Design considerations and implementation of a programmable high-frequency continuous-time filter and variable-gain amplifier in submicrometer CMOS

Abstract

We report on an approach to designing high-speed, low-voltage programmable continuous-time filters with an embedded variable-gain amplifier (VGA). The methods we describe here are aimed at implementation in ultra-short-channel, low-voltage CMOS technologies. The seventh-order equiripple filter and VGA combination described here has a -3-dB frequency programmable from 30 to 100 MHz, gain programmable from 0 to 17 dB and 12 dB of boost.