Low-voltage low-power controllable preamplifier for electret microphones

A low-voltage low-power analog controllable preamplifier for electret microphones is discussed. It has been designed for a single supply voltage of 1.0 V, whereas its average power consumption amounts to some tens of microwatts. A DC current controls its gain directly into decibels. The design meets specifications concerning accuracy, bandwidth, and noise properties suitable for most applications in portable telephone equipment, portable transceivers, and hearing aids. Much attention has been paid to the dynamic range of the input signal, noise, and offset properties. The circuit has been realized in a semicustom IC process. Simulation and measurement data of the most important properties are presented.<
>