of the amplification component 101.

[0053] In some application scenarios, to maximize the gain of the amplification component 101, the PVT parameters under ideal conditions can be set as preset parameters. The parameters of the adjustment signal are set according to the difference between the current PVT parameters of the amplification component 101 and the preset parameters. By adjusting the signal to compensate for the gain of the amplification component 101, the actual gain of the amplification component 101 is made closer to the gain under ideal operating conditions. At this time, the gain compensation of the amplification component 101 is used to maximize the gain of the amplification component 101, thereby further improving the transmission performance of the radar chip.

[0054] For the structure of adjustment component 110, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 2The adjustment assembly 110 also includes an adjustment unit 130, which is connected to the second coil 120 and receives an adjustment signal. The adjustment unit 130 is configured to adjust the connected device parameters according to the adjustment signal to adjust the quality factor Q1 of the second coil 120. In one example, the adjustment unit 130 can adjust either the resistance parameter or the inductance parameter according to the adjustment signal. According to the coil quality factor formula, when the adjustment unit 130 changes the resistance parameter or the inductance parameter, the coil quality factor changes accordingly. A change in the coil quality factor changes the actual output power of the RF signal input to the amplification assembly 101, and the gain of the amplification assembly 101 also changes.

[0055] This embodiment uses the example of the adjustment unit 130 adjusting the input device parameters as resistance parameters according to the adjustment signal for specific illustration. In some embodiments, refer to... Figure 3 The adjustment unit 130 includes an adjustable resistor R, which is connected to the second coil 120 to form a closed loop. The adjustable resistor R adjusts its own resistance value based on the adjustment signal, thereby realizing the adjustment of the input resistance parameter based on the adjustment signal.

[0056] In some embodiments, the adjustment signal can be configured to include N-bit adjustment sub-signals (N being a positive integer) to precisely adjust the coil quality factor according to each bit of the adjustment sub-signal, thereby achieving precise control over the gain compensation of the amplification component. Reference Figure 4 In this example, the adjustment unit 130 includes a MOS transistor group M. <n:0>MOS transistor group M <n:0>Connected to the second coil to form a closed loop, MOSFET group M <n:0>It includes N MOS transistors connected in parallel, and each MOS transistor receives a corresponding one-bit modulator signal.

[0057] Specifically, after a MOSFET is turned on, it can be equivalent to a MOSFET resistor, and the MOSFET group M <n:0>The more MOSFETs in the M group are turned on, the better the MOSFET group M becomes. <n:0>The smaller the overall equivalent resistance, and the more precise the adjustment signal, the more controllable the MOSFET group M can be. Each MOSFET corresponds to a bit-based adjustment sub-signal, and the effective number of adjustment sub-signals in the adjustment signal can control the MOSFET group M. <n:0>The number of MOSFETs turned on is adjusted to precisely regulate the coil quality factor, thereby enabling accurate digital control of the gain compensation of the amplification components.

[0058] For amplification component 101, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 ,exist Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the corresponding example, the amplification component includes a common-source amplifier structure (CS) based on transistors M1 and M2, wherein the gates of transistors M1 and M2 are respectively connected to the two ends of the secondary coil (second sub-coil) in the first coil to receive the radio frequency signal transmitted by the primary coil (first sub-coil) in the first coil based on coupling. The secondary coil tap is connected to a bias power supply VGG, which provides the bias voltages corresponding to transistors M1 and M2. In some embodiments, if the parameters of transistors M1 and M2 are identical, the secondary coil tap can be set as a center tap to provide the same bias voltage to transistors M1 and M2. The sources of transistors M1 and M2 are grounded, and the drains of transistors M1 and M2 serve as the output terminals of the amplification component.

[0059] It should be noted that, Figure 3 and Figure 4 The structure of the amplification component 101 in the example is only an example of the structure of an amplification component, used to describe the effect of the adjustment component on the gain of the amplification component, and does not constitute a limitation on the structure of the amplification component. In some embodiments, the amplification component can also be configured according to a cascode amplification structure, etc.

[0060] In some embodiments, the regulating component may further include a switching unit connected in the closed-loop circuit containing the second coil. The switching unit is configured to control the coupling of the regulating component to the amplification component based on a switching signal. For example, when the switching signal is valid, the regulating component couples to the amplification component to adjust the gain of the amplification component; or when the switching signal is invalid, the regulating component disconnects from the amplification component to turn off the regulating component. By configuring the switching unit, selective access control of the regulating component can be achieved, connecting it to the circuit when gain adjustment is needed to achieve gain control; and turning it off when there is no gain adjustment need to achieve circuit energy saving.

[0061] In some embodiments, the amplifier 100 includes at least two layout layers, with the first coil and the second coil respectively disposed in different layout layers. Since both the first and second coils incorporate inductors, and inductors occupy a large area in the layout components, disposing of the first and second coils in different layout layers can significantly reduce the layout area of ​​the radar chip. Specifically, the number of turns of the inductor in the second coil on the layout layer can be one or more; the number of MOSFETs in the MOSFET group connected to the second coil can be one or more; and the second coil can be disposed in any layout layer of the radar chip. To further reduce the layout area of ​​the radar chip, the first and second coils are disposed in the same layout layer area. The second coil is positioned within the area of ​​the first coil, avoiding the additional area occupied by the second coil on the layout layer plane. Furthermore, the wiring of the second coil can be aligned directly with the wiring of the first coil, thereby minimizing the distance between the second and first coils and achieving optimal coupling between them.

[0062] It should be noted that the amplification component 101 in amplifier 100 can be a programmable gain amplifier in the signal transmission link or signal reception link of the radar chip.

[0063] For programmable gain amplifiers in signal transmission or reception links, refer to Figure 1 As discussed above, the radar chip's circuitry may be affected by PVT (Process, Voltage, Temperature) or command control, causing it to operate in a state that could lead to significant errors. This can easily result in deviations in measurement results. For example, the radar chip's transceiver may experience significant operating losses or generate detection signals with poor linearity due to PVT. Therefore, the programmable gain amplifier 13 needs to have precise gain control to assist the power amplifier 14 in compensating for power variations in the signal transmission link 10 under different PVT conditions, so that the output power of the power amplifier 14 remains as constant as possible under different PVT conditions.

[0064] However, current programmable gain amplifier architectures cannot simultaneously achieve both efficiency and power gain.

[0065] This application provides a signal amplifier, aiming to form a programmable gain amplifier that combines efficiency and power gain. It should be noted that this application uses a radar chip as an example for detailed description, and the scope of the claims is determined by the literal meaning of the claims.

[0066] This application provides a signal amplifier, which includes a programmable gain amplifier and a voltage regulator circuit. The voltage regulator circuit is connected to the DC path of the programmable gain amplifier to supply power to it. The programmable gain amplifier includes a pre-amplifier circuit and a post-amplifier circuit. The DC paths of the pre-amplifier circuit and the post-amplifier circuit are connected in series with the voltage regulator circuit, overcoming the disadvantage of low voltage withstand capability in high-node CMOS processes, thereby avoiding the use of additional low-voltage power rails or high-voltage to low-voltage on-chip LDOs. In some examples, the pre-amplifier circuit and the post-amplifier circuit are coil-coupled to form an AC path, and the DC path of the pre-amplifier circuit is connected to the DC path of the post-amplifier circuit through coil taps. The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments, further illustrates this application. It is understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the application and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to this application and not all structures.

[0067] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The signal amplifier 200 includes a programmable gain amplifier 90 and a voltage regulator circuit 202. The voltage regulator circuit 202 is connected to the DC path of the programmable gain amplifier 90 to supply power to it. In some chip embodiments, the voltage value of the internal power supply of the chip containing the signal amplifier 200 does not match the operating voltage of the programmable gain amplifier 90. The voltage regulator circuit 202 can adjust the power supply voltage provided to the programmable gain amplifier 90 according to the internal power supply to provide the voltage environment required for the normal operation of the programmable gain amplifier 90.

[0068] Additionally, refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 Since the output of the programmable gain amplifier 90 is connected to the power amplifier 204, and the voltage regulator circuit 202 adjusts the power supply voltage, the programmable gain amplifier 90 and the power amplifier 204 share a common voltage source. This avoids introducing multiple voltage sources into the signal transmission link of the radar chip, saving circuit area. Specifically, the rated voltage of the programmable gain amplifier 90 is A1, and the rated voltage of the power amplifier 204 is A2. The internal power supply is used to provide the rated voltage A2 of the power amplifier 204. To allow the programmable gain amplifier 90 and the power amplifier 204 to share the internal power supply, the output voltage of the internal power supply can be adjusted from A2 to A1 by the voltage regulator circuit 202 before being supplied to the programmable gain amplifier 90.

[0069] Depending on the voltage regulation and adjustment requirements of the voltage regulator circuit 202, in some embodiments, the voltage regulator circuit 202 includes a low dropout regulator (LDO).

