An amplifier circuit includes a first terminal and a second terminal, an amplifier disposed in a first path connecting the first terminal and the second terminal, a first switch circuit disposed in the first path between the amplifier and the second terminal, an attenuator disposed in the first path between the amplifier and the first switch circuit, and a second switch circuit disposed in a second path that is connected to the first terminal and the second terminal while bypassing the amplifier, the attenuator, and the first switch circuit.

An amplifier circuit includes a first terminal and a second terminal, an amplifier disposed in a first path connecting the first terminal and the second terminal, a first switch circuit disposed in the first path between the amplifier and the second terminal, an attenuator disposed in the first path between the amplifier and the first switch circuit, and a second switch circuit disposed in a second path that is connected to the first terminal and the second terminal while bypassing the amplifier, the attenuator, and the first switch circuit.

An example playback device includes a first interface for receiving a first audio signal from a first audio source; a second interface for receiving a second audio signal from a second audio source; and a processor configured to: cause the playback device to playback the second audio signal; determine that the first audio signal is present at the first interface; in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the first interface, (i) cease playback of the second audio signal being played by the playback device and (ii) cause the playback device to playback the first audio signal; receive an instruction to stop the playback device from playing the first audio signal while the first audio signal is still present at the first interface; and arm the playback device such that a subsequent presence of the first audio signal at the first interface causes the playback device to play the first audio signal.

An example playback device includes a first interface for receiving a first audio signal from a first audio source; a second interface for receiving a second audio signal from a second audio source; and a processor configured to: cause the playback device to playback the second audio signal; determine that the first audio signal is present at the first interface; in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the first interface, (i) cease playback of the second audio signal being played by the playback device and (ii) cause the playback device to playback the first audio signal; receive an instruction to stop the playback device from playing the first audio signal while the first audio signal is still present at the first interface; and arm the playback device such that a subsequent presence of the first audio signal at the first interface causes the playback device to play the first audio signal.

In a gain control device, a gain control voltage adjust circuit includes a time-constant circuit and outputs an adjusted gain control voltage depending on an adjustment signal and a control voltage generated by a differential amplifier upon input of the adjustment signal. An adjustment signal generation circuit outputs the adjustment signal during an adjustment signal output period. This period is a specified period before a first burst signal is output from a signal output unit and where a burst signal is not output from the signal output unit. The adjustment signal is to make the adjusted gain control voltage closer to a target voltage. The target voltage is a gain control voltage output from the gain control voltage adjust circuit and corresponding to a steady part of a second burst signal. The second burst signal is a burst signal output before the first burst signal.

In a gain control device, a gain control voltage adjust circuit includes a time-constant circuit and outputs an adjusted gain control voltage depending on an adjustment signal and a control voltage generated by a differential amplifier upon input of the adjustment signal. An adjustment signal generation circuit outputs the adjustment signal during an adjustment signal output period. This period is a specified period before a first burst signal is output from a signal output unit and where a burst signal is not output from the signal output unit. The adjustment signal is to make the adjusted gain control voltage closer to a target voltage. The target voltage is a gain control voltage output from the gain control voltage adjust circuit and corresponding to a steady part of a second burst signal. The second burst signal is a burst signal output before the first burst signal.

Variable gain amplifiers (VGA) with output phase invariance are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a VGA is operable in a selected gain setting chosen from multiple gain settings that provide different amounts of amplification to a radio frequency (RF) input signal. The VGA includes a gain transistor that has a substantially constant bias current across the gain settings, such that the VGA's output phase, input impedance matching, and/or input return loss are substantially constant. The gain setting of the VGA is selected by controlling relative biasing of a pair of cascode transistors each connected to the gain transistor by a corresponding degeneration resistor. The degeneration resistors provide compensation that reduces or eliminates a difference in output phase of the VGA across gain settings, for instance, by introducing a zero in a transfer function of the VGA that cancels a pole arising from the cascode transistors.

Variable gain amplifiers (VGA) with output phase invariance are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a VGA is operable in a selected gain setting chosen from multiple gain settings that provide different amounts of amplification to a radio frequency (RF) input signal. The VGA includes a gain transistor that has a substantially constant bias current across the gain settings, such that the VGA's output phase, input impedance matching, and/or input return loss are substantially constant. The gain setting of the VGA is selected by controlling relative biasing of a pair of cascode transistors each connected to the gain transistor by a corresponding degeneration resistor. The degeneration resistors provide compensation that reduces or eliminates a difference in output phase of the VGA across gain settings, for instance, by introducing a zero in a transfer function of the VGA that cancels a pole arising from the cascode transistors.

An example playback device includes a first interface for receiving a first audio signal from a first audio source; a second interface for receiving a second audio signal from a second audio source; and a processor configured to: cause the playback device to playback the second audio signal; determine that the first audio signal is present at the first interface; in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the first interface, (i) cease playback of the second audio signal being played by the playback device and (ii) cause the playback device to playback the first audio signal; receive an instruction to stop the playback device from playing the first audio signal while the first audio signal is still present at the first interface; and arm the playback device such that a subsequent presence of the first audio signal at the first interface causes the playback device to play the first audio signal.

An example playback device includes a first interface for receiving a first audio signal from a first audio source; a second interface for receiving a second audio signal from a second audio source; and a processor configured to: cause the playback device to playback the second audio signal; determine that the first audio signal is present at the first interface; in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the first interface, (i) cease playback of the second audio signal being played by the playback device and (ii) cause the playback device to playback the first audio signal; receive an instruction to stop the playback device from playing the first audio signal while the first audio signal is still present at the first interface; and arm the playback device such that a subsequent presence of the first audio signal at the first interface causes the playback device to play the first audio signal.