Broadband high power amplifier
First Claim
1. A high power amplifier device, comprising:
- a first plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a first string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the first string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the first string;
a second plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a second string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the second string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the second string; and
a combiner for combining output signals of the first and second strings.
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Abstract
A broadband high power amplifier architecture is disclosed. One example configuration includes a first plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a first string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the first string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the first string. The amplifier further includes a second plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a second string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the second string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the second string. A combiner combines output signals of the first and second strings. Additional strings and/or stages can be provided, and the degree of combining will depend, for example, on factors such as the application and desired output power.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A high power amplifier device, comprising:
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a first plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a first string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the first string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the first string; a second plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a second string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the second string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the second string; and a combiner for combining output signals of the first and second strings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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a first plurality of distributed amplification cells operatively coupled in a first string pair, wherein a conductive trace associated with the first string pair is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the first string pair, and wherein the stepped structure associated with the first string pair is a shared output line that combines each cell output of the first string pair to provide a first string pair output; a second plurality of distributed amplification cells operatively coupled in a second string pair, wherein a conductive trace associated with the second string pair is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the second string pair, and wherein the stepped structure associated with the second string pair is a shared output line that combines each cell output of the second string pair to provide a second string pair output; and a combiner for combining the first and second string pair outputs. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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a first plurality of distributed amplification cells operatively coupled in a first string pair, wherein a conductive trace associated with the first string is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the first string pair, and wherein the stepped structure associated with the first string is a shared output line that combines each cell output of the first string pair to provide a first string pair output; a second plurality of distributed amplification cells operatively coupled in a second string pair, wherein a conductive trace associated with the second string pair is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the second string pair, and wherein the stepped structure associated with the second string pair is a shared output line that combines each cell output of the second string pair to provide a second string pair output; a third plurality of distributed amplification cells operatively coupled in a third string pair, wherein a conductive trace associated with the third string pair is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the third string pair, and wherein the stepped structure associated with the third string pair is a shared output line that combines each cell output of the third string pair to provide a third string pair output; a fourth plurality of distributed amplification cells operatively coupled in a fourth string pair, wherein a conductive trace associated with the fourth string pair is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the fourth string pair, and wherein the stepped structure associated with the fourth string pair is a shared output line that combines each cell output of the fourth string pair to provide a fourth string pair output; a first combiner for combining the first and second string pair outputs to provide a first intermediate power output; a second combiner for combining the third and fourth string pair outputs to provide a second intermediate power output; and a third combiner for combining the first and second intermediate power outputs; wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth string pairs comprises transistors, and wherein the stepped structure associated with the first string pair is configured such that voltage input to one cell of the first string pair is within 5% of voltage input to the other cells of the first string pair.
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Specification