IP Library Granted Patent US 10,033,334
Granted Patent B1
US 10,033,334 · App. 15/467,610 · Granted Jul 24, 2018

Peaking amplifier frequency tuning

Inventors: Michael Chen (Raleigh, NC); Steven M. Clements (Raleigh, NC); Mohak Chhabra (Cary, NC); Steven E. Mikes (Apex, NC); Hayden C. Cranford, Jr. (Cary, NC)
Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
H03F1/0288H03F1/30H03F3/04H03F2200/135H03F2200/48
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,033,334
App. No.
15/467,610
Granted
Jul 24, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a tunable peaking amplifier circuit including: an input node, an output node and a feedback node; a first input amplifier having an input connected to the input node and an output connected to the feedback node; a second input amplifier having an input connected to the input node; a coupling capacitor connected between an output of the second input amplifier and the feedback node; an amplifier having an input connected to the feedback node and an output connected to the output node; and a feedback circuit having an input coupled to the output node and an output connected to the feedback node, the feedback circuit including a tuning circuit for varying a transconductance of the feedback circuit to adjust an operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

Claims (26)

1. A peaking amplifier circuit, comprising:

an input node, an output node and a feedback node;

a first input amplifier having an input connected to the input node and an output connected to the feedback node;

a second input amplifier having an input connected to the input node;

a coupling capacitor connected between an output of the second input amplifier and the feedback node;

an amplifier having an input connected to the feedback node and an output connected to the output node; and

a feedback circuit having an input coupled to the output node and an output connected to the feedback node, the feedback circuit including a feedback amplifier and a tuning circuit for applying a tuning voltage to a tail transistor of the feedback amplifier to vary a transconductance of the feedback amplifier to adjust an operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

2. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 1 , wherein the tuning circuit selectively activates or deactivates the feedback amplifier to vary the transconductance of the feedback circuit and adjust the operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

3. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 2 , wherein the tuning circuit includes a switch at an input of the feedback amplifier for selectively activating or deactivating the feedback amplifier to vary the transconductance of the feedback circuit and adjust the operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

4. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 3 , wherein the tuning circuit applies a deactivating voltage to the gate of the tail transistor of the feedback amplifier to selectively deactivate the feedback amplifier and adjust the operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

5. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 4 , wherein the deactivating voltage switches off the gate of the tail transistor of the feedback amplifier.

6. A method, comprising:

adjusting a transconductance of a feedback amplifier of a feedback circuit of a peaking amplifier by applying a tuning voltage to a gate of a tail transistor in the feedback amplifier, the tuning voltage varying a transconductance of the feedback amplifier and causing an adjustment of the operational frequency of the peaking amplifier; and

automatically adjusting an operational frequency of the peaking amplifier based on the adjustment of the transconductance of the feedback circuit.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein adjusting the transconductance of the feedback circuit includes selectively activating or deactivating the feedback amplifier to vary the transconductance of the feedback.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein selectively activating or deactivating the feedback amplifier includes selectively operating a switch at an input of the feedback amplifier.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein selectively deactivating the feedback amplifier includes applying a deactivating voltage to the gate of the tail transistor of the feedback amplifier.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the deactivating voltage switches off the gate of the tail transistor.

11. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a peaking amplifier circuit, including:

an input node, an output node and a feedback node;

a first input amplifier having an input connected to the input node and an output connected to the feedback node;

a second input amplifier having an input connected to the input node;

a coupling capacitor connected between an output of the second input amplifier and the feedback node;

an amplifier having an input connected to the feedback node and an output connected to the output node; and

a feedback circuit having an input coupled to the output node and an output connected to the feedback node, the feedback circuit including feedback amplifier and a tuning circuit for applying a tuning voltage to a tail transistor of the feedback amplifier to vary a transconductance of the feedback amplifier to adjust an operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2020
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
Reel/Frame 054636/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2020
From: CAVIUM INTERNATIONAL
To: MARVELL ASIA PTE, LTD.
Reel/Frame 053475/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2020
From: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
To: CAVIUM INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 052918/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2019
From: GLOBALFOUNDRIES U.S. INC.
To: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Reel/Frame 051070/0625 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2019
From: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
To: GLOBALFOUNDRIES U.S. INC.
Reel/Frame 050122/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 29, 2018
From: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049490/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2017
From: CHEN, MICHAEL; CLEMENTS, STEVEN M.; CHHABRA, MOHAK; MIKES, STEVEN E.; CRANFORD, HAYDEN C., JR.
To: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
Reel/Frame 041718/0644 →