An Analog Front-end Amplifier with Seamless Discrete Time-gain Compensation for Ultrasound Scanner

This paper proposes an analog front-end (AFE) amplifier with seamless discrete time-gain compensation (TGC) for ultrasound scanners. The AFE amplifier consists of a preamplifier and a programmable gain amplifier (PGA). A real-time TGC operation is typically accomplished with gradual gain increments...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of semiconductor technology and science Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 389 - 395
Main Authors Son, Min-Hyeong, Um, Ji-Yong
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 대한전자공학회 01.12.2023
Subjects
전기공학
Analog front-end amplifier
seamless time-gain compensation
operational amplifier
ultrasound scanner
programmable gain amplifier
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Summary:This paper proposes an analog front-end (AFE) amplifier with seamless discrete time-gain compensation (TGC) for ultrasound scanners. The AFE amplifier consists of a preamplifier and a programmable gain amplifier (PGA). A real-time TGC operation is typically accomplished with gradual gain increments in PGA. To achieve a seamless gain transition in PGA, this work proposes a preset switching scheme for an initialization of operating points in PGA. In addition, current-reuse operational amplifiers with dynamic push-pull current sources are deployed in the AFE amplifier to further enhance a transient response. The proposed AFE implemented in a 180-nm BCD process occupies 0.19 mm2, and consumes 2.3 mW. The AFE achieves a gain range from 34.3 dB to 50.5 dB with four gain steps, and a transient interval less than 18 ns during a gain transition. KCI Citation Count: 0
ISSN:1598-1657
2233-4866
2233-4866
1598-1657
DOI:10.5573/JSTS.2023.23.6.389