Distributed Amplifier Patents (Class 330/54)
  • Patent number: 11881827
    Abstract: One illustrative high bandwidth transimpedance amplifier includes a distributed amplifier having multiple transistors that receive a propagating input signal at respective nodes of an input signal line and drive corresponding nodes of an amplified signal line that propagates an amplified signal to an output voltage buffer. A feedback impedance couples the output voltage to a feedback node in the distributed amplifier, making the output voltage proportional to the input signal's current. An illustrative method includes: propagating an input signal current along an input signal line of a distributed amplifier, the distributed amplifier responsively propagating an amplified signal along an amplified signal line; buffering the amplified signal from a final node of the amplified signal line to produce an output voltage signal; and using the output voltage signal to draw the input signal current from a final node of the input signal line via a feedback impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Credo Technology Group Limited
    Inventor: Yida Duan
  • Patent number: 11817719
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling and managing operation of one or more power amplifiers to optimize the performance of one or more antennas are disclosed. An example wireless-power transmission system includes a power amplifier, one or more antennas, and one or more integrated circuits. The one or more integrated circuits are configured to adjust power provided to the one or more antennas from a power amplifier and adjust a power distribution for the transmission field based, in part, on the adjusted power provided to the one or more antennas from the power amplifier such that the adjusted power provided is evenly distributed across the power distribution for the transmission field of the antenna. The even distribution of the adjusted power results in a reduced power loss at an edge of the power distribution for the transmission field of the antenna from 30% to 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Cesar A. Johnston, Erik Heinke, Daniel P. Lawless
  • Patent number: 11764744
    Abstract: A distributed amplifier includes a first transmission line for input, a second transmission line for output, an input termination resistor connecting a line end of the first transmission line and a power supply voltage, an output termination resistor connecting an input end of the second transmission line and a ground, unit cells having input terminals connected to the first transmission line and output terminals connected to the second transmission line, and a bias tee configured to supply a bias voltage to an input transistor of each of the unit cells. An emitter or source resistor of the input transistor of each of the unit cells is set to a different resistance value from each other in order for a collector or drain current flowing through the input transistor of each of the unit cells to have a uniform value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Teruo Jo, Munehiko Nagatani, Hideyuki Nosaka
  • Patent number: 11601099
    Abstract: A multi-stage amplifier includes a first stage comprising a first common-source amplifier, a first inductive load network comprising a serial connection of a first load resistor and a first load inductor, and a first source network configured to receive a first signal and output a first load signal, and a first inter-stage inductor configured to couple the first load signal to a second signal; and a second stage comprising a second common-source amplifier, a second inductive load network comprising a serial connection of a second load resistor and a second load inductor, and a second source network configured to receive the second signal and output a second load signal, and a second inter-stage inductor configured to couple the second load signal to a third signal, wherein the first load inductor and the second load inductor are laid out to enhance an inter-stage inductive coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Chia-Liang (Leon) Lin, Ting-Hsu Chien
  • Patent number: 11546012
    Abstract: An active electronic device that enables bidirectional communication over a single antenna or path is disclosed. The device may be characterized by a forward path (from an input to an antenna port) offering high gain, and a reverse path (to a receiver port) that can be configured as an finite impulse response (“FIR”) filter. An amplifier of the device is disclosed, the amplifier allowing for tuning of output resistance using passive mixers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Alyssa Apsel, Alyosha Molnar
  • Patent number: 11239798
    Abstract: A distributed mixer is configured of an artificial transmission line of which an input end is connected to an LO terminal and a terminal end is connected to an IF terminal, an artificial transmission line of which an input end is connected to an RF terminal, FETs that perform frequency synthesis of LO signals and RF signals and that are disposed following the artificial transmission lines and of which gates are connected to the artificial transmission line and sources are grounded, a bias circuit that applies gate bias voltage to a terminal end of the artificial transmission line, a terminating resistor that connects the terminal end of the artificial transmission line and a ground, and a plurality of transmission lines provided between the artificial transmission line and a drain of each FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hamada, Teruo Jo, Hideyuki Nosaka
  • Patent number: 10530414
