The present invention is directed to communication systems and electrical circuits. More specifically, an embodiment of the present invention provides a termination circuit that includes a programmable gain attenuation section, a T-coil section, and a termination resistor. The characteristic resistance of the programmable gain attenuation section matches the resistance of the termination resistor. There are other embodiments as well.

A multiport microwave device includes a first reactive three-port microwave device, a second reactive three-port microwave device, a third reactive three-port microwave device, and a matched four-port microwave device. The four-port microwave device includes first and second input ports and first and second output ports communicatively coupled to one another. A first port of each of the first, second and third three-port microwave devices is operative to receive a microwave signal, and a first output port and a second output port of the four-port microwave device are each operative to output a microwave signal. A second port of the first microwave device is communicatively coupled to a second port of the second microwave device, a second port of the third microwave device is communicatively coupled to a third port of the second microwave device, and a third port of the first microwave device is communicatively coupled to the first input port the four-port microwave device. A third port of the third microwave device is communicatively coupled to the second input port of the four-port microwave device.

A multiport microwave device includes a first reactive three-port microwave device, a second reactive three-port microwave device, a third reactive three-port microwave device, and a matched four-port microwave device. The four-port microwave device includes first and second input ports and first and second output ports communicatively coupled to one another. A first port of each of the first, second and third three-port microwave devices is operative to receive a microwave signal, and a first output port and a second output port of the four-port microwave device are each operative to output a microwave signal. A second port of the first microwave device is communicatively coupled to a second port of the second microwave device, a second port of the third microwave device is communicatively coupled to a third port of the second microwave device, and a third port of the first microwave device is communicatively coupled to the first input port the four-port microwave device. A third port of the third microwave device is communicatively coupled to the second input port of the four-port microwave device.

Hybrid-coding, multi-cell architecture and operating techniques for step devices provide advantages over binary-coded and thermometer-coded step devices by minimizing or avoiding glitches common in the transient response of binary-coded step devices and by minimizing or avoiding significant increases or degradation in one or more of area, package dimensions, pin counts, power consumption, insertion loss and parasitic capacitance common to thermometer-coded step devices having equivalent range and resolution.

Hybrid-coding, multi-cell architecture and operating techniques for step devices provide advantages over binary-coded and thermometer-coded step devices by minimizing or avoiding glitches common in the transient response of binary-coded step devices and by minimizing or avoiding significant increases or degradation in one or more of area, package dimensions, pin counts, power consumption, insertion loss and parasitic capacitance common to thermometer-coded step devices having equivalent range and resolution.

A broadband amplifier assembly is provided that includes a fixed gain amplifier coupled to an adjustable attenuator which is further coupled to a power amplifier. The adjustable attenuator includes a plurality of attenuation cells directly coupled in series between the input and the output of the adjustable attenuator.

An attenuator having an impedance that is controllable by a first setpoint signal is coupled to a transmission line. A matching circuit having an impedance that is controllable by a second setpoint signal is also coupled to the transmission line. A transformer circuit block also coupled to the transmission line has a complex impedance. A control circuit sets the first and second setpoint signals so as to control a conjugate impedance relationship between the variable impedances presented by the attenuator and matching circuit relative to the complex impedance of the transformer circuit.

An attenuator having an impedance that is controllable by a first setpoint signal is coupled to a transmission line. A matching circuit having an impedance that is controllable by a second setpoint signal is also coupled to the transmission line. A transformer circuit block also coupled to the transmission line has a complex impedance. A control circuit sets the first and second setpoint signals so as to control a conjugate impedance relationship between the variable impedances presented by the attenuator and matching circuit relative to the complex impedance of the transformer circuit.

Embodiments of methods and systems for attenuator phase compensation are described. In an embodiment, a method for attenuator phase compensation involves determining a phase compensation value for an attenuator based on an attenuation configuration of the attenuator and performing phase compensation according to the phase compensation value to maintain a constant phase response.

Embodiments of methods and systems for attenuator phase compensation are described. In an embodiment, a method for attenuator phase compensation involves determining a phase compensation value for an attenuator based on an attenuation configuration of the attenuator and performing phase compensation according to the phase compensation value to maintain a constant phase response.