Title :
Distributed active transformer-a new power-combining and impedance-transformation technique
Author :
Aoki, Ichiro ; Kee, Scott D. ; Rutledge, David B. ; Hajimiri, Ali
Author_Institution :
California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA
fDate :
1/1/2002 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
In this paper, we compare the performance of the newly introduced distributed active transformer (DAT) structure to that of conventional on-chip impedance-transformations methods. Their fundamental power-efficiency limitations in the design of high-power fully integrated amplifiers in standard silicon process technologies are analyzed. The DAT is demonstrated to be an efficient impedance-transformation and power-combining method, which combines several low-voltage push-pull amplifiers in series by magnetic coupling. To demonstrate the validity of the new concept, a 2.4-GHz 1.9-W 2-V fully integrated power-amplifier achieving a power-added efficiency of 41% with 50-Ω input and output matching has been fabricated using 0.35-μm CMOS transistors
Keywords :
CMOS analogue integrated circuits; UHF integrated circuits; UHF power amplifiers; active networks; distributed parameter networks; electromagnetic coupling; impedance matching; power combiners; silicon; 0.35 micron; 1.9 W; 2 V; 2.4 GHz; 41 percent; CMOS analog IC; LV push-pull amplifiers; Si process technologies; circular geometry; distributed active transformer structure; double differential harmonic control; efficient impedance-transformation; efficient power-combining method; high-power fully integrated amplifiers; input matching; low-voltage amplifiers; magnetic coupling; on-chip impedance-transformations; output matching; series connection; CMOS process; CMOS technology; Differential amplifiers; High power amplifiers; Impedance matching; MMICs; Microwave transistors; Power amplifiers; Power generation; Silicon on insulator technology;
Journal_Title :
Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on
