Renesas Technology America, Inc.

Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics U.s.a., Inc.

Glen C Metheny

Bernard Dov Geller

Daniel Shaw

A method and system are described for monitoring a deliverable radio frequency (RF) power of an amplifier operable on a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC). According to an exemplary embodiment, circuitry is configured to capture, on the MMIC, a first portion of an RF signal transmitted from the amplifier to a load, and a second portion of the RF signal reflected from the load back to the amplifier. Circuitry is also configured to generate, on the MMIC, a first signal proportional to an RF power of the first portion of the RF signal, and a second signal proportional to an RF power of the second portion of the RF signal. Additional circuitry is configured to subtract a first reference signal from the first signal to produce a third signal, and a second reference signal from the second signal to produce a fourth signal. Finally, circuitry is configured to subtract the fourth signal from the third signal to produce an output signal proportional to the deliverable RF power of the amplifier to the load.

Method and system for monitoring a deliverable radio frequency power of an amplifier operable on a monolithic microwave integrated circuit

A system for impedance matched switching of an input signal from an input source includes a first switch, such as an FET, for controllably switching the input signal from an input terminal connected to the input source to an output terminal, the switching being controlled according to a control voltage. The system further includes a second switch, such as an FET, for controllably switching a matching impedance between the input terminal and ground according to the control voltage. When the input signal is prevented from passing from the input terminal to the output terminal by the first switch, the input signal passes through the matching impedance, which has an impedance characteristic substantially matched to an impedance characteristic of the input source.

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Glen C Metheny