A novel automatic attenuator with ultra-fast response time

Abstract

This paper presents a novel automatic attenuator with ultra-fast transient response time. The proposed automatic attenuator combines control generation and a digital attenuator together. The control generation chain consists of a RF envelope detector, voltage comparators and a logic circuit. The state of the digital attenuator is determined by the output control signals of the control generation chain. The chip is fabricated using HuaHong 0.18 um standard CMOS technology. Measured results are offered showing that the transient response time of the whole system is less than 10 ns in the ultra-wide operation frequency range of 1 GHz∼10 GHz.