Simultaneous Bandwidth-Extended and Precisely-Gain-Controlled dB-Linear PGA Based on Active Feedback and Binary-Weighted Switches

A simple yet effective approach for programmable gain amplifier (PGA) with a high precision decibel (dB)-linear characteristic and wide bandwidth is presented in this brief. This novel approach is presented by innovatively combining two techniques. Based on the binary-weighted switching technique, the circuit can approach an accurate pseudo-exponential function without using an additional exponential generator for gain control. By adopting the active feedback circuit structure, the bandwidth of PGA can be extended and it also contributes to improve the robustness, both of which cleverly reached a good consistency. The proposed PGA is fabricated in a 0.18μm CMOS technology, the core circuit occupies an area of 0.11 mm2. Operated at a supply voltage of 1.8 V, the PGA consumes 8.21 mW. The measurement results show that the voltage gain of the proposed PGA can be controlled from -4.2 dB to 25.9 dB with a gain error less than ±0.09 dB, and the minimum -3dB bandwidth is almost 630 MHz. The input 1dB compression point is measured from -28.7 to 0.5 dBm, while the input referred noise is from 22.4 to 70.9 nV/ Hz.