A phased array element includes a transmit portion having a plurality of amplifier paths, each amplifier path having a driver amplifier and a power amplifier, a first transformer coupled to the power amplifier of a first amplifier path of the plurality of amplifier paths and a second transformer coupled to the power amplifier of a second amplifier path of the plurality of amplifier paths, a secondary winding of each of the first transformer and the second transformer coupled together by a common transformer segment, a transmit phase shifter switchably coupled to the plurality of amplifier paths, a receive portion coupled to the second transformer, the receive portion having a receive path having a low noise amplifier (LNA), and a receive phase shifter coupled to the LNA.

A phased array element includes a transmit portion having a plurality of amplifier paths, each amplifier path having a driver amplifier and a power amplifier, a first transformer coupled to the power amplifier of a first amplifier path of the plurality of amplifier paths and a second transformer coupled to the power amplifier of a second amplifier path of the plurality of amplifier paths, a secondary winding of each of the first transformer and the second transformer coupled together by a common transformer segment, a transmit phase shifter switchably coupled to the plurality of amplifier paths, a receive portion coupled to the second transformer, the receive portion having a receive path having a low noise amplifier (LNA), and a receive phase shifter coupled to the LNA.

In an example, a circuit includes a first field-effect transistor (FET) having a gate and first and second terminals. The circuit includes a second FET having a gate and first and second terminals, the second terminals of the first and second FETs coupled together. The circuit includes a first boosted follower coupled to the gate of the first FET and includes a second boosted follower coupled to the gate of the second FET. A third FET is coupled to the first boosted follower and the second voltage terminal and configured to turn off the first boosted follower responsive to a first level of an output voltage. A fourth FET is coupled to the second boosted follower and the first voltage terminal and configured to turn off the second boosted follower responsive to a second level of the output voltage.

An ultrasound circuit comprising a multi-stage trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) is described. The TIA is coupled to an ultrasonic transducer to amplify an electrical signal generated by the ultrasonic transducer in response to receiving an ultrasound signal. The TIA may include multiple stages, at least two of which operate with different supply voltages. The TIA may be followed by further processing circuitry configured to filter, amplify, and digitize the signal produced by the TIA.

An ultrasound circuit comprising a multi-stage trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) is described. The TIA is coupled to an ultrasonic transducer to amplify an electrical signal generated by the ultrasonic transducer in response to receiving an ultrasound signal. The TIA may include multiple stages, at least two of which operate with different supply voltages. The TIA may be followed by further processing circuitry configured to filter, amplify, and digitize the signal produced by the TIA.

An output circuit of an amplifier which does not change power consumption. Since the output circuit of the amplifier does not flow, to a power supply circuit, a current correlated to a signal, the output circuit is not affected by the power supply circuit. The output circuit of the amplifier is provided with: a three-terminal amplifying element having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a common terminal; and a constant current circuit which is connected to the common terminal, and which flows a substantially constant current to the three-terminal amplifying element. The output terminal is grounded, and amplified output is taken out between the output terminal, and a contact point between the common terminal and the constant current circuit. Thus, the consumption current of the output circuit of the amplifier is merely the current flowing in the constant current circuit.

A circuit may include amplifier circuitry configured to receive a current signal at an amplifier input node, convert the current signal to a voltage signal, and output the voltage signal at an amplifier output node. The circuit may also include overload circuitry configured to receive a replica DC input voltage and a replica DC output voltage. The overload circuitry may be further configured to detect that the current signal exceeds a threshold level based on the replica DC input voltage and the replica DC output voltage. In addition, the overload circuitry may be configured to, in response to and based on detecting that the current signal exceeds the threshold level, direct DC current of the current signal through a DC shunt path and direct AC current of the current signal through an AC shunt path. The AC shunt path may be different from the DC shunt path.

A circuit may include amplifier circuitry configured to receive a current signal at an amplifier input node, convert the current signal to a voltage signal, and output the voltage signal at an amplifier output node. The circuit may also include overload circuitry configured to receive a replica DC input voltage and a replica DC output voltage. The overload circuitry may be further configured to detect that the current signal exceeds a threshold level based on the replica DC input voltage and the replica DC output voltage. In addition, the overload circuitry may be configured to, in response to and based on detecting that the current signal exceeds the threshold level, direct DC current of the current signal through a DC shunt path and direct AC current of the current signal through an AC shunt path. The AC shunt path may be different from the DC shunt path.

An amplifier circuit includes a first transistor; a first resistor to which a first potential is applied, the first resistor being connected to an emitter of the first transistor; a second resistor to which a second potential is applied, the second resistor being connected to a collector of the first transistor; and a signal control circuit configured to apply, to a base of the first transistor, a voltage that has been level-shifted based on an average value of a voltage at the collector of the first transistor, the signal control circuit being provided between the collector and the base of the first transistor.

An amplifier circuit includes a first transistor; a first resistor to which a first potential is applied, the first resistor being connected to an emitter of the first transistor; a second resistor to which a second potential is applied, the second resistor being connected to a collector of the first transistor; and a signal control circuit configured to apply, to a base of the first transistor, a voltage that has been level-shifted based on an average value of a voltage at the collector of the first transistor, the signal control circuit being provided between the collector and the base of the first transistor.