[0070] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 To accommodate output power and / or gain adjustments of the programmable gain amplifier 90, the voltage regulator circuit 202 is configured to adjust the output power and / or gain of the programmable gain amplifier 90 by adjusting the amount of power supplied to it. In one example, the signal amplifier 200 includes multiple operating modes, such as a temperature compensation mode, a power calibration mode, and a power back-off mode. In any of these operating modes, the amount of power supplied by the voltage regulator circuit 202 to the programmable gain amplifier 90 is configured according to a register.

[0071] In some chip embodiments, the voltage regulator circuit 202 can be configured to adjust the voltage value of the internal power supply according to the voltage regulation signal, thereby adjusting the power supply voltage provided to the programmable gain amplifier. The voltage regulation signal can be issued by the corresponding controller or register of the chip. In different operating modes, the voltage regulation signal issued to the signal amplifier 200 may be the same or different. For example, in temperature compensation mode, the output power of the programmable gain amplifier 90 changes due to temperature differences. In this case, adjusting the output voltage of the voltage regulator circuit 202 compensates for the change in the output power of the programmable gain amplifier 90 by changing the voltage. Similarly, in power calibration mode, adjusting the output voltage of the voltage regulator circuit 202 can adjust the output power of the voltage regulator circuit 202, thereby calibrating the output power of the programmable gain amplifier 90. For the voltage regulation signal, in specific applications, the voltage regulation signal can be configured as an N-bit string, with each bit corresponding to an adjustment unit in the voltage regulator circuit 202. This allows for precise adjustment of the power supply to the programmable gain amplifier 90 through the configuration of the N-bit voltage regulation signal.

[0072] The programmable gain amplifier 90 is mainly used in the signal transmission link of the transceiver in a radar chip. The programmable gain amplifier 90 includes cascaded multi-stage amplifier circuits 201. Figure 5 In the example, the programmable gain amplifier is a cascaded two-stage amplifier circuit 201. Figure 6 In the example, the programmable gain amplifier is a cascaded three-stage amplifier circuit 201; it should be noted that... Figure 5 and Figure 6 The examples are only used to illustrate the cascading relationship between amplifier circuits 201 and do not constitute a limitation on the number of cascaded amplifier circuits in signal amplifier 200. Those skilled in the art can construct programmable gain amplifiers based on the same principles using multi-stage amplifier circuits 201, such as four-stage, five-stage, or six-stage amplifier circuits. Each multi-stage amplifier circuit 201 includes a pre-amplifier circuit and a post-amplifier circuit. The pre-amplifier circuit and the post-amplifier circuit are coil-coupled to form an AC path. The DC path of the pre-amplifier circuit is connected to the DC path of the post-amplifier circuit through coil taps. It should be noted that, for the programmable gain amplifier in this embodiment, the pre-amplifier circuit and the post-amplifier circuit in the multi-stage amplifier circuit 201 are described along the AC signal transmission direction. The first amplifier circuit in signal amplifier 200 is called the first-stage amplifier circuit, and the amplifier circuit coupled to the power amplifier is called the last-stage amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuits can be cascaded. For example, in any of the illustrations in this application, the amplifier circuits 201 are cascaded from left to right, that is, the amplifier circuit 201 located on the far left is the first stage amplifier circuit, and the amplifier circuit 201 located on the far right is the last stage amplifier circuit.

[0073] The single-stage amplifier circuit 201 in the programmable gain amplifier 90, reference Figure 7 The single-stage amplifier circuit 201 includes a single-stage cascode structure. The single-stage amplifier circuit 201 is also exemplified as a common-source amplifier structure. (See reference...) Figure 8 The cascaded amplifier circuit 201 includes a two-stage common-source (CS) structure.

[0074] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 For any stage amplifier circuit 201 in the cascaded multi-stage amplifier circuit 201, its structure can be a common source structure, a common source cascode structure, or a hybrid structure of common source and common source cascode structures. That is, the single-stage amplifier circuit 201 in the programmable gain amplifier 90 includes a common source cascode amplifier and / or a common source amplifier.

[0075] The AC path of the signal amplifier 200 includes cascaded amplifier stages 201 and connecting circuits between these stages. Examples of connecting circuits include transformers. For instance, a pre-amplifier stage and a subsequent amplifier stage are connected via a transformer. The radio frequency signal is input from the AC input terminal of the pre-amplifier stage and output from the AC output terminal of the subsequent amplifier stage via the transformer. This configuration makes the overall AC path of the multi-stage amplifier stage 201 equivalent to a cascaded common-source amplifier structure, used to produce a higher gain than a single-stage common-source cascode amplifier structure. For example, as... Figure 9 As shown, the AC paths of at least two stages of the multi-stage amplifier circuit 201 are equivalent to at least two stages of common-source amplifier structures, thus ensuring the power gain of the programmable gain amplifier. Specifically, the AC input and output terminals of the two cascaded amplifier circuits 201 in the programmable gain amplifier 90 are both coupled coils; furthermore, the AC output terminal of the programmable gain amplifier 90 and the AC input terminal of the subsequently connected power amplifier can also be coupled via coupling coils. It should be noted that the radio frequency signal received by the programmable gain amplifier 90 can be a continuously frequency modulated signal.

