A programmable true piecewise approximation logarithmic amplifier

This paper describes the operation theory, mathematical analysis and simulation of parallel summation type of the true piecewise approximation logarithmic amplifiers. It also reports a programmable logarithmic amplifier to have a desired logarithmic characteristic in special applications. To design the programmable structure, mathematical analysis of parallel summation type of the true piecewise approximation logarithmic amplifier is performed and based on it, a new method for improving its characteristic and some methods for adding flexibility and programmability to the structure is described. The presented programmable logarithmic architecture can be used in applications with variant and uncertain input signal range such as wide range wireless receivers and radar applications and some analog signal processing applications.