Triquint Semiconductor Corporation

M/a -Com, Inc.

Christopher C Souchuns

Joel Lee Goodrich

Ping Li

Gregory Henderson

Li Liu

A multi-stage amplifier is coupled with a power detector. The multi-stage amplifier includes a plurality of amplifier stages in series, with a signal path extending through them. The power detector is coupled to an interior node of the amplifier along the signal path, and is operable to sample a first signal being transmitted on the signal path. The power detector outputs a second signal reflective of a power of the first signal. In one embodiment, the interior node is in a matching network of the amplifier disposed between a first amplifier stage and a final amplifier stage of the amplifier. The second signal may be used in a feedback network to adjust an amount of amplification of the first signal by the amplifier.

Wireless communications device including power detector circuit coupled to sample signal at interior node of amplifier

Accurate power detection for a multi-stage amplifier

A mesa-type PIN diode and method for making same are disclosed. A diode made according to the present invention includes a junction formed in the top surface of the mesa-shaped structure, having an area that is less than (and preferrably, approximately half) the area of the top surface. A highly-doped, N-type conducting layer is formed in the side-walls of the mesa-shaped structure. The resulting diode is subject to greatly reduced charge carrier recombination effects and suffers from much less carrier-to-carrier scattering than conventional diodes. Thus, a diode made according to the present invention is capable of achieving much higher stored charge, lower resistance, lower capacitance, better switching characteristics, and lower power consumption than one made according to the prior art. Particular utility is found, inter alia, in the areas of high-frequency microwave and monolithic circuits.

Mesa type PIN diode

Method for making a mesa type PIN diode

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Ashland, MA, United States of America

Christopher C Souchuns