[0076] Still referencing Figure 9 The preamplifier circuit includes transistors M1 and M2 connected in parallel to form a common-source structure; the power amplifier circuit includes transistors M3 and M4 connected in parallel to form a common-source structure. The gates of transistors M1 and M2 are used to receive radio frequency (RF) signals; their drains are connected to the two ends of the AC output coil of the preamplifier circuit, which is coupled to the AC input coil of the power amplifier circuit. The two ends of the AC output coil of the power amplifier circuit are connected to the gates of transistors M3 and M4, respectively. The RF signal is amplified by the preamplifier circuit to generate a first signal. This first signal is coupled through the coil and transmitted to the power amplifier circuit, where it is amplified again to generate a second signal, which is then output to the power amplifier 203 connected to the back end, thus achieving multi-stage amplification of the RF signal.

[0077] In summary, the AC equivalent circuit of signal amplifier 200 is a two-stage cascaded common-source amplifier structure, which has a greater gain than the ordinary single-stage common-source cascode amplifier structure. Furthermore, the higher gain provides a larger dynamic range for gain control of the programmable amplifier, making it particularly suitable for higher frequency bands lacking gain, such as the millimeter-wave band; it can also improve the gain-added efficiency (PAE) of the entire link.

[0078] The DC path of the multi-stage amplifier circuit 201 in the programmable gain amplifier 90 is connected in series / parallel to the voltage regulator circuit 202, meaning that the DC path of the multi-stage amplifier circuit 201 divides and / or shunts the power supply to the voltage regulator circuit. For example, as... Figure 5 or Figure 6 The single-stage amplifier circuit 201 includes a DC input terminal and a DC output terminal. The DC input terminal of each stage amplifier circuit 201 is a tap of the AC output coil. The DC output terminal of the subsequent stage amplifier circuit is connected to the DC input terminal of the preceding stage amplifier circuit. The DC input terminal of the subsequent stage amplifier circuit is connected to the voltage regulator circuit 202, and the DC output terminal of the preceding stage amplifier circuit is grounded. The number of stages in the multi-stage amplifier circuit 201 can be as follows: Figure 5 The diagram shows two levels, or Figure 6 The diagram shows level three.

[0079] Still with Figure 9 For example, for DC signals, the DC paths of the preamplifier and postamplifier circuits in the signal amplifier 200 are equivalent to a single-stage cascode structure. The preamplifier and postamplifier circuits divide the total power supply voltage AVDD provided by the voltage regulator circuit 202, allowing the signal amplifier 200 to operate directly under high voltage supply. This overcomes the low voltage withstand capability of high-node CMOS technology, thus avoiding the need for an additional low-voltage power rail or an on-chip low-dropout linear regulator for high-voltage to low-voltage conversion. This signal generator architecture not only reduces chip cost but also avoids wasting a large amount of DC power and reducing power efficiency.

[0080] Specifically, the sources of transistors M1 and M2 in the preamplifier circuit are grounded, and the sources of transistors M3 and M4 are connected to the drains of transistors M1 and M2 in the subsequent amplifier circuit via the coil taps of the AC output coil. The voltage regulator circuit 202 is connected to the drains of transistors M3 and M4 via the center tap of the AC output coil of the subsequent amplifier circuit. The coil taps can be center taps to ensure consistency in the equivalent circuits of the two transistors in the single-stage amplifier circuit 201. Therefore, based on the common-source common-gate structure, the CS and CG transistors are modified into a two-stage common-source structure. Since the drains of transistors (M3 and M4) in the subsequent amplifier circuit are connected to the sources of transistors (M1 and M2) in the preamplifier circuit via the center tap of the AC output coil, the current of the two-stage common-source structure is shared, i.e., a current-shared programmable gain amplifier. For the DC path of the signal amplifier 200, its DC equivalent circuit is consistent with the cascode structure, that is, the power consumption of the signal amplifier 200 is the same as that of the cascode structure, and it has the advantage of high efficiency of the cascode structure.

