Driver amplifier with asymmetrical T-coil matching network

• US 9,130,535 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Saihua
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Patricia T
• Application Number:
  US13/722,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 330/302, 330/195, 330/197
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/223 with MOSFET's
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/565 using inductive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/378 A variable capacitor being added in the output circuit, e.g. collector, drain, of an amplifier stage
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/191 Tuned amplifiers H03F3/193, H03F3/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/193 with field-effect devices H03F3/195 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/38 Impedance-matching networks

Abstract

A driver amplifier with asymmetrical T-coil matching network is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a first inductor configured to receive an input signal at an input terminal and to provide an output signal at an output terminal that is matched to a resistive load. The apparatus also includes a second inductor connected to the first inductor and coupled to the first inductor by a coupling coefficient, the second inductor having a first terminal connected to a supply voltage.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first inductor configured to receive an input signal at an input terminal and to provide an output signal at an output terminal that is matched to a resistive load; and

a second inductor connected to the first inductor and coupled to the first inductor by a coupling coefficient, the second inductor having a first terminal directly connected to a supply voltage, the first inductor and the second inductor configured to have winding configurations generating the coupling coefficient, and the input terminal configured to receive the input signal from an amplifier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the second inductor connected to the first inductor at the input terminal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the first inductor and the second inductor having different inductance values.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, the first inductor and the second inductor forming an asymmetric T-coil.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, the first inductor and the second inductor configured to have the winding configurations so that the coupling coefficient has a positive or a negative value.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the amplifier comprising a driver amplifier core.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the resistive load is determined from an amplifier input.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, the second inductor connected to the first inductor at the output terminal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, the first inductor and the second inductor having different inductance values.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, the first inductor and the second inductor forming an asymmetric T-coil.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, the first inductor and the second inductor configured to have the winding configurations so that the coupling coefficient has a positive or a negative value.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, the input terminal configured to receive the input signal from an amplifier.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the amplifier comprising a driver amplifier core.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, the resistive load is determined from an amplifier input.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

means for providing a first inductance configured to receive an input signal at an input terminal and to provide an output signal at an output terminal that is matched to a resistive load; and

means for providing a second inductance connected to the means for providing the first inductance and coupled to the means for providing the first inductance by a coupling coefficient, the means for providing a second inductance having a first terminal directly connected to a supply voltage, the means for providing the first inductance and the means for providing the second inductance configured to have winding configurations generating the coupling coefficient, and the input terminal configured to receive the input signal from an amplifier.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, the mean for providing a second inductance connected to the means for providing a first inductance at the input terminal.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, the means for providing a first inductance and the means for providing a second inductance forming an asymmetric T-coil.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, the mean for providing a second inductance connected to the means for providing a first inductance at the output terminal.

19. A method, comprising:

configuring a matching circuit to match an amplifier to a resistive load;

performing a first conversion to convert the matching circuit to an inductor equivalent circuit; and

performing a second conversion to convert the inductor equivalent circuit to an asymmetric T-coil comprising first and second inductor portions coupled together by a coupling coefficient, the first inductor portion configured to receive an input signal and having an input terminal connected to the amplifier and an output terminal connected to the resistive load, the second inductor portion connected to the first inductor portion and includes a first terminal directly connected to a supply voltage, the first inductor portion and the second inductor portion configured to have winding configurations generating the coupling coefficient, and the input terminal configured to receive the input signal from the amplifier.