Bias control for stacked transistor configuration
First Claim
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1. A circuital arrangement comprising:
- i) an amplifier comprising;
stacked transistors having a plurality of bias terminals comprising a plurality of gate terminals of the stacked transistors and a drain terminal of an output transistor of the stacked transistors;
an input port operatively connected to an input transistor of the stacked transistors;
an output port operatively connected to the drain terminal of the output transistor; and
a reference terminal operatively coupling the input transistor to a reference potential,wherein;
the stacked transistors comprise two subsets of transistors operatively arranged in series, a first subset comprising the input transistor operatively connected between the reference potential at the reference terminal and a second subset, the second subset comprising one or more transistors operatively connected in series with each other, at least one transistor of the one or more transistors being the output transistor, the second subset operatively connected between the first subset and a variable output supply bias voltage or current provided to the output transistor, the variable output supply bias voltage or current being based on an envelope signal of an RF signal at the input port; and
ii) a gate bias circuit,wherein;
the gate bias circuit is configured to operatively provide at a gate terminal of each transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset a dynamic bias voltage which is a gate DC offset voltage above a voltage at a source terminal of the each transistor, the gate DC offset voltage being based on a gate-to-source voltage of the each transistor, and the voltage at the source terminal of the each transistor being based on a distribution of a voltage at the drain terminal of the output transistor across the stacked transistors.
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Abstract
Various methods and circuital arrangements for biasing one or more gates of stacked transistors of an amplifier are presented, where the amplifier can be an envelope tracking amplifier. Circuital arrangements to generate reference gate-to-source voltages for biasing of the gates of the transistors of the stack are also presented. Particular biasing for a case of an input transistor of the stack is also presented.
96 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A circuital arrangement comprising:
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i) an amplifier comprising; stacked transistors having a plurality of bias terminals comprising a plurality of gate terminals of the stacked transistors and a drain terminal of an output transistor of the stacked transistors; an input port operatively connected to an input transistor of the stacked transistors; an output port operatively connected to the drain terminal of the output transistor; and a reference terminal operatively coupling the input transistor to a reference potential, wherein; the stacked transistors comprise two subsets of transistors operatively arranged in series, a first subset comprising the input transistor operatively connected between the reference potential at the reference terminal and a second subset, the second subset comprising one or more transistors operatively connected in series with each other, at least one transistor of the one or more transistors being the output transistor, the second subset operatively connected between the first subset and a variable output supply bias voltage or current provided to the output transistor, the variable output supply bias voltage or current being based on an envelope signal of an RF signal at the input port; and ii) a gate bias circuit, wherein; the gate bias circuit is configured to operatively provide at a gate terminal of each transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset a dynamic bias voltage which is a gate DC offset voltage above a voltage at a source terminal of the each transistor, the gate DC offset voltage being based on a gate-to-source voltage of the each transistor, and the voltage at the source terminal of the each transistor being based on a distribution of a voltage at the drain terminal of the output transistor across the stacked transistors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A circuital arrangement comprising:
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i) an amplifier comprising; stacked transistors having a plurality of bias terminals comprising a plurality of gate terminals of the stacked transistors and a drain terminal of an output transistor of the stacked transistors; an input port operatively connected to an input transistor of the stacked transistors; an output port operatively connected to the drain terminal of the output transistor; and a reference terminal operatively coupling the input transistor to a reference potential, wherein; the stacked transistors comprise two subsets of transistors operatively arranged in series, a first subset comprising the input transistor operatively connected between the reference potential at the reference terminal and a second subset, the second subset comprising one or more transistors operatively connected in series with each other, at least one transistor of the one or more transistors being the output transistor, the second subset operatively connected between the first subset and a variable output supply bias voltage or current provided to the output transistor; and ii) a gate bias circuit configured to operatively provide at a gate terminal of each transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset a dynamic bias voltage which is a gate DC offset voltage above a voltage at a source terminal of the each transistor, the gate DC offset voltage being based on a gate-to-source voltage of the each transistor, and the voltage at the source terminal of the each transistor being based on a distribution of a voltage at the drain terminal of the output transistor across the stacked transistors, the gate bias circuit comprising; a resistor voltage divider operatively coupled between the variable output supply bias voltage or current and the reference potential, wherein nodes of the resistor voltage divider are coupled to the gate terminal of the each transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset; and one or more current sources operatively coupled to one or more nodes of the resistor voltage divider, wherein; the resistor voltage divider provides voltages at the gate terminals of the each transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset which are based on the distribution of the voltage at the drain terminal of the output transistor, and the one or more current sources provide the gate DC offset voltage at the gate terminal of the each transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A circuital arrangement comprising:
