IP Library Granted Patent US 9,960,738
Granted Patent B1
US 9,960,738 · App. 15/467,617 · Granted May 1, 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.
H03F1/0288H03F1/30H03F3/211H03F2200/135H03F2203/21131
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,960,738
App. No.
15/467,617
Granted
May 1, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

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; a feedback circuit including: a base feedback amplifier having an input connected to the output node and an output connected to the feedback node; and a tunable feedback amplifier having an input connected to the output node and an output connected to the feedback node; and a tuning circuit for varying a transconductance of the feedback circuit to adjust an operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

Claims (45)

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;

a feedback circuit including:

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

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

and

a tuning circuit for varying a transconductance of the feedback circuit to adjust an operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

2. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 1 , wherein the feedback circuit further includes:

a feedback coupling capacitor connected between the output of the tunable feedback amplifier and the feedback node; and

a load impedance connected to the output of the tunable feedback amplifier.

3. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 2 , wherein the base feedback amplifier, the tunable feedback amplifier, the feedback coupling capacitor, and the load impedance cooperate to reduce a variation in DC gain at different operational frequencies of the peaking amplifier circuit.

4. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 1 , wherein the tuning circuit applies a tuning voltage to the tunable feedback amplifier, the tuning voltage varying a transconductance of the tunable feedback amplifier and adjusting the operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

5. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 4 , wherein the tuning circuit applies the tuning voltage to a gate of a tail transistor in the tunable feedback amplifier.

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

7. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 6 , wherein the tuning circuit applies a tuning voltage to a gate of a tail transistor of the tunable feedback amplifier to selectively activate or deactivate the tunable feedback amplifier and adjust the operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

8. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 1 , further comprising an integrated circuit including the peaking amplifier circuit.

9. 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;

a feedback circuit including:

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

a tunable feedback amplifier having an input connected to the output node and an output connected to the output of the second input amplifier;

and

a tuning circuit for varying a transconductance of the feedback circuit to adjust an operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

10. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 9 , wherein the feedback circuit further includes a load impedance connected to the feedback node and a load impedance connected to the output of the second input amplifier.

11. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 9 , wherein the base feedback amplifier, the tunable feedback amplifier, and the coupling capacitor cooperate to reduce a variation in DC gain at different operational frequencies of the peaking amplifier circuit.

12. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 9 , wherein the tuning circuit applies a tuning voltage to the tunable feedback amplifier, the tuning voltage varying a transconductance of the tunable feedback amplifier and adjusting the operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

13. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 12 , wherein the tuning circuit applies the tuning voltage to a gate of a tail transistor in the tunable feedback amplifier.

14. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 9 , wherein the tuning circuit selectively activates or deactivates the tunable feedback amplifier to vary the transconductance of the tunable feedback amplifier and adjust the operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

15. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 14 , wherein the tuning circuit applies a tuning voltage to a gate of a tail transistor of the tunable feedback amplifier to selectively activate or deactivate the tunable feedback amplifier and adjust the operational frequency of the peaking amplifier circuit.

16. The peaking amplifier circuit of claim 9 , further comprising an integrated circuit including the peaking amplifier circuit.

17. A method, comprising:

adjusting a transconductance of a feedback circuit of a peaking amplifier;

adjusting an operational frequency of the peaking amplifier in response to the adjustment of the transconductance of the feedback circuit; and

reducing a variation in DC gain attenuation at different operational frequencies of the peaking amplifier,

wherein the feedback circuit includes a feedback amplifier, and wherein adjusting the transconductance of the feedback circuit includes applying a tuning voltage to 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.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein applying the tuning voltage includes applying the tuning voltage to a gate of a tail transistor in the feedback amplifier.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein adjusting the transconductance of the feedback circuit further includes selectively activating or deactivating the feedback amplifier to vary the transconductance of the feedback.

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 041718/0691 →