[0081] It should be noted that, Figure 9 The example illustrates the use of a common-source cascode structure for the DC path and a common-source structure for the AC path of a programmable gain amplifier. Those skilled in the art can replace the common-source structure in some single-stage amplifier circuits with a common-source cascode structure or a hybrid structure of common-source and common-source cascode structures.

[0082] In other embodiments, the DC path of the programmable gain amplifier also includes a power supply branch provided by a shunt regulator circuit to accommodate the output power of the amplifier circuit therein. (See reference) Figure 11 The preamplifier circuit includes multiple amplification sub-circuits. The AC paths of the multiple amplification sub-circuits are coupled sequentially through coils, and the DC paths of each amplification sub-circuit are connected in parallel to the DC output terminal of the subsequent amplifier circuit.

[0083] The multi-stage amplification sub-circuit includes a first amplification sub-circuit 210 and a second amplification sub-circuit 220. The first amplification sub-circuit 210 and the second amplification sub-circuit 220 can also be considered as independent amplification circuits. The AC output coil of the first amplification sub-circuit 210 is coupled to the AC input coil of the second amplification sub-circuit 220, and the AC output coil of the second amplification sub-circuit 220 is coupled to the AC input coil of the subsequent amplification circuit 2201 to form a series AC path, which amplifies the input radio frequency signal in sequence. The coil taps of the AC output coil of the first amplification sub-circuit 210 and the coil taps of the AC output coil of the second amplification sub-circuit 220 are connected to the DC output terminal of the subsequent amplification circuit 2201. The DC output terminals of the first amplification sub-circuit 210 and the second amplification sub-circuit 220 are grounded, so as to reduce the output power of the first amplification sub-circuit 210 and the second amplification sub-circuit 220 through the current shunting relationship between the first amplification sub-circuit 210 and the second amplification sub-circuit 220, thereby configuring the voltage relationship between the pre-amplifier circuit and the subsequent amplifier circuit.

[0084] To accommodate gain variations in the preamplifier and post-amplifier stages, the VDS (voltage difference between the drain and source) of each amplifier stage is independently adjustable. (Reference) Figure 10 The voltage regulator circuit 202 also includes a voltage control circuit (not shown), which is configured to adjust the voltage division ratio of the power supply voltage between the preamplifier circuit and the power amplifier circuit. The voltage regulator circuit 202 is connected in series with the preamplifier circuit and the power amplifier circuit. The voltage regulator circuit 202 is also connected to the coil tap of the preamplifier circuit. The voltage control circuit can adaptively adjust the potential of the coil tap according to changes in the register configuration of the voltage regulator circuit, thereby adjusting the voltage ratio between the preamplifier circuit and the power amplifier circuit. For example, the voltage regulator circuit makes the voltage difference between the preamplifier circuit and the power amplifier circuit smaller than that between the power amplifier circuit and the power amplifier circuit, reducing the output power of the preamplifier circuit and increasing the output power of the power amplifier circuit, thus avoiding power loss in the preamplifier circuit when amplifying radio frequency signals in practical applications.

[0085] In a specific example, the voltage regulator circuit 202 adjusts the potential of the coil tap to reduce the potential of the center tap of the coil to a preset value, thereby adjusting the voltage ratio between the preamplifier circuit and the amplifier circuit. For example, if the power supply voltage provided by the voltage regulator circuit 202 is C1 and the potential of the coil tap is adjusted to C2, then the voltage ratio between the preamplifier circuit and the amplifier circuit is C2 : (C1-C2).

[0086] Regarding the regulation of the coil center tap voltage by the voltage regulator circuit 202, in one example, the voltage regulator circuit 202 adjusts the conduction level of the subsequent amplifier circuit according to the potential feedback of the coil tap, so as to adjust the potential of the coil center tap to a preset value.

[0087] Specifically, assuming the preset potential value of the coil tap is Z, when the potential of the coil tap is greater than the preset value Z, the potential of the coil tap is increased by turning on the subsequent amplifier circuit or increasing the conduction degree of the subsequent amplifier circuit; when the potential of the coil tap is less than the preset value Z, the potential of the coil tap is decreased by turning off the subsequent amplifier circuit or reducing the conduction degree of the subsequent amplifier circuit, thereby adjusting the potential of the coil tap to the preset value Z.

[0088] In one example, the preset value Z can be obtained by dividing the external voltage using voltage divider resistors. For instance, the voltage control circuit includes voltage divider circuits R1 and R2. The preset value is obtained by dividing the external voltage V using voltage divider resistors R1 and R2. In this case, the preset value = V × R2 / (R1 + R2). By adjusting the resistance values ​​of the voltage divider resistors R1 and R2, the magnitude of the preset value, or the magnitude of the external voltage V, can be adjusted.

