Sige Semiconductor, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Phillip Antognetti

David R Helms

Michael Joseph McPartlin

Mark M Doherty

John D Gillis

Xiangdong Zhang

Joshua C Park

James M Moniz

Scott Munro

Carl Stuebing

Jim Griffiths

Prior art architectures of power amplifiers employ a substantial die area, and utilize multiple integrated circuit technologies with a net higher manufacturing cost and large associated packaging area. A new scheme is presented wherein several sense and control signals are used to provide fine and gross control over the key figures of merit associated with integrated semiconductor power amplifiers. How and where these sense and control signals are used is crucial to achieving the most manufacturable and most economic integrated amplifier. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a Dual Feedback-Low power regulation circuit for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a current source feedback circuit having low RF output signal power regulation for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided. In accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, a detector circuit in the form of an integrated logarithmic current detector circuit in conjunction with a three stage power amplifier integrated circuit. The three embodiments of the invention advantageously overcome the limitations of the prior art.

Integrated power amplifier circuit

A bias network for a radio frequency signal power amplifier. A current source is connected to a source of band gap voltage and produces a current proportional to the voltage. A reference voltage circuit receives the current and produces a voltage which is proportional to the current, as well as changes in temperature. An operational amplifier is used to connect the reference voltage to the power amplifier, so that the power amplifier is effectively isolated from the reference voltage circuit and current bearer circuit. A power amplifier breakdown protection circuit is connected across the output of the operational amplifier for diverting avalanche current produced form the power amplifier away from the power amplifier when the power amplifier output is mismatched through the antenna. Baseband signal transmission from the power amplifier to the bias network circuit is also significantly reduced, thus avoiding the generation of spurious radiation components.

Active bias network circuit for radio frequency amplifier

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Chelmsford, MA, United States of America

Phillip Antognetti