Step gain amplifier with impedance unchanged in gain control

Abstract

A novel gain control method without impedance alternation in a gain control action has been developed. The method was based on the traditional current switch gain control scheme. A low gain mode has not only a DC feed-through as in the conventional method but also an RF feed-through with an RC network and a common-base transistor. An implemented differential Low Noise Amplifier exhibited the complete suppression of the impedance alternation effect. The details of the circuit topology are presented in this paper.