[0089] In one example, the voltage control circuit also includes a comparator. The feedback adjustment process of the coil tap potential adjusting the preset value Z can be implemented using the comparator. Specifically, the non-inverting input of the comparator receives the preset value Z, the negative input is connected to the coil tap, and the output is connected to the AC input of the subsequent amplifier circuit. When the coil tap potential is greater than the preset value Z, the comparator outputs an invalid level to turn off the subsequent amplifier circuit, thereby lowering the coil tap potential; when the coil tap potential is less than the preset value Z, the comparator outputs an active level to turn on the subsequent amplifier circuit, thereby raising the coil tap potential.

[0090] It should be noted that, in Figure 10 In the example, the output power of the preceding amplifier stage is adjusted by changing the voltage division of the power supply voltage by each stage of the cascaded amplifier circuit 201. The voltage control circuit can control the total power supply voltage AVDD of the two amplifier stages, as well as the VDS ratio of each stage, thus making the VDS of each stage independently adjustable and achieving programmable gain.

[0091] The signal amplifier 200 provided in this embodiment has a cascaded AC equivalent circuit with greater gain. Furthermore, higher gain provides a wider dynamic range for gain control in programmable amplification, especially in high-frequency, low-gain bands such as millimeter waves; higher gain also improves the gain-added efficiency (PAE) of the entire link. The DC equivalent circuit of the signal amplifier can operate directly under high-voltage power supply, overcoming the low voltage withstand capability of high-node CMOS technology, thus avoiding the use of additional low-voltage power rails or complex on-chip voltage regulator circuits that convert high voltage to low voltage. In addition, by controlling the total power supply voltage (AVDD) of the multi-stage amplifier circuit and the VDS (voltage difference between drain and source) ratio of each stage amplifier circuit, the VDS of each stage amplifier circuit can be independently adjusted, achieving the purpose of programmable gain.

[0092] It should be noted that, without conflict, the features mentioned in the signal amplifiers provided in the above embodiments can be randomly combined to obtain new signal amplifier embodiments.

[0093] Continue to refer to Figures 1-3 For the amplifier 100 provided in the embodiments of this application, its amplification component 101 may include a signal amplifier 200, that is, the coils of the pre-amplifier circuit and the post-amplifier circuit of the signal amplifier 200 may also be coupled to the adjustment component 110.

[0094] For the amplifier 100 provided in this application embodiment, the gain of the amplification component 101 is adjusted by electromagnetic coupling with the first coil. There is no direct circuit connection between the adjustment component 110 and the amplification component 101; that is, the DC equivalent circuit of the adjustment component 110 is independent of the DC equivalent circuit of the amplification component 101. Therefore, the adjustment component has minimal impact on the intrinsic performance of the amplification component 101. Furthermore, the adjustment component 110 adjusts the quality factor of the second coil 120 through an adjustment signal, and then adjusts the quality factor of the first coil through the coupling effect, making the adjustment method easy to control.

[0095] It should be noted that, without conflict, the features mentioned in the amplifiers provided in the above embodiments can be randomly combined to obtain new amplifier embodiments.

[0096] The above-mentioned division of various modules or units is only for clear description. In implementation, they can be merged into one module or unit, or some modules or units can be split into multiple sub-modules or sub-units. As long as they include the same logical relationship, they are all within the scope of protection of this patent. Adding insignificant modifications or introducing insignificant designs to the algorithm or process, but without changing the core design of the algorithm and process, are also within the scope of protection of this patent.

[0097] Furthermore, in order to highlight the innovative aspects of this application, no units that are not closely related to solving the technical problems proposed in this application are introduced in this embodiment, but this does not mean that there are no other units in this embodiment.

[0098] This application also provides a radar chip that can be applied to radar detection fields such as wireless communication (WiFi), Bluetooth, ultra-wideband (UWB), and frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) millimeter-wave radar.

[0099] A radar chip integrates at least one transceiver required for radar detection, in the form of a semiconductor integrated circuit. The transceiver includes a signal transmitter, a signal transmission link, and a signal reception link. The signal generator produces a local oscillator (LO) signal of a specific waveform. The signal transmission link converts the LO signal into a detection signal and transmits it to the transmitting antenna; it includes a programmable gain amplifier and a power amplifier. The signal generator can also be used to adjustably amplify the radio frequency (RF) signal in the signal reception link. The signal reception link amplifies and down-converts the echo signal from the receiving antenna using the LO signal to output the received signal; it includes a low-noise amplifier and a mixer.

