Split driver stages for a switching mode power amplifier with multipairs of power stages

Abstract

In this study, we analyze the effects of a power splitter on the output power and the power consumption of a CMOS power amplifier using a distributed active transformer as an output balun. On the basis of the analyzed results, we propose a split driver stage structure to mitigate the undesired effects of the conventional power splitter. In the proposed structure, the power splitter is located between the first and second driver stages to isolate the input node of the power stage from the parasitic components of the power splitter. To verify the feasibility of the proposed structure, we designed conventional and proposed 1.9‐GHz CMOS power amplifiers using 0.11‐µm RF CMOS technology. The measured efficiency and output power of the proposed amplifier are improved compared to those of the conventional amplifier. From the measured results, we successfully verify the feasibility of the proposed split driver stage structure. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2341–2345, 2014

A CMOS power amplifier using a split cascode structure to enhance its efficiency

“…From the measured results, we successfully verify the feasibility of the proposed split cascode structure for RF CMOS power amplifier applications. One of the key components of wireless communications system is the power amplifier [1][2][3][4][5]. In particular, the linearity of the power amplifier becomes increasingly important to guarantee the high data rate of the sophisticated modern wireless communication systems [1][2][3].…”

“…There has been tremendous growth in unlicensed national information infrastructure (U-NII) radio band applications, including WLAN (2.4 and 5 GHz), WiMAX (3.5 GHz), and also satellite network applications [1][2][3]. A microwave filter is an essential component in modern communication system; it usually requires compact size, low in-band insertion loss, and high out-of-band rejection skirts [4,5]. Planer microstrip bandpass filters (BPFs) have been attracting much attention among the different types of microwave filters because of their inherent light weight, low cost, and easy fabrication [6].…”

“…One of the key components of wireless communications system is the power amplifier . In particular, the linearity of the power amplifier becomes increasingly important to guarantee the high data rate of the sophisticated modern wireless communication systems .…”

A Cmos Power Amplifier Using an Asymmetrical Input Transformer to Enhance the Gain for Ieee 802.11N Wlan Applications

“…However, because most power amplifiers essential in RF systems are designed using the HBT process for mobile and sensor applications, these power amplifiers cannot be integrated with other RF ICs or with analog or digital ICs. More recently, many studies related to CMOS power amplifiers have been conducted with fully integrated RF systems in an effort to reduce the unit cost of production [6][7][8][9][10]. Although low breakdown voltages and nonlinear characteristics of CMOS devices have been regarded as obstacles in the designs of power amplifiers using the CMOS process, many useful techniques which can be used to overcome the problems associated with CMOS power amplifiers have been introduced and published [11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

A CMOS power amplifier using split input and output transformers to minimize its chip area

“…With rapid development of wireless communications for the Internet of Things (IoT), RF integrated circuits (ICs) with compact chip size have become essential to reduce the unit cost of production . To realize compact chip area, a power amplifier should be designed using a CMOS process by which the analog and digital circuits are integrated . Figure shows a simple block diagram for a differential CMOS power amplifier with input and output transformers as the baluns .…”