Active Splitting Amplifier Circuit for Low-Noise Linear RF Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices face challenges in amplifying RF signals with varying amplitudes using common amplifiers, as they struggle to achieve both low noise figure and high linearity, especially when signals have large amplitude differences, leading to degraded performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual-path amplifier circuit with a common-source and common-gate amplifier configuration, where the common-source amplifier provides low gain with high linearity and the common-gate amplifier offers high gain, allowing independent gain control for signals with different amplitudes, and the use of switch circuits and attenuators to adjust gains based on signal amplitude differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common amplifier is used to amplify RF signals with varying amplitudes, then the device structure is simple, but the performance is degraded due to inability to achieve both low noise figure and high linearity
Solution Approach 1:
The amplifier circuit is divided into two separate amplifiers: a first amplifier configured to amplify first RF signals with a first amplitude, and a second amplifier configured to amplify second RF signals with a second amplitude. This segmentation allows each amplifier to be optimized for specific signal characteristics, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and performance reliability.
2Reliability
If separate amplifiers are used for signals with different amplitudes, then signal amplification performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The amplifier circuit includes a switching component that enables a single circuit structure to serve multiple functions by selectively connecting either the first amplifier or the second amplifier based on signal amplitude characteristics. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while maintaining the performance benefits of separate amplifiers for different signal types.
Solution Approach 2:
The amplifier circuit incorporates dynamic switching capability that adapts the amplification path based on the amplitude characteristics of incoming RF signals. The switching component dynamically selects between the first and second amplifiers, allowing the circuit to optimize performance for varying signal conditions without requiring permanently separate circuit paths for each signal type.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a receiver including an amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit includes a common-source amplifier having an input and an output, and a common-gate amplifier having an input and an output, wherein the input of the common-gate amplifier is coupled to the output of the common-source amplifier. The receiver also includes a first receive chain coupled to the output of the common-gate amplifier, and a second receive chain coupled to the output of the common-source amplifier.