An automatic gain control circuit includes a linear-to-log conversion circuit, a current amplifier circuit, and an amplitude sense circuit. The current amplifier circuit includes a current input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the linear-to-log conversion circuit. The amplitude sense circuit includes an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the current amplifier circuit, and an output terminal coupled to a gain control input terminal of the current amplifier circuit.

An amplifier circuit comprises a differential input stage and a differential output stage. The differential input stage includes a first differential input transistor pair coupled to a differential input of the amplifier circuit, and a second differential input transistor pair coupled to the differential input and the differential output stage; a degeneration impedance coupled between first transistors of the first and second differential input transistor pairs and second transistors of the first and second differential input transistor pairs; and a feedback circuit coupled to the first and second differential input transistor pairs and the degeneration impedance, wherein output current is provided from the differential input stage to the differential output stage by the feedback circuit and transition current is provided to the output stage by the second differential input transistor pair.

A differential amplifier circuit disclosed includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a field effect transistor (FET) connected between the first transistor and the second transistor, a first current source connected to the first transistor, a second current source connected to the second transistor, and a control circuit. The first transistor and the second transistor generates a differential output signal in accordance with an input signal and a reference signal. The control circuit includes a first resistor and a second resistor connected in series to each other between drain and source of the FET, a center node between the first resistor and the second resistor, a third resistor connected between gate of the FET and the center node, and a variable current source. The variable current source supplies a control current to the third resistor in accordance with a gain control signal. The control circuit controls on-resistance of the FET.

Provided is a track-and-hold circuit capable of reducing the power consumption of a differential amplifier circuit while preserving the broadband nature (without narrowing the bandwidth). In the track-and-hold circuit 1 including a differential amplifier circuit 10, a switch circuit 20, and a hold capacitor C.sub.21, the differential amplifier circuit 10 includes a first resistor R.sub.11 having one end connected to a collector electrode of a first transistor Q.sub.11 constituting a differential pair, a second resistor R.sub.12 having one end connected to the collector electrode of a second transistor Q.sub.12 constituting the differential pair, and a third resistor R.sub.13 to which the other end of the first resistor R.sub.11 and the other end of the second resistor R.sub.12 are connected and which is connected between the other ends and a power supply V.sub.CC.

Modern modulator drivers must be capable of delivering a large output voltage into a tens of ohms modulator, while minimizing the amount of distortion added by the driver. The driver should deliver the output voltage without exceeding a maximum distortion while minimizing the DC power consumption. Accordingly, a modulator driver includes a final stage amplifier with auxiliary transistors that turn on when the conventional differential pair of transistors approaches their maximum voltage of the linear region of their transfer function, thereby providing a more linear transfer function, in particular at large input voltages.

The present invention provides a differential signal offset adjustment circuit, wherein first and second transistors are respectively coupled between a power supply line and a first current source, and between the power supply line and a second current source. First and second resistors are respectively coupled between the first transistor and a first variable current source, and between the second transistor and a second variable current source. Third and fourth transistors are respectively coupled between a third resistor and a third current source, and between a fourth resistor and a fourth current source, and have input terminals respectively coupled to the first and second resistors. Fifth and sixth transistors are respectively coupled between the power supply line and a fifth current source, and between the power supply line and a sixth current source, and have input terminals respectively coupled to the third and fourth transistors. A fifth resistor is coupled between the third and fourth current sources.

A low-voltage high-speed programmable equalization circuit includes a gain boosting amplifier stage, a CML differential amplifier stage, and an emitter follower. An input terminal of the gain boosting amplifier stage serves as an input terminal of the equalization circuit. An output terminal of the gain boosting amplifier stage is connected to an input terminal of the CML differential amplifier stage. An output terminal of the CIVIL differential amplifier stage is connected to an input terminal of the emitter follower. An output terminal of the emitter follower serves as an output terminal of the equalization circuit.

A differential power amplifier (DPA) includes an p-side and a n-side half circuit. The p-side and n-side half circuits include an p-side and n-side base, which receive respective in-phase and out-of-phase signals of a differential signal. The DPA includes an p-side biasing circuit and a n-side biasing circuit. The p-side and n-side biasing circuit are configured to provide a controllable p-side and n-side biasing signal to the p-side and n-side base, respectively. The DPA includes a power source which provides positive DC voltage to the controller of the p-side and n-side half circuits. The DPA includes supply and grounding circuit structure which provides common mode DC paths and balances the n-side and p-side half circuits to provide a radio frequency (RF) virtual ground to an emitter of the n-side half circuit and p-side half circuit.

Modern modulator drivers must be capable of delivering a large output voltage into a tens of ohms modulator, while minimizing the amount of distortion added by the driver. The driver should deliver the output voltage without exceeding a maximum distortion while minimizing the DC power consumption. Accordingly, a modulator driver includes a final stage amplifier with auxiliary transistors that turn on when the conventional differential pair of transistors approaches their maximum voltage of the linear region of their transfer function, thereby providing a more linear transfer function, in particular at large input voltages.

The disclosure provides an amplifier. The amplifier includes a first transistor that receives a first input and generates a first load current. A first output node is coupled to a power supply through a first load resistor. The first load resistor receives the first load current. A first capacitor network is coupled to the first output node and draws a first capacitive current from the first output node. A first current buffer is coupled between the first output node and the first transistor. A current through the first current buffer is a summation of the first load current and the first capacitive current.