Wideband power efficient high transmission power radio frequency (RF) transmitter

US8417200B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Broadcom Corporation · US

Inventors

• Ray (Ramon) Gomez · La Quinta, US
• Leonard Dauphinee · Irvine, US
• Massimo Brandolini · Irvine, US
• Jianhong Xiao · Irvine, US
• Dongsoo Daniel Koh · Irvine, US
• Young Joon Shin · Irvine, US
• Chonghua Zhong · Irvine, US
• Rezaur Rahman Khan · Rancho Santa Margarita, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 30, 2011
• Grant date: Apr 9, 2013
• Expiry date: Sep 30, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01L2924/15311
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments provide transmitter topologies that improve the power efficiency and bandwidth of RF transmitters for high transmission power applications. In an embodiment, the common-emitter/source PA of conventional topologies is replaced with a current-input common-base/gate PA, which is stacked on top on an open-collector/drain current-output transmitter. The common-base/gate PA protects the output of the transmitter from large output voltage swings. The low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA makes the PA less susceptible to frequency roll-off, even in the presence of large parasitic capacitance produced by the transmitter. At the same time, the low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA reduces the voltage swing at the transmitter output and prevents the transmitter output from being compressed or modulated. In an embodiment, the DC output current of the transmitter is reused to bias the PA, which results in power savings compared to conventional transmitter topologies.