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This section provides an overview for programmable-gain amplifiers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 programmable-gain amplifier manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked programmable-gain amplifier companies as of December, 2024: 1.Renesas Electronics Corporation., 2.Maxim Integrated, 3.ELECTRONICS-LAB .com.
Table of Contents
A programmable-gain amplifier is an amplifier that allows the user to change the magnitude of gain by programming.
It is an amplifier that uses operational amplifiers and generally has a non-inverting configuration. Because the gain can be adjusted through programming, programmable-gain amplifiers leave room for change in the signal chain, where analog signals are converted to digital signals.
This leads to the development of flexible products since it is possible to respond flexibly to customer or user wishes, such as increasing the signal reception strength, by changing the gain later.
Programmable-gain amplifiers are mainly used for signal amplification in devices that receive signals or noise, such as communication equipment, detectors, and analyzers. Examples include base stations and receivers for cellular phones, ultrasonic radar, wireless communications, and voice analysis. Other applications include motor control.
When selecting specifications for programmable-gain amplifiers, the range and type of programmable gain, impedance magnitude, and gain accuracy should be considered.
Programmable-gain amplifiers use a ladder configuration of resistors in the negative feedback circuit section of operational amplifiers and switch these resistor values via switch operation by controlling the register values of digital circuits. This enables gain switching and amplifier operation with a wide dynamic range.
In addition to the resistance value of the negative feedback circuit section, another technique is to change the internal voltage applied to the op amp by programming, which allows the amplification factor of the op amp itself to be varied to change the magnitude of gain. Programmable-gain amplifiers for equipment used in medical devices and scientific experiments require amplifiers with a large dynamic range, low noise, and excellent temperature stability.
For this reason, some products incorporate resistors or capacitors in the programmable-gain amplifiers to form a low-pass filter and eliminate high-frequency noise. Also available are products that connect multiple operational amplifiers with a circuit that has a programmable switch, etc., so that the operational amplifiers can be operated by the program as needed, enabling efficient and large amplification.
In the design of a system using sensors, the output range of various types of sensors is designed to match the input range of the A-D converter in the subsequent stage, but the input-output range in the system does not always match. In such cases, programmable-gain amplifiers should be used between the sensor and the A-D converters to cover the sensor's very low output range at very low levels and match the input range of the A-D converters.
In the case of sensor applications, noise levels must naturally be taken into account due to their application role. Instrumentation amplifiers are also often used, but programmable-gain amplifiers can be thought of as instrumentation amplifiers with an additional variable gain function in the second stage.
Both are the same in the sense that they are amplifiers whose gain can be changed and adjusted. Programmable-gain amplifiers (PGAs) are used for gain adjustment of discrete (precise) values because they are digitally controlled and bit-switched (4x, 8x, 16x, etc.) rather than continuously adjusted in an analog fashion.
Note that there is only as much adjustment resolution in the gain setting as the number of bits in the adjustment register. A variable gain amplifier (VGA), on the other hand, is an analog, continuous gain control with a relatively fast response and is suitable for applications that require AGC (automatic gain control) operation.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Maxim Integrated, founded in 1983 and headquartered in San Jose, California, is a manufacturer of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits. Its product range includes power and battery management ICs, sensors, analog ICs, interface ICs, and communication solutions, catering to various industries such as automotive, industrial, communications, consumer, and computing. The company holds ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, and ISO 14001 certification, ensuring the quality of its products. Being well-established in the semiconductor sector, it continues to provide efficient analog and mixed-signal solutions to a range of markets.
Incorporated in 1965, Analog Devices, Inc. designs, manufactures, tests, and markets integrated circuits (ICs), software, and subsystems that leverage analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing technologies. The company provides data converter products, power management and reference products for power conversion, driver monitoring, sequencing, and energy management applications in the automotive, communications, industrial, and high-end consumer markets. In addition, the company provides digital signal processing and system products for high-speed numeric calculations. It serves clients in the industrial, automotive, consumer, instrumentation, aerospace, and communications markets.
Microchip Technology Incorporated was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona. The company is a developer and manufacturer of control solutions for global markets including the automotive, industrial, communications, human-machine interface, and connectivity industries. The company’s products include microcontrollers, field-programmable gate array products, MOSFET and radio frequency products, and both wired and wireless communications products. The company’s services include wafer foundry and assembly services, test subcontracting manufacturing services, development tools for enabling system designers to program microcontrollers and processors, and timing system products.
Avnet, Inc. is an American distributor of electronic components and IT software originally founded in 1921 before its incorporation in 1961. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the company offers various electronic components including analog switches, microcontrollers, and circuit protectors, as well as IT solutions such as cloud computing and data analytics software. These are used by their clients in the automotive, transportation, security, and communication sectors. Avnet, Inc. operates in over 140 countries across North America, Asia, and Europe, and has several subsidiaries including Hackster.io, Dragon Innovation, and EBV Elektronik.
Renesas Electronics Corporation was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Renesas is a global research, design, and manufacturer of semiconductors used in industries spanning automotive, consumer electronics, the internet of things, power & energy, and industrial sectors. Renesas manufactures both analog and digital products. Analog products include amplifiers, audio & video devices, data converters, PLC, and switches & multiplexers. Digital products include microcontrollers, memory components, sensors, wireless connectivity products, and others. Renesas also offers design resources such as kits, development tools, partner programs, and design tools.
Texas Instruments Incorporated was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Texas Instruments is a producer of high tech equipment for industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communications equipment industries. Texas Instruments designs, manufactures, and sells semiconductors to electronics designers and manufacturers in the United States and internationally. Texas Instruments operates in two segments: analog and embedded processing. The Analog segment offers power products, including battery-management solutions, DC/DC switching regulators, power switches, linear regulators, voltage references, and lighting products. The Embedded Processing segment offers microcontrollers that are used in fields such as electronic equipment and digital signal processors for mathematical computations.
Shenzhen LONGSON Century Technology Co. Ltd., established in 2007 and based in Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen City, China, is a distributor of electronic components and related products in Asia. The company carries a wide range of products, including CPU monitors, embedded microprocessor systems, DSP signal processors, moldule converters, and radio-frequency and microwave communication circuits. It also provides semiconductors, sensors, connectors, converters, and LED display controllers, among others. The company serves the lighting, mobile, communications, industry, and consumer markets.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renesas Electronics Corporation. |
17.1%
|
| 2 | Maxim Integrated |
13.2%
|
| 3 | ELECTRONICS-LAB .com |
10.5%
|
| 4 | Avnet, Inc. |
10.5%
|
| 5 | Texas Instruments |
10.5%
|
| 6 | Analog Devices, Inc. |
10.5%
|
| 7 | Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH |
7.9%
|
| 8 | Microchip Technology Inc. |
7.9%
|
| 9 | Shenzhen LONGSON Century Technology Co.,Ltd |
6.6%
|
| 10 | Chicago Electronic Distributors |
5.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the programmable-gain amplifier page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
4 | 57.1% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 14.3% |
Germany
|
1 | 14.3% |
|
China
|
1 | 14.3% |
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