Power amplifier with an output matching network

• US 7,602,240 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Gao, Huai, Zhang, Haitao, Li, Guann-Pyng
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOE, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US11/911,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20080180178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 330/98, 330/150, 330/302, 330/310
• US Class Current: 330/98
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/565 using inductive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/111 the amplifier being a dual or triple band amplifier, e.g. 900 and 1800 MHz, e.g. switched or not switched, simultaneously or not
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/225 the input circuit of an amplifying stage comprising an LC-network
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/318 A matching circuit being used as coupling element between two amplifying stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/36 the amplifier comprising means for increasing the bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/391 the output circuit of an amplifying stage comprising an LC-network
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/191 Tuned amplifiers H03F3/193, H03F3/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/195 in integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/602 Combinations of several amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/38 Impedance-matching networks

Abstract

Provided herein is a power amplifier having a multiple stage power amplifier section and an output matching network section. The multiple stage power amplifier section can include multiple power amplifier stages with interstage matching circuits located therebetween. The output matching network can be configured to match the multiple stage power amplifier section at multiple different frequencies or frequency bands. The power amplifier device is capable of selective operation within one of multiple different frequencies or frequency bands.

Claims

1. A power amplifier device configured for broadband operation, comprising:

(a) a multiple stage power amplifier section comprising an input stage coupled with one or more subsequent stages, wherein one of the one or more subsequent stages being an output stage, and wherein the input stage and the one or more subsequent stages amplify an input signal to form an output signal, the input stage comprising;

(i) a transistor having a base node, a collector node and an emitter node;

(ii) a first feedback path coupled with the emitter node;

(iii) a second feedback path coupled between the base node and the collector node, the second feedback path comprising a resistive element and a capacitive element; and

(iv) an input node coupled with the base node, the input node for receiving an input signal to the multiple stage power amplifier, wherein the collector node is coupled with a subsequent stage of the power amplifier; and

(b) an output matching network section coupled with the output stage of the power amplifier, wherein the one or more subsequent stages comprises a first subsequent stage coupled to the input stage, and a second subsequent stage coupled to the first subsequent stage, wherein the second subsequent stage is the output stage.

2. The power amplifier device of claim 1, wherein the input stage is coupled directly to the output stage.

3. The power amplifier device of claim 1, wherein the first feedback path comprises an inductive element.

4. The power amplifier device of claim 1, wherein the first feedback path comprises a capacitive element in parallel with a resistive element.

5. The power amplifier device of claim 4, wherein the first feedback path comprises:

(a) an interdigital capacitor comprising;

(i) a first plate having an upper portion and a lower portion; and

(ii) a second plate located between the upper portion and lower portion of the first plate.

7. The power amplifier device of claim 1, wherein the collector node is coupled to a power supply by way of an inductive element and a resistive load element.

10. The power amplifier device of claim 1, wherein the output matching network section is configured as one of a low pass filter or a high pass filter.

11. The power amplifier device of claim 1, configured for selective operation at one frequency range out of a plurality of frequency ranges.

6. A power amplifier device configured for broadband operation, comprising:

(a) a multiple stage power amplifier section comprising an input stage coupled with one or more subsequent stages, wherein one of the one or more subsequent stages being an output stage, the input stage comprising;

(i) a transistor having a base node, a collector node and an emitter node;

(ii) a first feedback path coupled with the emitter node, wherein the first feedback path comprises;

(1) a capacitive element in parallel with a resistive element;

(2) an interdigital capacitor comprising;

(A) a first plate having an upper portion and a lower portion; and

(B) a second plate located between the upper portion and lower portion of the first plate, wherein the lower portion of the first plate is located in a first conductive layer of the power amplifier device, the second plate is located in a second conductive layer of the power amplifier device overlying the first conductive layer, and the upper portion of the first plate is located in a third conductive layer of the power amplifier device overlying the second conductive layer;

(iii) a second feedback path coupled between the base node and the collector node, the second feedback path comprising a resistive element and a capacitive element; and

(iv) an input node coupled with the base node, the input node for receiving an input signal to the multiple stage power amplifier, wherein the collector node is coupled with a subsequent stage of the power amplifier; and

(b) an output matching network section coupled with the output stage of the power amplifier.

8. A power amplifier device configured for broadband operation, comprising:

(a) a multiple stage power amplifier section comprising an input stage coupled with one or more subsequent stages, wherein one of the one or more subsequent stages being an output stage, and wherein the input stage and the one or more subsequent stages amplify an input signal to form an output signal, the input stage comprising;

i) a transistor having a base node, a collector node and an emitter node;

(ii) a first feedback path coupled with the emitter node;

(iii) a second feedback path coupled between the base node and the collector node, the second feedback path comprising a resistive element and a capacitive element; and

(iv) an input node coupled with the base node, the input node for receiving an input signal to the multiple stage power amplifier, wherein the collector node is coupled with a subsequent stage of the power amplifier;

(b) an output matching network section coupled with the output stage of the power amplifier; and

(c)an interstage matching circuit coupled between at least two adjacent stages of the multiple stage power amplifier section, wherein the matching circuits have frequency responses configured to complement that of the input stage or the one or more subsequent stages.

9. The power amplifier device of claim 8, wherein the interstage matching circuit is configured as one of a low pass filter or a high pass filter.

12. A power amplifier device configured for broadband operation, wherein the power amplifier is configured for selective operation at one frequency range out of a plurality of frequency ranges, comprising:

(a) a multiple stage power amplifier section comprising an input stage coupled with one or more subsequent stages, wherein one of the one or more subsequent stages being an output stage, the input stage comprising;

(i) a transistor having a base node, a collector node and an emitter node;

(ii) a first feedback path coupled with the emitter node;

(iii) a second feedback path coupled between the base node and the collector node, the second feedback path comprising a resistive element and a capacitive element; and

(iv) an input node coupled with the base node, the input node for receiving an input signal to the multiple stage power amplifier, wherein the collector node is coupled with a subsequent stage of the power amplifier; and

(b) an output matching network section coupled with the output stage of the power amplifier, wherein the output matching network section comprises a control input configured to receive a frequency range selection signal.

13. The power amplifier device of claim 12, wherein the control input is coupled to a switch controllable by the frequency range selection signal.

14. The power amplifier device of claim 13, wherein the switch is a PIN diode.