[0100] Specifically, the signal transmission link converts the local oscillator signal LO generated by the radar chip into a detection signal and sends it to the transmitting antenna (TX_Antenna); the signal transmission link includes a programmable gain amplifier and a power amplifier.

[0101] The radar chip provided in this embodiment includes at least one signal transmission link and / or signal reception link. The programmable gain amplifier in the signal transmission link and / or signal reception link includes the signal amplifier provided in the above embodiment to transmit radio frequency signals for radar detection, so that the programmable gain amplifier has both efficiency and power gain.

[0102] Alternatively, the radar chip provided in this embodiment includes at least one signal transmission link and / or signal reception link, which includes the amplifier provided in the above embodiment to transmit radio frequency signals for radar detection and simultaneously realize gain control of the amplifier.

[0103] In some chip examples, the signal transmission link includes a phase shifter, a programmable gain amplifier, and a power amplifier cascaded in sequence. The phase shifter is used to adjust the phase of the radio frequency signal to be transmitted. The programmable gain amplifier amplifies the output power of the phase shifter's corresponding output signal to match the power amplifier's ability to generate a sufficiently powerful probe signal.

[0104] In some chip examples, the programmable gain amplifier and the power amplifier share a common power supply system, thereby avoiding the introduction of multiple voltage sources in the signal transmission link of the radar chip and saving circuit area. Specifically, because the output of the programmable gain amplifier is connected to the power amplifier, and the voltage regulator circuit adjusts the power supply voltage, the programmable gain amplifier and the power amplifier share a common power supply system.

[0105] In some chip examples, the power system includes a power controller for regulating the output voltage of the regulator circuitry of the programmable gain amplifier. By adjusting the output voltage of the regulator circuitry of the programmable gain amplifier, various operating modes of the radar chip can be satisfied, such as temperature compensation mode, power calibration mode, and power back-off mode.

[0106] In some chip examples, the radio frequency (RF) signal is a continuously frequency modulated (FM) signal. Taking the detection signal as an example of an FM continuously frequency modulated signal, the operation of the aforementioned RF transceiver is explained. The local oscillator signal generated by the signal generator is amplified by a power amplifier to form the detection signal, which is then converted into electromagnetic waves and radiated into free space by one or more transmitting antennas. The electromagnetic waves are reflected and / or refracted by objects to form an echo. This echo is converted into an electrical signal (i.e., the echo signal) by the receiving link. This echo signal is amplified by a low-noise amplifier and then mixed with the local oscillator signal by a mixer to obtain an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The IF signal is then filtered by a filter, amplified by a variable gain amplifier (VGA), and finally enters an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Finally, the ADC converts the signal into a digital signal for subsequent processing.

[0107] The signal receiving link converts the radio frequency (RF) signal into a baseband signal for subsequent circuit processing. In one example, the signal receiving link includes an amplifier, a mixer, a transimpedance amplifier, a filter, and a variable gain amplifier connected in sequence. The output of the signal receiving link is connected to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The amplifier can be a low-noise amplifier (LNA) to amplify the received echo signal; the mixer uses the local oscillator signal to down-convert the amplified echo signal to obtain an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; the filter removes noise from the IF signal to improve signal transmission quality; the variable gain amplifier amplifies the IF signal so that its gain range matches the dynamic gain range obtained by the ADC; and the ADC converts the amplified IF signal into a digital signal.

[0108] In some chip examples, radar chips also integrate a microprocessor system containing a processor core to form a System-on-Chip (SoC), which uses the obtained physical quantities for target judgment, localization, and identification. This improves the data processing efficiency of the radar chip.

[0109] Because radar chips use millimeter-wave frequencies, in some examples, the antenna is placed on a high-frequency board and connected to the signal solder balls of the radar chip. In other chip examples, the radar chip integrates an antenna array to form an AiP (Antenna in Package) chip, achieving a significant reduction in the size of the radar sensor.

[0110] This application also provides an electronic device, including the signal amplifier provided in the above embodiments, or including the amplifier provided in the above embodiments, or including the radar chip provided in the above embodiments. In an optional embodiment, the electronic device includes a personal voice assistant, a programmable thermostat, automotive electronic components, a robot, intelligent devices embedded in other machines, such as refrigerators and industrial tools, Internet of Things devices, etc.

[0111] In an optional embodiment, the aforementioned electronic device can be a component or product applied in fields such as smart cities, smart homes, transportation, smart homes, consumer electronics, security monitoring, industrial automation, in-cabin detection (such as smart cockpits), medical devices, and healthcare. For example, the device itself can be intelligent transportation equipment (such as automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, ships, subways, trains, etc.), security equipment (such as cameras), liquid level / flow rate detection equipment, smart wearable devices (such as wristbands, glasses, etc.), smart home devices (such as robot vacuum cleaners, door locks, televisions, air conditioners, smart lights, etc.), various communication devices (such as mobile phones, tablets, etc.), as well as devices such as barriers, intelligent traffic lights, intelligent signs, traffic cameras, and various industrial robotic arms (or robots). It can also be various instruments for detecting vital signs parameters and various devices equipped with such instruments, such as in-cabin vital sign detection in automobiles, indoor personnel monitoring, smart medical devices, and consumer electronic devices.

[0112] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0113] Note that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment and the technical principles employed in this application. Those skilled in the art will understand that this application is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, although this application has been described in detail through the above embodiments, this application is not limited to the above embodiments. Many other equivalent embodiments may be included without departing from the concept of this application, and the scope of this application is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A signal amplifier, characterized in that, include: Programmable gain amplifier and voltage regulator circuit; The voltage regulator circuit is connected to the DC path of the programmable gain amplifier to supply power to the programmable gain amplifier; The programmable gain amplifier includes a pre-amplifier circuit and a post-amplifier circuit; The preamplifier circuit and the power amplifier circuit are coil-coupled to form an AC path, and the DC path of the preamplifier circuit is connected to the DC path of the power amplifier circuit through a coil tap.

2. The signal amplifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The single-stage amplifier circuit in the programmable gain amplifier includes a common-source cascode amplifier and / or a common-source amplifier.

3. The signal amplifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage regulator circuit includes a low-dropout linear regulator.

4. The signal amplifier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The voltage regulator circuit is configured to adjust the power supply to change the output power and / or gain of the programmable gain amplifier.

5. The signal amplifier according to claim 4, characterized in that, The signal amplifier includes a register for temporarily storing the power supply parameters of the voltage regulator circuit, so that the voltage regulator circuit can adjust the power supply; wherein the power supply parameters correspond to the operating mode of the signal amplifier.

6. The signal amplifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The AC input and AC output terminals of the two cascaded amplifier circuits in the programmable gain amplifier are both coupled coils.

7. The signal amplifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The DC path of the multi-stage amplifier circuit in the programmable gain amplifier divides and / or shunts the power supply to the voltage regulator circuit.

8. The signal amplifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage regulator circuit is also configured to adjust the voltage division ratio of the power supply voltage by the preamplifier circuit and the power amplifier circuit.

9. The signal amplifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The DC paths of the preamplifier circuit and the postamplifier circuit form a single-stage common-source and common-gate structure; and the AC paths of the preamplifier circuit and the postamplifier circuit form a two-stage common-source structure.

10. A signal amplifier, characterized in that, include: Programmable gain amplifier and voltage regulator circuit; The voltage regulator circuit supplies power to the programmable gain amplifier; The programmable gain amplifier includes a pre-amplifier circuit and a post-amplifier circuit; The DC paths of the preamplifier circuit and the power amplifier circuit are connected in series with the voltage regulator circuit.

11. The signal amplifier according to claim 10, characterized in that, The DC paths of the preamplifier circuit and the postamplifier circuit form a single-stage common-source and common-gate structure; and the AC paths of the preamplifier circuit and the postamplifier circuit form a two-stage common-source structure.

12. The signal amplifier according to claim 10, characterized in that, The preamplifier circuit and the power amplifier circuit are coil-coupled to form an AC path, and the DC path of the preamplifier circuit is connected to the DC path of the power amplifier circuit through a coil tap.

13. A radar chip, comprising at least one signal transmission link and / or one signal reception link, characterized in that, The programmable gain amplifier in the at least one signal transmission link and / or signal reception link includes the signal amplifier according to any one of claims 1 to 12, for transmitting and / or receiving radio frequency signals for radar detection.

14. The radar chip according to claim 13, characterized in that, The signal transmission link includes a phase shifter, a programmable gain amplifier, and a power amplifier connected in sequence.

15. The radar chip according to claim 14, characterized in that, The programmable gain amplifier and the power amplifier share a common power supply system.

16. The radar chip according to claim 15, characterized in that, The power supply system includes a power controller for regulating the output voltage of the voltage regulator circuit of the programmable gain amplifier.

17. The radar chip according to claim 15, characterized in that, The radio frequency signal is a continuously frequency modulated signal.

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