Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes an input pad and an output pad separated from the input pad by a predetermined distance. A plurality of capacitors are coupled in series between the input pad and the output pad. The plurality of capacitors are distributed to substantially span the predetermined distance. An inductor is formed from a bond wire, having a first end attached at the first input pad and a second end attached at the output pad. The inductor and plurality of capacitors configured to form a predetermined open circuit resonance.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) chip capacitor circuit and structure are provided. The circuit and structure include a plurality of capacitors connected in series. Each capacitor of the plurality includes a first plate formed from a first metal layer and a second plate formed from a second metal layer. A first two adjacent capacitors of the plurality include first plates formed in a first contiguous portion of the first metal layer or second plates formed in a second contiguous portion of the second metal layer. Each capacitor of the plurality may include a dielectric layer disposed between the first plate and the second plate.

Abstract: An embodiment of a device includes a terminal, an active transistor die electrically coupled to the terminal, a detector configured to sense a signal characteristic on the terminal, and control circuitry electrically coupled to the active transistor die and to the detector, wherein the active transistor die, detector, and control circuitry are coupled to a package. The control circuitry may include a control element and a control device. Based on the signal characteristic, the control circuitry controls which of multiple operating states the device operates. A method for controlling the operating state of the device includes sensing, using the detector, a signal characteristic at the terminal, and determining, using the control device, whether the signal characteristic conforms to a pre-set criteria, and when the signal characteristic does not conform to the pre-set criteria, modifying the state of the control element to alter the operating state of the device.

Abstract: A Doherty amplifier module includes first and second amplifier die. The first amplifier die includes one or more first power transistors configured to amplify, along a first signal path, a first input RF signal to produce an amplified first RF signal. The second amplifier die includes one or more second power transistors configured to amplify, along a second signal path, a second input RF signal to produce an amplified second RF signal. A phase shift and impedance inversion element is coupled between the outputs of the first and second amplifier die. A shunt circuit is coupled to the output of either or both of the first and/or second amplifier die. The shunt circuit includes a series coupled inductance and high-Q capacitor (e.g., a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor), and the shunt circuit is configured to at least partially resonate out the output capacitance of the amplifier die to which it is connected.

Abstract: A Doherty amplifier module includes first and second amplifier die. The first amplifier die includes one or more first power transistors configured to amplify, along a first signal path, a first input RF signal to produce an amplified first RF signal. The second amplifier die includes one or more second power transistors configured to amplify, along a second signal path, a second input RF signal to produce an amplified second RF signal. A phase shift and impedance inversion element is coupled between the outputs of the first and second amplifier die. A shunt inductance circuit is coupled to the output of either or both of the first and/or second amplifier die. Each shunt inductance circuit at least partially resonates out the output capacitance of the amplifier die to which it is connected to enable the electrical length of the phase shift and impedance inversion element to be increased.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes an input pad and an output pad separated from the input pad by a predetermined distance. A plurality of capacitors are coupled in series between the input pad and the output pad. The plurality of capacitors are distributed to substantially span the predetermined distance. An inductor is formed from a bond wire, having a first end attached at the first input pad and a second end attached at the output pad. The inductor and plurality of capacitors configured to form a predetermined open circuit resonance.

Abstract: An embodiment of a device includes a terminal, an active transistor die electrically coupled to the terminal, a detector configured to sense a signal characteristic on the terminal, and control circuitry electrically coupled to the active transistor die and to the detector, wherein the active transistor die, detector, and control circuitry are coupled to a package. The control circuitry may include a control element and a control device. Based on the signal characteristic, the control circuitry controls which of multiple operating states the device operates. A method for controlling the operating state of the device includes sensing, using the detector, a signal characteristic at the terminal, and determining, using the control device, whether the signal characteristic conforms to a pre-set criteria, and when the signal characteristic does not conform to the pre-set criteria, modifying the state of the control element to alter the operating state of the device.

