Highest efficiency, linear X-band performance using InP DHBTs - 48% PAE at 30 dB C/IM3

Author

Kehias, L. ; Jenkins, T. ; Quach, T. ; Watson, P. ; Welch, R. ; Worley, R. ; Oki, A.K. ; Yen, H.C. ; Gutierrez-Aitken, A. ; Okamura, W. ; Kaneshiro, E.

Author_Institution

Air Force Res. Lab., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA

Volume

11

Issue

9

fYear

2001

Firstpage

361

Lastpage

363

Abstract

InP single heterojunction bipolar transistors have previously demonstrated 5-10 dB lower third-order intermodulation products (IM3) compared to GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) under low voltage (2 V) operation. This paper reports excellent single-tone and two-tone X-band operation, including high two-tone power-added efficiency (PAE), on linear InP double heterojunction bipolar transistors (DHBTs) operated at V/sub ce/=4 V. The InP DHBT demonstrated a 30 dB carrier to third-order intermodulation product (C/IM3) output power ratio simultaneously with 48% two-tone PAE. This is the highest known efficiency of an X-band device under linear (30 dB C/IM3) operation. This is especially significant for microwave power amplifiers for satellite communication transmitters, where lower intermodulation distortion is normally accomplished by backing off in RF drive and output power, thus sacrificing PAE performance.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; heterojunction bipolar transistors; indium compounds; intermodulation; low-power electronics; microwave bipolar transistors; microwave power transistors; power bipolar transistors; 4 V; 48 percent; InP; InP double heterojunction bipolar transistor; linear X-band operation; low-voltage operation; microwave power amplifier; output power ratio; power-added efficiency; satellite communication transmitter; single-tone operation; third-order intermodulation product; two-tone operation; Double heterojunction bipolar transistors; Gallium arsenide; Heterojunction bipolar transistors; Indium phosphide; Low voltage; Microwave amplifiers; Microwave devices; Power amplifiers; Power generation; Radiofrequency amplifiers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1531-1309

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/7260.950761

Filename

950761