Abstract: A level shifter, configured to shift an input voltage swing from a first voltage range to a second voltage range, comprising a first stage and a switching stage, with circuitry configured in isolation wells. The first stage includes a first stage input receiving an input signal that swings between a first voltage value and a second voltage, a buffer configured to shift the input signal to vary between a third value and a fourth value, and a first stage output configured to present a first stage output signal. The switching stage comprises switching stage inputs, configured to receive the first stage output signal, switch drivers, and switching devices configured to, responsive to the driver output, generate a switching stage output signal that is a shifted version of the input signal. The switching stage output signal ranges between a fifth voltage value and a sixth voltage value.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical device includes a first facet bounding a first end of the semiconductor optical device. The semiconductor optical device further includes a waveguide having a first end proximate the first facet, the first end of the waveguide being tapered towards the first facet. The first facet has a curvature to increase modal reflectivity at a first interface at which the first end of the waveguide meets the first facet.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided that include a Group III nitride-based semiconductor layer structure. A first metal layer is formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor layer structure, a first dielectric layer is formed on an upper surface of the first metal layer, and a second metal layer is formed on an upper surface of the first dielectric layer. The first metal layer, the first dielectric layer and the second metal layer form a first capacitor. A second dielectric layer is formed on an upper surface of the second metal layer, a third dielectric layer is formed on an upper surface of the second dielectric layer, and a third metal layer is formed on upper surfaces of the second and third dielectric layers. The second metal layer, the second dielectric layer and the third metal layer form a second capacitor that is stacked on the first capacitor.

Abstract: A phase interpolator with a DAC outputting a first and second value responsive to a control code. A first current mirror generates a first current proportional to the first value. A second current mirror generates a second current proportional to the second value. A first FET pair comprising a first and second FET such that the source terminals of the first FET and the second FET are electrically connected and connect to the first current mirror. A second FET pair comprising a third and fourth FET such that the source terminals of the third FET and the fourth FET are electrically connected and connect to the second current mirror. A first terminal outputs a phase adjusted clock signal as compared to the clock signal, from the first FET and the third FET. A second terminal outputs an inverted phase adjusted clock signal, from the second FET and the fourth FET.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor component that includes a substrate, where the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor component is configured to form a first capacitor with a top metal and a first bottom metal having a dielectric layer therebetween; and where the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor component is configured to form a second capacitor with the top metal and a second bottom metal having the dielectric layer therebetween. Additionally, the top metal, the dielectric layer, the first bottom metal, and the second bottom metal are arranged on the substrate.

Abstract: A coupling system in an integrated circuit to block DC components from an amplifier without large costly external coupling capacitors. An input receives an input signal which has a DC component. A first impedance element receives the input signal and blocks the DC component while a second impedance element connects between the output of the first impedance matching element and a ground node. The second impedance element and the first impedance element form a voltage divider network. The first and second impedance element are integrated elements. The amplifier receives the input signal after the DC component is blocked. The first impedance element and the second impedance element may comprise a resistor in series with a capacitor. In a differential pair configuration, an impedance matching element interconnects between a first path and a second path to impedance match the amplifier to a data source.

Abstract: A transistor amplifier includes a semiconductor layer structure comprising first and second major surfaces and a plurality of unit cell transistors on the first major surface that are electrically connected in parallel, each unit cell transistor comprising a gate finger coupled to a gate manifold, a drain finger coupled to a drain manifold, and a source finger. The semiconductor layer structure is free of a via to the source fingers on the second major surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a lead, a board, and an electrically conductive layer on the board. The lead comprises a longitudinal axis and is soldered to the electrically conductive layer. The semiconductor device further comprises a first solder dam edge and a second solder dam edge, each positioned on the lead not more than 10 mils apart from each other along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A power amplifier according to some embodiments includes a submount, a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) die on the submount, the MMIC die including an RF transistor configured to operate at frequencies greater than 26.5 GHz, and an internal decoupling capacitor on the submount and connected to a drain of the RF transistor. The internal decoupling capacitor has a capacitance greater than 2 nF.

Abstract: A configurable optical driver circuit includes an adjustable current source circuit configurable to drive one of a variety of different types of electrical to optical devices, an adjustable back-termination resistance circuit configurable to provide a back-termination resistance to the one of a variety of different electrical to optical devices, and a programmable memory configured to provide configuration information to the adjustable current source circuit and to the adjustable back-termination resistance circuit to configure the adjustable current source circuit and the adjustable back-termination resistance circuit for operation with the one of a variety of different electrical to optical devices.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates optical modulation skew adjustment. Components of an on chip optical device driver system can cooperatively operate to provide modulated driver signals to drive configuration of optical signals. A serializer is configured to receive parallel data signals and forward corresponding serial data signals. A multiplexing component is configured to selectively output an in-phase component and a quadrature component of the serial data signals, including implementing skew adjustments to aspects of a first output signal and a second output signal. An output stage is configured to output signals that modulate an optical signal, including the first output signal and the second output signal. An on chip skew detector is configured to detect a skew difference between the first output signal and the second output signal. A skew calibration component is configured to direct skew adjustment between the first output signal and the second output signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a no-load-modulation power amplifier are described. No-load-modulation power amplifiers can comprise multiple amplifiers connected in parallel to amplify a signal that has been divided into parallel circuit branches. One of the amplifiers can operate as a main amplifier in a first amplification class and the remaining amplifiers can operate as peaking amplifiers in a second amplification class. The main amplifier can see essentially no modulation of its load between the power amplifier's fully-on and fully backed-off states. The power amplifiers can operate in symmetric and asymmetric modes. Improvements in bandwidth and drain efficiency over conventional Doherty amplifiers are obtained. Further improvements can be obtained by combining signals from the amplifiers with hybrid couplers.

Abstract: A communication interface comprising a host with non-linear equalizers configured to perform non-linear equalization. Also part of the interface is a host to optic module channel electrically connecting the host to an optic module and the optic module. The optic module comprises a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes a linear equalizer and an electrical to optical module configured to convert the equalized signal from the driver to an optical signal, and transmit the optical signal over a fiber optic cable, such that the transmitter does not perform non-linear processing. The receiver includes a photodetector, configured to convert the received optic signal to a received electrical signal, and a linear amplifier configured to perform linear amplification on the received electrical signal. A driver sends the amplified received signal over an optic module to host channel, such that the receive does not perform non-linear processing.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a device, such as a GaN or AlGaN device is described. In one example, a method to form the structure includes providing a substrate including gallium nitride material, forming an insulating layer over a surface of the substrate, forming an opening in the insulating layer to expose a surface region of the substrate, depositing a barrier metal layer over the insulating layer and onto the surface region of the substrate through the opening, and depositing a conducting metal layer over the barrier metal layer. In one case, the barrier metal layer includes a layer of tungsten nitride. The layer of tungsten nitride is deposited over the insulating layer and onto the surface region of the substrate using atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: A dc coupled amplifier includes a pre-driver, and amplifier and a bias control circuit. The pre-driver is configured to receive one or more input signals and amplify the one or more input signals to create one or more pre-amplified signals. The amplifier has cascode configured transistors configured to receive and amplify the one or more pre-amplified signals to create one or more amplified signals, the amplifier further having an output driver termination element. The bias control circuit is connected between the pre-driver and the amplifier, the bias control circuit receiving at least one bias current from the output driver termination element of the amplifier, wherein the pre-driver, the amplifier and the bias control circuit are all formed on a same die.

Abstract: An amplifier package includes a plurality of input leads, a plurality of transistor amplifiers having inputs respectively coupled to one of the plurality of input leads, and a quadrature hybrid coupler within the amplifier package and coupled between the plurality of input leads and the plurality of transistor amplifiers, wherein the quadrature hybrid coupler is configured to divide an input signal received from a first of the plurality of input leads between the plurality of transistor amplifiers.

Abstract: Various aspects of integrated amplifiers, layouts for the integrated amplifiers, and packaged arrangements of the amplifiers are described. In one example, an amplifier includes an amplifier cell, and a biasing network coupled to the common gate transistor in the amplifier cell. The amplifier cell includes a common source transistor and a common gate transistor in a cascode arrangement, where at least one of the common source transistor and the common gate transistor comprises a field plate. Among other advantages, the amplifiers described herein can be biased with relatively high voltages and still operate like a single a common source transistor, without sacrificing reliability, performance, or requiring additional off-chip components, such as biasing networks of resistors and inductors.

Abstract: RF transistor amplifiers include a Group III nitride-based RF transistor amplifier die that includes a semiconductor layer structure, a conductive source via that is connected to a source region of the Group III nitride-based RF transistor amplifier die, the conductive source via extending through the semiconductor layer structure, and an additional conductive via that extends through the semiconductor layer structure. A first end of the additional conductive via is connected to a first external circuit and a second end of the additional conductive via that is opposite the first end is connected to a first matching circuit.

Abstract: Various aspects provide for error detection and compensation for a multiplexing transmitter. For example, a system can include an error detector circuit and a duty cycle correction circuit. The error detector circuit is configured to measure duty cycle error for a clock associated with a transmitter to generate error detector output based on a clock pattern for output generated by the transmitter in response to a defined bit pattern. The duty cycle correction circuit is configured to adjust the clock associated with the transmitter based on the error detector output. Additionally or alternatively, the error detector circuit is configured to measure quadrature error between an in-phase clock and a quadrature clock in response to the defined bit pattern. Additionally or alternatively, the system can include a quadrature error correction circuit configured to adjust phase shift between the in-phase clock and the quadrature clock based on quadrature error.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) transistor amplifier includes a package submount. a package frame comprising an electrically insulating member and one or more conductive layers on the package submount and exposing a surface thereof, a transistor die on the surface of the package submount and comprising respective terminals that are electrically connected to the package frame, a protective member covering the transistor die, and one or more electrical components that are attached to the package frame outside the protective member. Related RF power device packages and fabrication methods are also discussed.