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i) an amplifier comprising; stacked transistors having a plurality of bias terminals comprising a plurality of gate terminals of the stacked transistors and a drain terminal of an output transistor of the stacked transistors; an input port operatively connected to an input transistor of the stacked transistors; an output port operatively connected to the drain terminal of the output transistor; and a reference terminal operatively coupling the input transistor to a reference potential, wherein; the stacked transistors comprise two subsets of transistors operatively arranged in series, a first subset comprising the input transistor operatively connected between the reference potential at the reference terminal and a second subset, the second subset comprising one or more transistors operatively connected in series with each other, at least one transistor of the one or more transistors being the output transistor, the second subset operatively connected between the first subset and a variable output supply bias voltage or current provided to the output transistor; and ii) a gate bias circuit configured to operatively provide at a gate terminal of each transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset a dynamic bias voltage which is a gate DC offset voltage above a voltage at a source terminal of the each transistor, the gate DC offset voltage being based on a gate-to-source voltage of the each transistor, and the voltage at the source terminal of the each transistor being based on a distribution of a voltage at the drain terminal of the output transistor across the stacked transistors, wherein the gate bias circuit comprises; a resistor-diode voltage divider coupled between the variable output supply bias voltage or current and the reference potential, wherein nodes of the resistor-diode voltage divider are coupled to the gate terminal of the each transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset, the resistor-diode divider comprising a series connected resistor and diode-connected transistor between any two nodes of the resistor-diode divider. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A circuital arrangement comprising:
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i) an amplifier comprising; stacked transistors having a plurality of bias terminals comprising a plurality of gate terminals of the stacked transistors and a drain terminal of an output transistor of the stacked transistors; an input port operatively connected to an input transistor of the stacked transistors; an output port operatively connected to the drain terminal of the output transistor; and a reference terminal operatively coupling the input transistor to a reference potential, wherein; the stacked transistors comprise two subsets of transistors operatively arranged in series, a first subset comprising the input transistor operatively connected between the reference potential at the reference terminal and a second subset, the second subset comprising one or more transistors operatively connected in series with each other, at least one transistor of the one or more transistors being the output transistor, the second subset operatively connected between the first subset and a variable output supply bias voltage or current provided to the output transistor; and ii) a gate bias circuit configured to operatively provide at a gate terminal of each transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset a dynamic bias voltage which is a gate DC offset voltage above a voltage at a source terminal of the each transistor, the gate DC offset voltage being based on a gate-to-source voltage of the each transistor, and the voltage at the source terminal of the each transistor being based on a distribution of a voltage at the drain terminal of the output transistor across the stacked transistors, wherein the gate bias circuit comprises; stacked voltage regulators coupled in a parallel configuration with a replica circuit of the stacked transistors, wherein; each voltage regulator of the stacked voltage regulators provides a regulated voltage at a source terminal of a transistor of a second subset transistors of the replica circuit, the regulated voltage being based on the distribution of the voltage at the drain terminal of the output transistor, and the replica circuit provides the gate DC offset voltage. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A circuital arrangement comprising:
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i) an amplifier comprising; stacked transistors having a plurality of bias terminals comprising a plurality of gate terminals of the stacked transistors and a drain terminal of an output transistor of the stacked transistors; an input port operatively connected to an input transistor of the stacked transistors; an output port operatively connected to the drain terminal of the output transistor; and a reference terminal operatively coupling the input transistor to a reference potential, wherein; the stacked transistors comprise two subsets of transistors operatively arranged in series, a first subset comprising the input transistor operatively connected between the reference potential at the reference terminal and a second subset, the second subset comprising one or more transistors operatively connected in series with each other, at least one transistor of the one or more transistors being the output transistor, the second subset operatively connected between the first subset and a variable output supply bias voltage or current provided to the output transistor; and ii) a gate bias circuit configured to operatively provide at a gate terminal of each transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset a dynamic bias voltage which is a gate DC offset voltage above a voltage at a source terminal of the each transistor, the gate DC offset voltage being based on a gate-to-source voltage of the each transistor, and the voltage at the source terminal of the each transistor being based on a distribution of a voltage at the drain terminal of the output transistor across the stacked transistors, wherein the gate bias circuit comprises; an input transistor gate bias circuit adapted to provide a gate bias voltage at a gate terminal of the input transistor, wherein the gate bias voltage is configured to produce a fixed bias current through the stacked transistors. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A circuital arrangement comprising:
