Patent · US Active

Stacked amplifier with diode-based biasing

US8847689B2 · kind B2 · utility

25Cited by
15References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 24, 2010
Grant dateSep 30, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 14, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03F3/189
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques for improving linearity of amplifiers are described. In an exemplary design, an amplifier (e.g., a power amplifier) may include a plurality of transistors coupled in a stack and at least one diode. The plurality of transistors may receive and amplify an input signal and provide an output signal. The at least one diode may be operatively coupled to at least one transistor in the stack. Each diode may provide a variable bias voltage to an associated transistor in the stack. Each diode may have a lower voltage drop across the diode at high input power and may provide a higher bias voltage to the associated transistor at high input power. The at least one transistor may have higher gain at high input power due to the higher bias voltage from the at least one diode. The higher gain may improve the linearity of the amplifier.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.