Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A wideband BiCMOS variable gain amplifier with novel continuous dB-linear gain control and temperature compensation

  • Mixed Signal Letter
  • Published:
Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, we present an accurate analog decibel linear control circuit for variable gain amplifiers (VGAs). The proposed circuit features simple and effective dB-linear control for current steering VGAs. A novel temperature compensation circuit is also proposed for this VGA. Based on the proposed circuit design techniques, a wideband single stage VGA with accurate analog dB-linear gain control and temperature compensation is realized in Tower Jazz 0.18 μm SiGe BiCMOS technology. The measurement result shows the proposed VGA S 21 gain is tunable from −50 to +20 dB with a −3 dB bandwidth of about 4.6 GHz. The measured IIP3 is from −29 to −8 dBm for maximum and minimum gain respectively and dissipates about 11 mA current from a single 1.8 V supply. The measured noise figure at maximum gain is about 8.5 dB when matched to 50 Ω and the VGA performance is insensitive to temperature variation when measured from −40 to +80 °C.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

References

  1. Nan, L., Fei, F., Hong, Z.-L., & Fang, H. (2013). A broadband linear-in-decibel variable gain amplifier with low gain error. Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing, 76(1), 73–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Coffing, D., Main, E., Randol, M., & Szklarz, G. (2002). A variable gain amplifier with 50-dB control range for 900-MHz applications. IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, 37(9), 1169–1175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Elwan, H., Tekin, A., & Pedrotti, K. (2009). A differential-ramp based 65 dB-Linear VGA technique in 65 nm CMOS. IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, 44(9), 2503–2514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Otaka, S., Takemura, G., & Tanimoto, H. (2000). A low-power low-noise accurate linear-in-dB variable-gain amplifier with 500-MHz bandwidth. IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, 35(12), 1942–1948.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Abuelma’atti, M. T., & Tassaduq, N. A. (2015). A new implementation for the logarithmic/exponential function generator. Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing, 83(1), 75–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kumar, T. B., Ma, K., & Yeo, K. S. (2012). A 7.9-mW 5.6-GHz digitally controlled variable gain amplifier with linearization. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 60(11), 3482–3490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Antoine, P., et al. (2005). A direct-conversion receiver for DVB-H. IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, 40(12), 2536–2546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Sansen, W. M. C., & Meyer, R. G. (1973). Distortion in bipolar transistor variable-gain amplifiers. IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, SC, 8(4), 275–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Liu, C., Yan, Y.-P., Goh, W.-L., Xiong, Y.-Z., Zhang, L.-J., & Madihian, M. (2012). A 5-Gb/s automatic gain control amplifier with temperature compensation. IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, 47(6), 1323–1333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Banba, H., Shiga, H., Umezawa, A., Miyaba, T., Tanzawa, T., Atsumi, S., et al. (1999). A CMOS bandgap reference circuit with sub-1-V operation. IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, 34(5), 670–674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Carrara, F., & Palmisano, G. (2005). High-dynamic-range VGA with temperature compensation and linear-in-dB gain control. IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, 40(10), 2019–2024.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Yamaji, T., Kanou, N., & Itakura, T. (2002). A temperature-stable CMOS variable-gain amplifier with 80-dB linearly controlled gain range. IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, 37(5), 553–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61274034, 61574125) and the special project for industry innovation of Suzhou City of China SYG201641 and the ZJU-SUTD Joint research project under the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2015XZZX001-01).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electronics and Information, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China

    Zheng Hao Lu

  2. Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore, 138682, Singapore

    Xiao Peng Yu & Kiat-Seng Yeo

Authors
  1. Zheng Hao Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiao Peng Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kiat-Seng Yeo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zheng Hao Lu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lu, Z.H., Yu, X.P. & Yeo, KS. A wideband BiCMOS variable gain amplifier with novel continuous dB-linear gain control and temperature compensation. Analog Integr Circ Sig Process 90, 499–506 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10470-016-0891-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10470-016-0891-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation