The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 10, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 12, 1997
James L Bartlett, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Mau Chung Chang, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
J Aiden Higgins, Westlake Village, CA (US);
Henry O Marcy, 5th, Camarillo, CA (US);
Deepak Mehrotra, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
Kenneth D Pedrotti, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
David R Pehlke, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
Charles W Seabury, Calabasas, CA (US);
J L Tham, Irvine, CA (US);
Jun J Yao, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
Rockwell Science Center, LLC, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
Abstract
An integrated, variable gain microwave frequency power amplifier comprises a number of individual amplifier stages which contain microwave frequency active devices. Each stage is fed with a common input signal, and the individual stage outputs are connected to respective micro-electromechanical (MEM) switches which, when closed, connect the individual outputs together to form the power amplifier's output. The power amplifier's gain is determined by the number of outputs connected together. The preferred switch provides low insertion loss and excellent electrical isolation, enabling a number of amplifier stages to be efficiently interconnected to provide a wide dynamic range power amplifier. The switches are preferably integrated on a common substrate with the active devices, eliminating the need for wire bonds and reducing parasitic capacitances. A variable impedance network comprising a number of impedance matching networks selected using MEM switches can be connected to and integrated with a variable gain power amplifier to provide impedance matching that is appropriate for each of the power amplifier's possible output power levels.