    Abstract: An active electronic device that enables bidirectional communication over a single antenna or path is disclosed. The device may be characterized by a forward path (from an input to an antenna port) offering high gain, and a reverse path (to a receiver port) that can be configured as an finite impulse response (“FIR”) filter. An amplifier of the device is disclosed, the amplifier allowing for tuning of output resistance using passive mixers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Alyssa Apsel, Alyosha Molnar
  • Patent number: 10033348
    Abstract: There is provided a variable RF filter receiving an input differential radio frequency signal from a differential input terminals and allowing a radio frequency signal around a desired frequency to pass therethrough, wherein first passive mixers driven by a rectangular wave clock signal having an arbitrarily determined frequency are connected in parallel to a signal line across the differential input terminals and differential output terminals, and wherein a load of each of the first passive mixers is configured by inductors. Further, as a clock signal driving each of the first passive mixers, an odd-multiple-wave Lo signal (for example, a triple-wave Lo signal) is used, the signal having a frequency odd-multiple times (for example, three times) as high as that of the Lo signal which is the fundamental wave of the passing radio frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Oshima
  • Patent number: 9929707
    Abstract: An embodiment of a distributed amplifier includes an output collection line, a plurality of tap nodes distributed along the output collection line, and a plurality of amplification paths coupled to the tap nodes. An embodiment of an amplification path includes an amplifier and a compensation circuit. The amplifier is configured to receive and amplify an input RF signal to produce an amplified RF signal at an amplifier output. A compensation circuit input is electrically coupled to the amplifier output, and a compensation circuit output is electrically coupled to one of the tap nodes. The compensation circuit includes a series inductance electrically coupled between the compensation circuit input and the compensation circuit output, and a shunt capacitance electrically coupled between the series inductance and a ground reference node. The amplifiers and the compensation circuit may be monolithically implemented on a single substrate, or may be implemented on separate substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alois Frei
  • Patent number: 9450283
    Abstract: An RF power device that includes a transistor with a compact impedance transformation circuit, where the transformation circuit includes a lumped element CLC analog transmission line and an associated embedded directional bilateral RF power sensor that is inductively coupled to the transmission line to provide detection of direct and reflected power independently with high directivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ampleon Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Igor Blednov
  • Patent number: 9425752
    Abstract: A distributed amplifier with improved stabilization includes an input transmission circuit, an output transmission circuit, at least one cascade amplifier coupled between said input and output transmission circuits. Each cascade amplifier includes a common-gate configured transistor coupled to the output transmission circuit, and a common-source configured transistor coupled between the input transmission circuit and the common-gate configured transistor. The distributed amplifier also includes a non-parasitic resistance and capacitance coupled in series between a drain and a gate of at least one of the common-gate configured transistors for increasing the amplifier stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: HITTITE MICROWAVE LLC
    Inventor: Keith Benson
  • Patent number: 9306499
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises an input transmission line that receives an input signal, an output transmission line that transmits an output signal, a local oscillator transmission line that transmits a local oscillator signal, multiple amplification and mixing stages arranged in parallel between the input and output transmission lines and each amplifying a received portion of the input signal and mixing the amplified portion of the input signal with the local oscillator signal to produce a portion of the output signal, and multiple amplification stages arranged in parallel between the input and output transmission lines and each amplifying a received portion of the input signal to produce a portion of the output signal. The amplification stages are located proximate an output side of the electronic device, and the amplification and mixing stages are located proximate an input side of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith C. Griggs
  • Patent number: 8907722
    Abstract: A traveling wave amplifier (TWA) with suppressed jitter is disclosed. The TWA includes a plurality of unit amplifiers with the differential arrangement comprised of a pair of transistors and a cascade transistors connected in series to the switching transistors. The unit amplifiers further includes current sources to provide idle currents to the cascade transistors. Even when the switching transistors fully turn off, the idle currents are provided to the cascade transistors, which set the operating point of the cascade transistor in a region where an increase of the base-emitter resistance is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taizo Tatsumi, Keiji Tanaka, Sosaku Sawada
  • Patent number: 8847681
    Abstract: A combiner for a Doherty amplifier includes, on and in a dielectric substrate, a carrier input terminal, a peak input terminal, an output terminal, a combining point for combining an output signal from the carrier amplifier and an output signal from the peak amplifier, a first ?/4 line connected between the carrier input terminal and the combining point, a second ?/4 line connected between the combining point and the output terminal, and a first directional coupler. The first directional coupler includes a third ?/4 line electromagnetically coupled to one, to be monitored, of the first ?/4 line and the second ?/4 line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Namerikawa, Shinsuke Yano, Yasufumi Horio, Tatsuya Tsuruoka, Takami Hirai, Hideaki Okubo, Atsuo Mizuma
  • Patent number: 8786368
    Abstract: A distributed amplifier with improved stabilization includes an input transmission circuit, an output transmission circuit, at least one cascode amplifier coupled between said input and output transmission circuits. Each cascode amplifier includes a common-gate configured transistor coupled to the output transmission circuit, and a common-source configured transistor coupled between the input transmission circuit and the common-gate configured transistor. The distributed amplifier also includes a non-parasitic resistance and capacitance coupled in series between a drain and a gate of at least one of the common-gate configured transistors for increasing the amplifier stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hittite Microwave Corporation
    Inventor: Keith Benson
  • Patent number: 8686790
    Abstract: A distributed amplifier is provided that is broadband and band pass with controllable bandwidth. In the distributed amplifier circuit, termination impedance of the input transmission line is not matched with the characteristics impedance of the input transmission line and/or the termination impedance of the output transmission line is not matched with the characteristics impedance of the output transmission line, thus providing the broadband and band pass with controllable bandwidth attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Safieddin Safavi-Naeini, Mahmoud Mohammad-Taheri, Ying Wang, Mehrdad Fahimnia
  • Patent number: 8669812
    Abstract: A high power amplifier architecture is disclosure. One example configuration includes a first plurality of distributed amplification stages operatively coupled in a first string. A conductive trace associated with the first string provides a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from input to output of the first string. A second plurality of distributed amplification stages is operatively coupled in a second string, and a conductive trace associated therewith provides a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from input to output of the second string. In one example case, each of the first and second strings comprises gallium nitride transistor amplification stages formed on silicon carbide. The module may further include a heat spreader material that thermally and electrically couples to the amplification stages. The conductive trace associated with one string can be shared with another string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Schilmass Co., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert Actis, Robert J. Lender, Jr., Steve M. Rajkowski, Kanin Chu, Blair E. Coburn
  • Patent number: 8665022
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a distributed amplifier (DA) that includes active device cells within sections that are configured to provide an input gate termination that is conducive for relatively low noise and high linearity operation. A section adjacent to an output of the DA is configured to effectively terminate the impedance of an input transmission line of the DA. Each active device cell includes transistors coupled in a cascode configuration that thermally distributes a junction temperature among the transistors. In this manner, noise generated by a common source transistor of the cascode configuration is minimized. The transistors coupled in the cascode configuration may be fabricated using gallium nitride (GaN) technology to reduce physical size of the DA and to further reduce noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin W. Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8576009
    Abstract: A broadband high power amplifier architecture is disclosed. One example configuration includes a first plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a first string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the first string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the first string. The amplifier further includes a second plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a second string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the second string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the second string. A combiner combines output signals of the first and second strings. Additional strings and/or stages can be provided, and the degree of combining will depend, for example, on factors such as the application and desired output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Schilmass Co. L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert J. Lender, Jr., Robert Actis
  • Patent number: 8547176
    Abstract: A distributed power amplifier arranged to operate over a bandwidth. An input side with an input terminal is arranged to receive an input signal and connected to an input transmission line. An output side with an output terminal is adapted to deliver an output signal and connected to an output transmission line. A power splitter is connected to the input terminal, thus being arranged to divide the input signal in a first path to the input transmission line and in a second path to an input of an active matching circuit. The active matching circuit has an output connected to the output transmission line. The other end of the output transmission line is connected to the output terminal. A method to design a distributed power amplifier and to modify existing distributed power amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Joakim Nilsson, Hans-Olof Vickes
  • Patent number: 8451059
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a capacitively-coupled distributed amplifier (DA) having an input line and an output line that are coupled to one another through a broadband interface network and DA segments. The input line receives an input signal and the output line provides an output signal based on amplifying the input signal. The broadband interface network includes a group of capacitive elements coupled between the input line and the DA segments to extend a gain-bandwidth product of the DA. The broadband interface network further includes a resistor divider network coupled between the input line and the DA segments to extend a lower end of an operating bandwidth of the DA. As such, the operating bandwidth of the DA may extend from baseband frequencies to microwave frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin W. Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8401058
    Abstract: A channelized amplification system and method for mitigating non-linear amplification effects and controlling spectral re-growth is disclosed. A channelized amplifier system includes a frequency divider, a plurality of distributors coupled to the frequency divider, and a plurality of amplification modules coupled to the plurality of distributors. Each of the plurality of amplification modules includes a plurality of channelized non-linear amplifiers, a frequency combiner having a plurality of band-pass filters and coupled to the plurality of channelized non-linear amplifiers, and a band-pass filter coupled to the frequency combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence K. Lam, Albert T. Ngo
  • Patent number: 8344807
    Abstract: A distributed low noise amplifier (DLNA) comprises at least a first amplifier part 30.1 providing a first path 36.1 form an input of the amplifier to an output of the amplifier and a second amplifier part 30.2 providing a second path 36.2 from the input to the output. Each of the first and second paths being associated with a respective and different change in phase. The difference being larger than degrees in a noise suppression band to cause a phase difference between noise generated by the amplifier arrangement propagating along the first and second paths and destructive interference of the noise before the output of the DLNA, thereby to suppress noise in the noise suppression band. The respective gains of the amplifier parts 30.1 to 30.n may decrease in a direction from the input of the amplifier to the output thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: North-West University
    Inventors: Barend Visser, Petrus Paulus Kruger, Ocker Cornelius De Jager
  • Patent number: 8264278
    Abstract: An amplifier is realized by a distributed-constant-type amplifier including an input-side transmission line and an output-side transmission line, and a plurality of unit circuits coupled between the input-side transmission line and the output-side transmission line, in which each of the plurality of unit circuits is formed by including an amplification circuit having a gain equal to or greater than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kouichi Kanda, Takuji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120194267
    Abstract: A distributed amplifier is provided that is broadband and band pass with controllable bandwidth. In the distributed amplifier circuit, termination impedance of the input transmission line is not matched with the characteristics impedance of the input transmission line and/or the termination impedance of the output transmission line is not matched with the characteristics impedance of the output transmission line, thus providing the broadband and band pass with controllable bandwidth attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Safieddin Safavi-Naeini, Mahmoud Mohammad-Taheri, Ying Wang, Mehrdad Fahimnia
  • Patent number: 8076975
    Abstract: A broadband high power amplifier architecture is disclosed. One example configuration includes a first plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a first string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the first string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the first string. The amplifier further includes a second plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a second string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the second string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the second string. A combiner combines output signals of the first and second strings. Additional strings and/or stages can be provided, and the degree of combining will depend, for example, on factors such as the application and desired output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Lender, Jr., Robert Actis
  • Patent number: 8058930
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a capacitively-coupled non-uniformly distributed amplifier (NDA) having an input line and an output line that are coupled to one another through an input network and DA segments. The input network includes a group of capacitive elements coupled between the input line and the DA segments to extend a gain-bandwidth product of the NDA. The output line includes inductive elements, and since the NDA is non-uniformly distributed, an inductance of each inductive element decreases moving from an input end of the output line to an output end of the output line to compensate for decreasing impedance along the output line. To compensate for phase velocity variations along the output line, a capacitance of each capacitive element that is coupled to the input line decreases moving from an input end of the input line to an output end of the input line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin W. Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8035449
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a capacitively-coupled distributed amplifier (DA) having an input line and an output line that are coupled to one another through a broadband interface network and DA segments. The input line receives an input signal and the output line provides an output signal based on amplifying the input signal. The broadband interface network includes a group of capacitive elements coupled between the input line and the DA segments to extend a gain-bandwidth product of the DA. The broadband interface network further includes a resistor divider network coupled between the input line and the DA segments to extend a lower end of an operating bandwidth of the DA. As such, the operating bandwidth of the DA may extend from baseband frequencies to microwave frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin W. Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7924097
    Abstract: A number of identical non-uniformly distributed ultra-wideband power amplifier string building blocks are coupled together to form an ultra-wide bandwidth high-power amplifier. The non-uniform distribution results in an amplifier utilizing modular string building blocks that have input and output impedances with only real values. This permits the strings to be replicated and connected together with simple impedance matching. The internal impedance matching associated with the non-linear distribution also absorbs parasitic capacitance to permit the ultra-broadband operation. In one embodiment identical transistors are used for each cell so that the strings may be identically replicated. This permits modular re-use without reconfiguration. In one embodiment a non-uniform distributed power amplifier built using the subject building blocks provides an ultra-wideband multi-octave device suitable for electronic warfare and communications applications, especially to replace traveling wave tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Lender, Jr., Robert Actis
  • Publication number: 20100283546
    Abstract: A distributed low noise amplifier (DLNA) comprises at least a first amplifier part 30.1 providing a first path 36.1 form an input of the amplifier to an output of the amplifier and a second amplifier part 30.2 providing a second path 36.2 from the input to the output. Each of the first and second paths being associated with a respective and different change in phase. The difference being larger than degrees in a noise suppression band to cause a phase difference between noise generated by the amplifier arrangement propagating along the first and second paths and destructive interference of the noise before the output of the DLNA, thereby to suppress noise in the noise suppression band. The respective gains of the amplifier parts 30.1 to 30.n may decrease in a direction from the input of the amplifier to the output thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Barend Visser, Petrus Paulus Kruger, Ocker Cornelis De Jager
  • Patent number: 7804362
    Abstract: A distributed amplifier may include an input transmission line for receiving on an input end an input signal, and an output transmission line for outputting on an output end an output signal. A plurality of amplifier stages may be coupled between intermediate positions on the input and output lines. Feedback impedance may negatively feed back a signal on the output end of the output line to a second end of the input line spaced from the first end of the input line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventor: Hung Van Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7782140
    Abstract: A resistor (9-1) and a resistor (11-1) are connected in parallel with each other between a source of an input transistor (7-1) and the ground. A switch (12-1) is provided between the resistor (11-1) and the source. A variable resistor circuit may be constituted by the resistor (9-1), the resistor (11-1) and the switch (12-1). Further, a capacitor (10-1) and a variable capacitor (13-1) are connected in series with each other between the source and the ground. A control terminal (14-1) to which a voltage is applied when capacitance of the variable capacitor (13-1) is controlled is provided between the capacitor (10-1) and the variable capacitor (13-1). A variable capacitor circuit may be constituted by the capacitor (10-1) and the variable capacitor (13-1). An input capacitance change circuit may be constituted by the variable resistor circuit and the variable capacitor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Hisao Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 7737786
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of electronic devices known as baluns. It concerns an active balun which is broadband and reciprocal. Embodiments of the invention integrate an active splitter balun with an active combiner balun so as to form three transmission lines. A first active coupling is provided between the first and second transmission lines and a second active coupling is provided between the first and third transmission lines. The active couplings are provided by means of amplifier cells distributed along the transmission lines. Embodiments of the invention have configurable means for polarizing the different amplifier cells so as to create a specific coupling direction between the various transmission lines. The device according to the invention can be applied in the field of broadband mixers which are used, notably, in radio transmission and reception circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Plaze, Philippe Dueme, Benoit Mallet-Guy
  • Patent number: 7724091
