Altera Corporation

Programmable Silicon Solutions

Amalfi Semiconductor Corporation

Clement Szeto

Chong Woo

Ting-Wah Wong

Lawrence M Burns

A power amplifier utilizes cascode arrangements to achieve target performance levels for a power amplifier, such as the type used in wireless communication devices. A negative resistance circuit is provided for the cascode arrangement such that high gain, or oscillation, is promoted during operation of the power amplifier. In one embodiment, the negative resistance circuit includes cross-coupling transistors. Various features are provided in order to reduce the susceptibility of the power amplifier to voltage breakdown while maintaining good performance.

Power amplifier utilizing high breakdown voltage circuit topology

An integrated inductor may be formed over a substrate. An aperture may be formed by a backside etch through the semiconductor substrate underneath the integrated inductor. The aperture may then be filled with a dielectric material. As a result of the removal of the underlying substrate material, magnetic and capacitive coupling of the inductor to the substrate may be reduced. In addition, in some cases, the presence of the dielectric may facilitate attachment of the resulting die to a leadframe and package without degrading the inductor's performance and may provide better structural support.

Integrated inductive circuits

An integrated inductive element may be formed over a substrate. A triple well may be defined in a star-shape, in one embodiment, in the substrate beneath the integrated inductive element in order to reduce eddy current losses arising from magnetic coupling between integrated inductors associated with the same integrated circuit.

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Union City, CA, United States of America

Clement Szeto