Techniques for controlling one or more audio amplifiers in or associated with a device coupled on a local area network are disclosed. The device receives at least one selected source from other devices also coupled on the network According to one aspect of the techniques, an automatic shutdown control module is provided in the device to power down the audio amplifiers when there is no audio data flow coming to the device or power up the audio amplifiers when there is audio data flow coming to the device. In one embodiment, the procedure to power down or power up the amplifiers is in accordance with a hysteresis, wherein the hysteresis, being lagging of an effect behind its cause, protects the amplifiers and makes the powering-down or powering-up procedure unnoticeable to a user.

An attenuator for attenuating a signal is disclosed. The attenuator comprises a differential input port with a positive input node and a negative input node to receive the signal; and a differential output port with a positive output node and a negative output node to output the attenuated signal. The attenuator further comprises a first switched resistor network connected between the positive input node and the positive output node; and a second switched resistor network connected between the negative input node and the negative output node. Further a pair of compensation paths is connected to the first and second switched resistor networks for cancellation their parasitic leakages, where a first compensation path is connected between the positive input node and the negative output node, and a second compensation path is connected between the negative input node and the positive output node. The attenuator further comprises a control circuit to generate control signals for controlling the first and second switched resistor networks.

A method includes generating a first gain control signal and a second gain control signal in response to a gain transition signal indicating a transition of a power converter from a first gain mode to a second gain mode. The method further includes causing the power converter to enter the first gain mode in response to the first gain control signal, and causing the power converter to enter the second gain mode in response to the second gain control signal. A circuit includes a gain transition controller generating a first gain control signal and a second gain control signal in response to a gain transition signal, and a gain control circuit causing the power converter to enter the first gain mode in response to the first gain control signal and causing the power converter to enter the second gain mode in response to the second gain control signal.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a peaking module fabricated on a semiconductor substrate including a follower circuit driving a series peaking circuit-branch, the module configured to extend the bandwidth of a track-and-hold circuit. In an illustrative example, the series peaking circuit-branch may include an inductive element. One or more tracks on a metal interconnect above the semiconductor substrate may form the inductive element, for example. In some examples, one or more peaking modules may be combined creating a customized frequency response. In some examples, one or more combined peaking modules may be adjusted by a controller providing dynamic frequency response customization during operation. The follower circuits may employ constant current biasing and/or constant-g.sub.m biasing to provide substantial immunity to process, temperature and voltage variations, for example. Various implementations of series peaking circuit-branch pre-emphasis may advantageously extend overall bandwidth of various circuits (e.g., high-speed track-and-hold circuits).

A contactless communication device includes a receiver unit having differential input terminals for connecting to an antenna. The receiver unit is coupled to a transmitting device and receives an RF signal transmitted by the transmitting device. A first comparator is adapted to generate a first comparator output signal indicative of a relationship between a voltage at a positive input terminal of the receiver unit and a first reference voltage. A second comparator is adapted to generate a second comparator output signal indicative of a relationship between a voltage at a negative input terminal of the receiver unit and a second reference voltage. A first voltage regulation circuit is adapted to regulate the voltage at the positive input terminal in response to the first comparator output signal. A second voltage regulation circuit is adapted to regulate the voltage at the negative input terminal in response to the second comparator output signal.

An RF transceiver front-end circuit includes an antenna, a first transceiving switch, a reception processing unit, a transmission processing unit and a transmission unit. The reception processing unit includes a low-noise amplifier, a first variable gain amplifier at a back-end circuit of the low-noise amplifier, and a first phase shifter at a back-end circuit of the first variable gain amplifier, wherein a phase of the first variable gain amplifier is constant. The transmission processing unit includes a power amplifier, a second phase shifter at a front-end circuit of the power amplifier, and a second variable gain amplifier at a front-end circuit of the second phase shifter, wherein a phase of the second variable gain amplifier is constant. The transmission unit includes a transmission line and a plurality of passive phase adjustors controlled to change a phase shifting angle of a signal on the transmission line.

A method and apparatus for adjusting the slope of insertion loss of digital step attenuator (DSA). The DSA is implemented on an integrated circuit. The DSA has two series inductances that are introduced between the input of DSA cell and a resistor in the cell, and the output of DSA cell and another resistor in the cell. In one embodiment, adjustment in the value of the series inductances is as achieved by altering the locations of the input port and the output ports. In another embodiment, adjustment in the value of the inductances is achieved by tailoring the length and width of the conductor trace used to connect the input and output ports to the series resistors. The adjustment in the values of the inductances provides a means by which the roll-off of the insertion loss as a function of frequency in the attenuation state can be controlled.

A method and network equipment for controlling power amplification are disclosed. The method for controlling power amplification includes outputting a voltage signal according to the state of network equipment. When the network equipment is in an idle state, at least one power amplifier transistor is switched off according to a voltage signal.

A method and network equipment for controlling power amplification are disclosed. The method for controlling power amplification includes outputting a voltage signal according to the state of network equipment. When the network equipment is in an idle state, at least one power amplifier transistor is switched off according to a voltage signal.

Hybrid variable gain amplifiers and methods of controlling hybrid VGAs are disclosed. The hybrid VGA includes a first portion that provides a current path between a positive input and a positive output, and a current path either between the positive input and a negative output, in a first mode of operation, or between the positive input and a voltage source, in a second mode of operation. A second portion of the VGA provides a current path between a negative input and the negative output, and a current path either between the negative input and the positive output, in the first mode of operation, or between the negative input and the voltage source, in the second mode of operation. Control voltages selectively enable the paths in the first or second mode of operation. The control voltages further control amount of current flow in the enabled paths.