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i) an amplifier comprising; stacked transistors having a plurality of bias terminals comprising a plurality of gate terminals of the stacked transistors and a drain terminal of an output transistor of the stacked transistors; an input port operatively connected to an input transistor of the stacked transistors; an output port operatively connected to the drain terminal of the output transistor; and a reference terminal operatively coupling the input transistor to a reference potential, wherein; the stacked transistors comprise two subsets of transistors operatively arranged in series, a first subset comprising the input transistor operatively connected between the reference potential at the reference terminal and a second subset, the second subset comprising one or more transistors operatively connected in series with each other, at least one transistor of the one or more transistors being the output transistor, the second subset operatively connected between the first subset and a variable output supply bias voltage or current provided to the output transistor, and the second subset comprises a last transistor operatively connected to the input transistor; and ii) a gate bias circuit, wherein; the gate bias circuit is configured to operatively provide at a gate terminal of a transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset a dynamic bias voltage which is a gate DC offset voltage above a voltage at a source terminal of the transistor, the gate DC offset voltage being based on a gate-to-source voltage of the transistor, and the voltage at the source terminal of the transistor being based on a distribution of a voltage at the drain terminal of the output transistor across the stacked transistors, the gate bias circuit provides a fixed bias voltage at a gate terminal of the last transistor, the fixed bias voltage configured to produce a fixed bias current through the stacked transistors, wherein the fixed bias voltage is provided via an operational amplifier, wherein; a positive input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the fixed bias voltage, a negative input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to a common node connecting the drain terminal of the input transistor and a source terminal of the last transistor, and an output terminal coupled to the gate terminal of the last transistor. - View Dependent Claims (56)
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57. A circuital arrangement comprising:
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i) an amplifier comprising; stacked transistors having a plurality of bias terminals comprising a plurality of gate terminals of the stacked transistors and a drain terminal of an output transistor of the stacked transistors; an input port operatively connected to an input transistor of the stacked transistors; an output port operatively connected to the drain terminal of the output transistor; and a reference terminal operatively coupling the input transistor to a reference potential, wherein; the stacked transistors comprise two subsets of transistors operatively arranged in series, a first subset comprising the input transistor operatively connected between the reference potential at the reference terminal and a second subset, the second subset comprising one or more transistors operatively connected in series with each other, at least one transistor of the one or more transistors being the output transistor, the second subset operatively connected between the first subset and a variable output supply bias voltage or current provided to the output transistor, a first transistor of the stacked transistors is designed for a first performance, and a second transistor of the stacked transistors is designed for a second performance different from the first performance, the first performance and the second performance are provided by a gate length and/or oxide thickness of the first transistor and the second transistor respectively, and the second subset comprises a last transistor operatively connected to the input transistor; and ii) a gate bias circuit, wherein; the gate bias circuit is configured to operatively provide at a gate terminal of a transistor of the one or more transistors of the second subset a dynamic bias voltage which is a gate DC offset voltage above a voltage at a source terminal of the transistor, the gate DC offset voltage being based on a gate-to-source voltage of the transistor, and the voltage at the source terminal of the transistor being based on a distribution of a voltage at the drain terminal of the output transistor across the stacked transistors, and the gate bias circuit provides a fixed bias voltage at a gate terminal of the last transistor. - View Dependent Claims (58)
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59. A method of amplifying a signal in a circuital arrangement, the method comprising:
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providing an amplifier comprising stacked transistors in a cascode configuration; adapting the arrangement to operatively connect a plurality of bias supplies to a plurality of gate terminals of the stacked transistors and to a drain terminal of an output transistor of the stacked transistors; applying an input signal to an input port of the arrangement operatively connected to an input transistor of the stacked transistors; varying the bias supply to the drain terminal of the output transistor; impressing a an amplification on the input signal to obtain an amplified output signal by varying at least one bias supply of the plurality of bias supplies to a gate terminal of a transistor of the stacked transistors; based on the varying the at least one bias supply, providing a voltage at the gate terminal of the transistor which is a gate DC offset voltage above a voltage at a source terminal of the transistor, the gate DC offset voltage being based on a gate-to-source voltage of the transistor, and the voltage at the source terminal of the transistor being based on a distribution of a voltage at the drain terminal of the output transistor across the stacked transistors; providing, via a local feedback arrangement, a bias supply of the plurality of bias supplies to a gate terminal of a transistor of the stacked transistors connected to the input transistor; and based on the providing via the local feedback arrangement, providing a fixed bias current through the stacked transistors, wherein the varying the bias supply to the drain of the output transistor is based on an envelope signal of the input signal applied to the input port of the circuital arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification