Granted Patent B2

US 8,416,024 · App. 13/089,385 · Granted Apr 9, 2013

Abstract

Claims (60)

1. An amplifier, comprising:

an input port and an output port;

first, second, and third gain elements, each having an input terminal and an output terminal;

an input matching network connected between the input port and the input terminals of the first, second, and third gain elements; and

an output matching network connected between the input port and the output terminals of the first, second, and third gain elements,

wherein the input matching network comprises:

a first input capacitor having a first electrode and having a second electrode connected to a supply voltage,

a second input capacitor having a first electrode and having a second electrode connected to the supply voltage,

a first input inductor connected between the input port and the first electrodes of the first and second input capacitors;

a second input inductor connected between the first electrode of the first input capacitor and the input terminal of the first gain element,

a third input inductor connected between the first electrode of the first input capacitor and the input terminal of the second gain element,

a fourth input inductor connected between the first electrode of the second input capacitor and the input terminal of the second gain element, and

a fifth input inductor connected between the first electrode of the second input capacitor and the input terminal of the third gain element, and

wherein the output matching network comprises:

first output capacitor having a first electrode and having a second electrode connected to the supply voltage,

a second output capacitor having a first electrode and having a second electrode connected to the supply voltage,

a first output inductor connected between the output port and the first electrodes of the first and second output capacitors;

a second output inductor connected between the first electrode of the first output capacitor and the output terminal of the first gain element,

a third output inductor connected between the first electrode of the first output capacitor and the input terminal of the second gain element,

a fourth output inductor connected between the first electrode of the second output capacitor and the output terminal of the second gain element, and

a fifth output inductor connected between the first electrode of the second output capacitor and the output terminal of the third gain element.

2. The amplifier of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first tapered connector that connects the first input inductor and the first electrodes of the first and second input capacitors; and

a second tapered connector that connects the first output inductor and the first electrodes of the first and second output capacitors.

3. The amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the second electrodes of the first and second input capacitors comprises a common electrode having a through-hole disposed therein connecting the common electrode to the supply voltage.

4. The amplifier of claim 3 , wherein the supply voltage is ground.

5. The amplifier of claim 3 , wherein the first electrodes of the first and second input capacitors are disposed on opposite sides of the common electrode.

6. The amplifier of claim 5 , wherein the first electrodes of the first and second input capacitors and the common electrode are all disposed in a same surface of a semiconductor substrate

7. The amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the first input inductor comprises a microstrip

8. The amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the second, third, fourth and fifth input inductors all comprise a common microstrip line extending from the input terminal of the first gain element, past the input terminal of the second gain element, to the input terminal of the third gain element.

9. The amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third gain elements are all field effect transistors each having a third terminal connected to ground.

10. The amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the second electrodes of the first and second output capacitors comprises a common electrode having a through-hole disposed therein connecting the common electrode to the supply voltage.

11. The amplifier of claim 10 , wherein the supply voltage is ground.

12. The amplifier of claim 10 , wherein the first electrodes of the first and second output capacitors are disposed on opposite sides of the common electrode.

13. The amplifier of claim 12 , wherein the first electrodes of the first and second output capacitors and the common electrode are all disposed in a same surface of a semiconductor substrate.

14. The amplifier of claim 10 , wherein the first output inductor comprises a microstrip line.

15. The amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the second, third, fourth and fifth output inductors all comprise a common microstrip line extending from the output terminal of the first gain element, past the output terminal of the second gain element, to the output terminal of the third gain element.

16. An amplifier configured to operate at an operating frequency, the amplifier comprising:

an input port and an output port;

first, second, and third gain elements, each having an input terminal and an output terminal;

an input matching network; and

an output matching network,

wherein the input matching network comprises:

a first microstrip line connected to the input port arid being configured to be an input inductor at the operating frequency of the amplifier,

a second microstrip line extending between the input terminals of the first, second and third gain elements, and

a first split shunt capacitor connecting the first microstrip line to the second microstrip line, and

wherein the output matching network comprises:

a third microstrip line connected to the output port and being configured to be an output inductor at the operating frequency of the amplifier,

a fourth microstrip line extending between the output terminals of the first, second and third gain elements, and

a second split shunt capacitor connecting the third microstrip line to the fourth microstrip line.

17. The amplifier of claim 16 , further comprising:

a first tapered connector that connects the first microstrip line to the first split shunt capacitor; and

a second tapered connector that connects the second split shunt capacitor and the third microstrip line.

18. The amplifier of claim 16 , wherein the first and second split shunt capacitors each comprise a common electrode having a through-hole disposed therein connecting the common electrode to a supply voltage, and a pair of electrodes disposed respectively at opposite sides of the common electrode.

19. The amplifier of claim 18 , wherein the second microstrip line is configured to comprise, at the operating frequency:

a second input inductor connected between a first one of the pair of electrodes of the first split shunt capacitor and the input terminal of the first gain element,

a third input inductor connected between the first one of the pair of electrodes of the first split shunt capacitor and the input terminal of the second gain element,

a fourth input inductor connected between the input terminal of the second gain element and a second one of the pair of electrodes of the second split shunt capacitor, and

a fifth input inductor connected between the first electrode of the second one of the pair of electrodes of the second split shunt capacitor and the input terminal of the third gain element.

20. The amplifier of claim 19 , wherein the second, third, fourth, and fifth input inductors all have substantially a same inductance value.

Assignments (8)