Regenerative Programmable-Gain Amplifier With dB-Linear Gain Control

The patent employs periodic switching of the cross-coupled transistor pairs during a regeneration phase within each clock cycle. The amplification occurs in discrete periodic intervals rather than continuously, allowing the circuit to achieve high gain-bandwidth product during active phases while consuming zero power during inactive phases. This periodic operation mode resolves the contradiction by decoupling peak performance requirements from continuous power consumption.

The patent dynamically controls the regeneration time duration within each clock cycle to optimize the trade-off between gain achievement and power consumption. By adjusting the duration of transistor pair activation based on signal requirements, the system achieves high gain-bandwidth product only when necessary, thereby reducing average power consumption while maintaining peak performance capability.

The patent changes the control parameter from direct gain control to regeneration time duration control. By controlling the duration of the regenerative process rather than directly adjusting gain parameters, the system achieves a natural dB-linear relationship across the wide 15dB-66dB range. The exponential nature of regenerative amplification combined with linear time control inherently provides dB-linear gain control, resolving the contradiction between wide range and linearity.

The patent employs feedback mechanisms in the regenerative amplification process where the output is fed back through the cross-coupled transistor pairs during the regeneration phase. This feedback loop, controlled by precise timing signals, ensures that the gain follows a predictable dB-linear pattern across the entire variation range, maintaining control linearity even as the adaptable gain range is expanded.

The patent implements a periodically switched amplification scheme where the cross-coupled transistor pairs are activated only during specific regeneration intervals within each clock cycle. This periodic operation maintains the wide bandwidth characteristic of continuous-time amplifiers during active phases while consuming zero power during inactive phases, effectively resolving the contradiction between bandwidth and power consumption.

The patent replaces continuous analog amplification with a time-discretized regenerative process controlled by clock signals. This substitution of continuous operation with periodic pulsed operation maintains the essential amplification function and bandwidth characteristics while fundamentally reducing power consumption through idle periods, achieving both wide bandwidth and low power consumption.