A high-performance monolithic IF amplifier incorporating electronic gain control

A direct-coupled monolithic IF amplifier that incorporates an active gain control stage and exhibits a power gain of 50 dB and an AGC range of 60 dB at 50 MHz is described. This circuit has negligible change in either input or output admittance, and has excellent signal linearity over the full range of gain control. Experimental and theoretical analyses are made of the large signal response, stability, available gain, and noise behavior of the circuit. An application to color television is discussed in which the functions of the 45-MHz IF amplifier and the dc-AGC circuitry are fabricated on a single die.