Abstract: An embodiment of a device includes a terminal, an active transistor die electrically coupled to the terminal, a detector configured to sense a signal characteristic on the terminal, and control circuitry electrically coupled to the active transistor die and to the detector, wherein the active transistor die, detector, and control circuitry are coupled to a package. The control circuitry may include a control element and a control device. Based on the signal characteristic, the control circuitry controls which of multiple operating states the device operates. A method for controlling the operating state of the device includes sensing, using the detector, a signal characteristic at the terminal, and determining, using the control device, whether the signal characteristic conforms to a pre-set criteria, and when the signal characteristic does not conform to the pre-set criteria, modifying the state of the control element to alter the operating state of the device.

Abstract: An embodiment of a device includes a terminal, an active transistor die electrically coupled to the terminal, a detector configured to sense a signal characteristic on the terminal, and control circuitry electrically coupled to the active transistor die and to the detector, wherein the active transistor die, detector, and control circuitry are coupled to a package. The control circuitry may include a control element and a control device. Based on the signal characteristic, the control circuitry controls which of multiple operating states the device operates. A method for controlling the operating state of the device includes sensing, using the detector, a signal characteristic at the terminal, and determining, using the control device, whether the signal characteristic conforms to a pre-set criteria, and when the signal characteristic does not conform to the pre-set criteria, modifying the state of the control element to alter the operating state of the device.

Abstract: An embodiment of a packaged radio frequency (RF) amplifier device includes a transistor and an inverse class-F circuit configured to harmonically terminate the device. The transistor has a control terminal and first and second current carrying terminals. The control terminal is coupled to an input lead of the device, and the first current carrying terminal is coupled to a voltage reference. The inverse class-F circuit is coupled between the second current carrying terminal and an output lead. The inverse class-F circuit includes a shunt circuit coupled between a cold point node and the voltage reference, where the cold point node corresponds to a second harmonic frequency cold point for the device. The shunt circuit adds a shunt negative susceptance at a fundamental frequency F0 to the inverse class-F circuit.

Abstract: An embodiment of a device includes a terminal, an active transistor die electrically coupled to the terminal, a detector configured to sense a signal characteristic on the terminal, and control circuitry electrically coupled to the active transistor die and to the detector, wherein the active transistor die, detector, and control circuitry are coupled to a package. The control circuitry may include a control element and a control device. Based on the signal characteristic, the control circuitry controls which of multiple operating states the device operates. A method for controlling the operating state of the device includes sensing, using the detector, a signal characteristic at the terminal, and determining, using the control device, whether the signal characteristic conforms to a pre-set criteria, and when the signal characteristic does not conform to the pre-set criteria, modifying the state of the control element to alter the operating state of the device.

Abstract: An embodiment of a packaged radio frequency (RF) amplifier device includes a transistor and an inverse class-F circuit configured to harmonically terminate the device. The transistor has a control terminal and first and second current carrying terminals. The control terminal is coupled to an input lead of the device, and the first current carrying terminal is coupled to a voltage reference. The inverse class-F circuit is coupled between the second current carrying terminal and an output lead. The inverse class-F circuit includes a shunt circuit coupled between a cold point node and the voltage reference, where the cold point node corresponds to a second harmonic frequency cold point for the device. The shunt circuit adds a shunt negative susceptance at a fundamental frequency F0 to the inverse class-F circuit.

