Provided is a transconductance amplifier including a common-mode feedback circuit that does not affect an operation of the transconductance amplifier. The transconductance amplifier has a transconductance amplifier circuit configured to generate an output current based on an input voltage and a common-mode feedback circuit configured to determine a DC operating point of an output of the transconductance amplifier circuit. The common-mode feedback circuit has a plurality of level shift circuits configured to shift levels of input voltages to output the voltages, and are connected to control terminals of a plurality of transistors.

An amplifier circuit is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment, the circuit includes an input stage and an output stage. The input stage has a non-inverting input and an inverting input for receiving a differential input voltage and is configured to provide an output signal that represents the differential input voltage. The output stage is configured to receiveas input signalthe output signal of the input stage and to provideat an amplifier outputan output voltage based on the input signal. A feed-back path couples the amplifier output with the inverting input of the input stage. A feed-forward circuit is configured to activate a current path coupled to the amplifier output to provide additional output current when the differential input voltage crosses a threshold.

A receiver includes a signal receiving part suitable for outputting a signal corresponding to a reception signal that is received through an input terminal, and controlling a DC voltage of a signal to be outputted, according to an offset signal, an amplifying part suitable for amplifying and outputting an output of the signal receiving part, and a feedback control part suitable for controlling the offset signal according to an output of the amplifying part.

To provide a variable gain amplifier capable of correcting a DC offset voltage through simpler control even when a gain thereof is changed. A differential output type variable gain amplifier is equipped with a first voltage correction unit coupled to a preceding stage of a variable gain amplifier circuit and for outputting a first correction voltage to correct a potential difference generated between a first conductor provided with a first input resistor and a second conductor provided with a second input resistor, and a second voltage correction unit coupled to a subsequent stage of the variable gain amplifier circuit and for correcting a differential output. A control unit is configured to control the first correction voltage and a correction amount of a potential difference by the second voltage correction unit and thereby attenuate a DC offset voltage included in the differential output.

Bias current is supplied to a first differential pair and a second differential pair from a first transistor being a single current source. Bias current is supplied to a third differential pair and a fourth differential pair from a second transistor being a single current source. An input voltage is at a power supply potential, and an input voltage is at a ground potential. When the second differential pair and the third differential pair are turned OFF, the bias current supplied from the first transistor flows to an output stage via the first differential pair, and the bias current supplied from the second transistor flows to the output stage via the fourth differential pair. Therefore, when the second differential pair and the third differential pair are turned OFF, a circuit current is kept constant, and a fluctuation in a frequency characteristic can be restrained.

A receiver includes a signal receiving part suitable for outputting a signal corresponding to a reception signal that is received through an input terminal, and controlling a DC voltage of a signal to be outputted, according to an offset signal, an amplifying part suitable for amplifying and outputting an output of the signal receiving part, and a feedback control part suitable for controlling the offset signal according to an output of the amplifying part.

Independent control loops for mitigating positive and negative mismatch in differential amplifiers are provided. A method includes comparing a first voltage measured at a positive side output of an emitter follower with a reference voltage, resulting in a first voltage difference. The method also includes comparing a second voltage measured at a negative-side output of the emitter follower with the reference voltage, resulting in a second voltage difference. In addition, the method includes independently controlling the positive side and the negative side of the differential amplifier based on the first voltage difference and the second voltage difference.

An output stage of a buffer or an amplifier connected to a switched capacitive load can operate in two phases to perform precharging and fine settling. The precharging and fine settling phases can be synchronized to the switching phases of the switched capacitive load connected to the amplifier. During the precharging phase, the output stage can be disconnected from the prior stages of the amplifier, and the output node of the amplifier can be connected to the switched capacitive load to precharge the capacitive load with the voltage already stored in the output stage. During the fine settling phase, the output stage can be reconnected to the prior stages of the amplifier, and the amplifier nodes can settle and get ready for sampling, which can occur at the end of the fine settling phase.

Bias current is supplied to a first differential pair and a second differential pair from a first transistor being a single current source. Bias current is supplied to a third differential pair and a fourth differential pair from a second transistor being a single current source. An input voltage is at a power supply potential, and an input voltage is at a ground potential. When the second differential pair and the third differential pair are turned OFF, the bias current supplied from the first transistor flows to an output stage via the first differential pair, and the bias current supplied from the second transistor flows to the output stage via the fourth differential pair. Therefore, when the second differential pair and the third differential pair are turned OFF, a circuit current is kept constant, and a fluctuation in a frequency characteristic can be restrained.

An output stage of a buffer or an amplifier connected to a switched capacitive load can operate in two phases to perform precharging and fine settling. The precharging and fine settling phases can be synchronized to the switching phases of the switched capacitive load connected to the amplifier. During the precharging phase, the output stage can be disconnected from the prior stages of the amplifier, and the output node of the amplifier can be connected to the switched capacitive load to precharge the capacitive load with the voltage already stored in the output stage. During the fine settling phase, the output stage can be reconnected to the prior stages of the amplifier, and the amplifier nodes can settle and get ready for sampling, which can occur at the end of the fine settling phase.