Abstract: A multiple-stage amplifier includes a driver stage die and a final stage die. The driver stage die includes a first type of semiconductor substrate (e.g., a silicon substrate), a first transistor, and an integrated portion of an interstage impedance matching circuit. A control terminal of the first transistor is electrically coupled to an RF signal input terminal of the driver stage die, and the integrated portion of the interstage impedance matching circuit is electrically coupled between a current-carrying terminal of the first transistor and an RF signal output terminal of the driver stage die. The second die includes a III-V semiconductor substrate (e.g., a GaN substrate) and a second transistor. A connection, which is a non-integrated portion of the interstage impedance matching circuit, is electrically coupled between the RF signal output terminal of the driver stage die and an RF signal input terminal of the final stage die.

Abstract: A system may include a radio frequency (RF) amplifier device that includes an input impedance matching network and first and second baseband decoupling circuits, which may remove intermodulation distortion products from signal energy input to the RF amplifier device at baseband frequencies. The input impedance matching network may act as a band-pass or low-pass filter. A gate bias voltage may be applied to the gate of a transistor in the RF amplifier device through one of the baseband decoupling circuits or, alternatively, at an input node of the RF amplifier device.

Abstract: An RF amplifier device includes a semiconductor die and an integrated passive device (IPD) on a ground flange. The IPD includes a semiconductor substrate and a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor coupled to the semiconductor substrate. The MIM capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a dielectric between the first electrode and the second electrode. A first RF capacitor is over the semiconductor substrate and a second RF capacitor is over the semiconductor substrate. A metal layer is patterned to form a portion of an elevated metal shielding structure, a first plate of the first RF capacitor and a first plate of the second RF capacitor. The elevated metal shielding structure is over the MIM capacitor. The IPD is electrically coupled to the semiconductor die.

Abstract: A coupling element for providing external coupling to a semiconductor die within an integrated circuit package. The coupling element comprises a flexible laminate structure comprising a flexible, electrically insulating substrate layer, a first conductive layer bonded to a first surface of the substrate layer, and a second conductive layer bonded to a second surface of the substrate layer. The coupling element is arranged to be coupled to the semiconductor die such that the first and second conductive layers are electrically coupled to electrical contacts of the semiconductor die. The coupling element is further arranged to extend through the integrated circuit package when electrically coupled to the semiconductor die, and for the first and second conductive layers to be further electrically coupled to at least one external component.

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: Embodiments of an RF amplifier include a transistor with a control terminal and first and second current carrying terminals, and a shunt circuit coupled between the first current carrying terminal and a ground reference node. The shunt circuit includes a first shunt inductive element, a second shunt inductance, and a shunt capacitor coupled in series. Instead of a separate inductive element, the second shunt inductance may be achieved via magnetic coupling of the first shunt inductive element and an envelope inductive element of a video bandwidth circuit that is coupled between an RF cold point node (between the first and second shunt inductances) and the ground. Alternatively, an envelope inductance in the video bandwidth circuit may be achieved via magnetic coupling of first and second shunt inductive elements. A better RF cold point may be achieved without physically incorporating separate inductive elements, allowing for reduction in cost and size.

Abstract: An RF amplifier includes a transistor, a shunt circuit, an envelope frequency termination circuit, and an extra lead. The shunt circuit is coupled between a transistor current carrying terminal and a ground reference node. The shunt circuit has a shunt inductive element and a shunt capacitor coupled in series, with an RF cold point node between the shunt inductive element and the shunt capacitor. The envelope frequency termination circuit is coupled between the RF cold point node and the ground reference node. The envelope frequency termination circuit has an envelope resistor, an envelope inductive element, and an envelope capacitor coupled in series. The extra lead is electrically coupled to the RF cold point node. The extra lead provides a lead inductance in parallel with an envelope inductance provided by the envelope inductive element. An additional shunt capacitor can be coupled between the extra lead and ground.

Abstract: A coupling element for providing external coupling to a semiconductor die within an integrated circuit package. The coupling element comprises a flexible laminate structure comprising a flexible, electrically insulating substrate layer, a first conductive layer bonded to a first surface of the substrate layer, and a second conductive layer bonded to a second surface of the substrate layer. The coupling element is arranged to be coupled to the semiconductor die such that the first and second conductive layers are electrically coupled to electrical contacts of the semiconductor die. The coupling element is further arranged to extend through the integrated circuit package when electrically coupled to the semiconductor die, and for the first and second conductive layers to be further electrically coupled to at least one external component.

Abstract: A wireless communication unit comprising a transmitter comprises: a linearization circuit arranged to receive and digitally distort an input signal; a radio frequency power amplifier operably coupled to the linearization circuit and arranged to amplify a radio frequency representation of the digitally distorted input signal; a feedback path arranged to feed back a portion of the amplified digitally distorted output of the received input signal to the linearization circuit; a bypass circuit comprising a plurality of energy storage elements operably coupled between an output of the radio frequency power amplifier and ground; and a first connector arranged to provide a representation of at least one electrical memory effect of at least one of the plurality of energy storage elements to the linearization circuit, wherein the linearization circuit is arranged to use the representation of the at least one electrical memory effect when digitally distorting the input signal.

Abstract: A wireless communication unit comprising a transmitter comprises: a linearization circuit arranged to receive and digitally distort an input signal; a radio frequency power amplifier operably coupled to the linearization circuit and arranged to amplify a radio frequency representation of the digitally distorted input signal; a feedback path arranged to feed back a portion of the amplified digitally distorted output of the received input signal to the linearization circuit; a bypass circuit comprising a plurality of energy storage elements operably coupled between an output of the radio frequency power amplifier and ground; and a first connector arranged to provide a representation of at least one electrical memory effect of at least one of the plurality of energy storage elements to the linearization circuit, wherein the linearization circuit is arranged to use the representation of the at least one electrical memory effect when digitally distorting the input signal.