Abstract: An embodiment of a device includes a terminal, an active transistor die electrically coupled to the terminal, a detector configured to sense a signal characteristic on the terminal, and control circuitry electrically coupled to the active transistor die and to the detector, wherein the active transistor die, detector, and control circuitry are coupled to a package. The control circuitry may include a control element and a control device. Based on the signal characteristic, the control circuitry controls which of multiple operating states the device operates. A method for controlling the operating state of the device includes sensing, using the detector, a signal characteristic at the terminal, and determining, using the control device, whether the signal characteristic conforms to a pre-set criteria, and when the signal characteristic does not conform to the pre-set criteria, modifying the state of the control element to alter the operating state of the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a power amplifier module is described. The module includes a power amplifier and a power supply modulator coupled to the power amplifier. In addition, the module includes an inverter coupled between the power amplifier and the power supply modulator. The inverter provides a predistorted signal to the power amplifier to cancel distortion in the power amplifier provided by the power supply modulator. In addition, the module can include a driver coupled between the power amplifier and the inverter wherein the driver supplies the predistorted signal to the power amplifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a power amplifier module is described. The module includes a power amplifier and a power supply modulator coupled to the power amplifier. In addition, the module includes an inverter coupled between the power amplifier and the power supply modulator. The inverter provides a predistorted signal to the power amplifier to cancel distortion in the power amplifier provided by the power supply modulator. In addition, the module can include a driver coupled between the power amplifier and the inverter wherein the driver supplies the predistorted signal to the power amplifier.

Abstract: An amplifier that amplifies an input signal and provides the amplified signal to a load at a summing junction that has a first impedance value. The amplifier includes a splitter network receiving the input signal and providing a phase delayed signal and an undelayed signal; a carrier amplifier path amplifying the phase delayed signal and including a carrier amplifier and a first output match network coupled between the carrier amplifier and the summing node; and a peaking amplifier path amplifying the undelayed signal and including a peaking amplifier, a second output match network coupled to the peaking amplifier, and a phase delay element coupled between the second output match network and the summing node, wherein the phase delay element provides a degree of phase delay and has a designed characteristic impedance value that is larger than the first impedance value for increasing the off-state impedance of the peaking amplifier.

Abstract: An amplifier that amplifies an input signal and provides the amplified signal to a load at a summing junction that has a first impedance value. The amplifier includes a splitter network receiving the input signal and providing a phase delayed signal and an undelayed signal; a carrier amplifier path amplifying the phase delayed signal and including a carrier amplifier and a first output match network coupled between the carrier amplifier and the summing node; and a peaking amplifier path amplifying the undelayed signal and including a peaking amplifier, a second output match network coupled to the peaking amplifier, and a phase delay element coupled between the second output match network and the summing node, wherein the phase delay element provides a degree of phase delay and has a designed characteristic impedance value that is larger than the first impedance value for increasing the off-state impedance of the peaking amplifier.

Abstract: Power amplifier (PA) apparatus that includes: a PA device operating at a fundamental frequency and having a maximum operating frequency that is higher than the fundamental frequency, an output current having a fundamental component at the fundamental frequency and a plurality of harmonic components at different harmonic frequencies of the fundamental frequency, and an output voltage based on the output current; a first matching circuit coupled to the PA device and corresponding to the fundamental component; and a second matching circuit coupled between the PA device and the first matching circuit and corresponding to at least one of the harmonic components, wherein the first and second matching circuits maintain the PA output voltage at a value that is no more than a predetermined maximum value, which is less than a breakdown voltage for the PA device.

Abstract: Power amplifier (PA) apparatus that includes: a PA device operating at a fundamental frequency and having a maximum operating frequency that is higher than the fundamental frequency, an output current having a fundamental component at the fundamental frequency and a plurality of harmonic components at different harmonic frequencies of the fundamental frequency, and an output voltage based on the output current; a first matching circuit coupled to the PA device and corresponding to the fundamental component; and a second matching circuit coupled between the PA device and the first matching circuit and corresponding to at least one of the harmonic components, wherein the first and second matching circuits maintain the PA output voltage at a value that is no more than a predetermined maximum value, which is less than a breakdown voltage for the PA device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adaptive biasing of a Doherty amplifier (102) is disclosed. The apparatus includes a carrier amplifier (210), a peaking amplifier (214), a carrier amplifier bias circuit (208) and a peaking amplifier bias circuit (212), all integrated onto a single chip. The method includes dividing an input signal into an in-phase signal and a quadrature phase signal. The method further includes sampling the input signal and applying the sampled signal to the biasing circuits. The method further includes adaptively biasing the carrier amplifier and the peaking amplifier by the output of the biasing circuits.