Psemi Corporation

Integrated Device Technology, Inc.

Renesas Electronics America Inc.

Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation

Hojung Ju

Jianhua Lu

Roberto Aparicio Joo

John Zhao

Chun-Cheng Wang

Jason May

An apparatus includes an amplifier and a bias network. The amplifier generally has a predefined linear range. The bias network is generally connected to an input of the amplifier. The bias network generally comprises a linearizer configured to provide gain expansion and extend linearity of the amplifier beyond the predefined linear range.

Power amplifier biasing network providing gain expansion

A limiter having a more ideal limiting function, a short response time, and an adjustable limiting threshold. In one embodiment, a self-activating limiter stack is coupled between circuit ground and a signal line between a source and a receiver. The limiter stack limits the power from the source when the voltage on the signal line exceeds the breakdown voltage of the limiter stack. The threshold of the limiter stack is controlled in part by a first control voltage applied to a control input. A rectifying power detector circuit connected between a node on the signal line and the control input of the limiter stack provides a second control voltage as a function of the signal power at the node. The combined first and second control voltages are applied to the control input to modulate the ON resistance of the limiter stack, thereby limiting the leakage power reaching the protected receiver.

Adjustable power limiter with integrated power detector

An apparatus comprises a first RF port, a second RF port, a first resonator circuit and at least one second resonator circuit. The first resonator circuit and the second resonator circuit may be connected between the first RF port and the second RF port. The first resonator circuit may comprise a first inductor, a first capacitor, and a first stacked switch device. The second resonator circuit may comprise a second inductor, a second capacitor, and a second stacked switch device. The first capacitor and the first stacked switch device may be coupled in series across the first inductor. The second capacitor, the second inductor, and the second stacked switch device may be connected in parallel.

High power silicon on insulator switch

A broadband power limiter having a distributed architecture of multiple segments of self-actuating, adjustable power limiters, where the limiter segments are separated from each other along a signal path by intermediate matching inductors. The intermediate matching inductors are chosen to form, in combination with the capacitances of the limiter segments, an impedance matched, low-loss, broadband transmission line. Optionally, limiter segments may be configured with different sizes and stack depths in a 'tapered' architecture, such that different limiter segments have different power limiting response times and power handling capabilities. As each limiter segment initiates its power limiting action, power is reflected back toward the signal line, helping to trigger the power limiting action of the remaining limiter segments. Optionally, a power detector circuit may provide a more ideal limiting function by modulating the threshold power point of the limiter segments as a function of the transient signal voltage.

Broadband power limiter

A capacitance discharge limiter in which a DC transition protection circuit is provided in a circuit that includes a discharge circuit (which may be a power limiter) between a source and a receiver, with a capacitor situated between the source and the discharge circuit. The DC transition protection circuit is coupled to a reference voltage and to the control voltage input of the discharge circuit, and also between the capacitor and the discharge circuit at a node. The DC transition protection circuit detects the existence of an excess DC or low frequency (typically less than about 1 MHz) voltage potential at the node caused by charge on the capacitor, and regulates the control voltage so as to enable the discharge circuit to discharge the capacitor to protect the receiver.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Hojung Ju