US Patent 7746169 LNA having a post-distortion mode and a high-gain mode

A differential low noise amplifier (LNA) is operable in a selectable one of two modes. The LNA includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor and a fourth transistor. In the first mode (PDC mode), the four transistors are configured to operate as a post-distortion cancellation (PDC) LNA. The third and fourth transistors operate as cancel transistors that improve linearity, but reduce LNA gain somewhat. In the second mode (high gain mode), the third and fourth transistors are configured so that amplified versions of the LNA input signal that they output are added to amplified versions of the LNA input signal that are output by the first and second main transistors, resulting in increased gain. Multiplexing circuits are provided within the LNA so that the LNA is configurable into a selectable one of the two modes by controlling a digital mode control signal supplied to the LNA.