    Abstract: An active input matrix balun and a method for the same. The matrix balun has one input transmission line with an RF-in terminal for receiving a single ended RF-in signal and a first output transmission line with a first RF-out terminal and an adjacent second output transmission line with a second RF-out terminal. Two balanced RF-out signals at the first and at the second RF-out terminal, where each RF-out signal has an amplitude level equal to or exceeding the amplitude level of the RF-in signal and where the RF-out signals have a mutual phase difference of 180° and are of equal amplitude levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Hans-Olof Vickes, Mattias Ferndahl
  • Patent number: 7724083
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for providing high-speed, low signal power amplification. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for providing a wideband amplification of a signal by forming a first transmission line in parallel with a second transmission line, each of the first transmission line and the second transmission line having a plurality of superconducting transmission elements, each transmission line having a transmission line delay; interposing a plurality of amplification stages between the first transmission line and the second transmission line, each amplification stage having an resonant circuit with a resonant circuit delay; and substantially matching the resonant circuit delay for at least one of the plurality of amplification stages with the transmission line delay of at least one of the superconducting transmission lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Quentin P. Herring, Donald Lynn Miller, John Xavier Przybysz
  • Publication number: 20100052809
    Abstract: The application discloses a method and apparatus for adjusting internal load impedances, by section, at feed points present on a distributed amplifier's output transmission line. The method includes determining a summing-point load impedance (Zx) at an off-chip output transmission line of the distributed amplifier. The method further includes determining a driving-point load impedance (Zd) at an output of an on-chip power transistor. The driving-point load impedance diverges and disperses over frequency from that summing-point load impedance due to reactance of at least one on-chip component coupled to the output of the on-chip power transistor. The method then includes determining and providing an offset to summing-point load impedance (Zx) based on the driving-point load impedance (Zd) such that the driving-point load impedance (Zd) converges to the summing-point load impedance (Zx) of that distributed amplifier section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Frei
  • Patent number: 7636017
    Abstract: Amplification transistors respectively amplify an input signal. The output terminals of the amplification transistors are connected in series through respective transmission lines. A harmonic processing circuit is connected to an end of the array of collectors (output terminals) of the amplification transistors. The harmonic processing circuit suppresses harmonics included in output voltages of the amplification transistors. A transmission line and an MIM capacitor form a shorting circuit which establishes a short-circuit for the harmonics between the collector of the amplification transistor nearest to the harmonic processing circuit and the collector of the amplification transistor farthest from the harmonic processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7579913
    Abstract: Provided is a distributed amplifier in communication systems, including: an input transmission line; an output transmission line; an input impedance match and an output impedance match, for providing termination of the input transmission line and the output transmission line, respectively and for preventing signal reflection in the input transmission line and the output transmission line, respectively; multi-stage Gm cells with common mode feedback, the input transmission line being coupled to the output transmission line by the transconductance of the Gm cells; and an input gate bias circuit, for providing bias for the multi-stage Gm cells. In at least one of the Gm cells, one inverter performs V/I conversion while other inverters provide negative resistance to control common mode of output voltage and to enhance DC gain of the Gm cell. Due to common mode feedback, no output gate bias is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yu Cheng, Albert Kuo-Huei Yen, Jen-Chung Chang
  • Patent number: 7525385
    Abstract: A traveling wave amplifier includes a synthetic gate line, a synthetic drain line and a plurality of common drain driven cascode transistor circuits each connected between the synthetic gate line and the synthetic drain line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Wireless IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Sushil Kumar
  • Patent number: 7525384
    Abstract: A transmission line amplifier utilizes a transmission line transistor having a gate line, and first and second lines. The gate line is a gate of the transistor, one of the first and second lines is a source of the transistor, and the other is a drain of the transistor. The gate line includes an input terminal at a first end thereof, adapted to receive an input signal, and a gate line load terminal at a second end thereof, adapted to be connected to a gate line load. The second line is connected to a first supply voltage. The first line includes a first line load terminal at a first end thereof that is adapted to be connected to a first line load, and an output terminal at a second end thereof that is adapted to provide an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Wireless IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Vice
  • Patent number: 7508267
    Abstract: A power amplifier comprises a distributed pre-driver, digital signal adjuster, a distributed high power amplifier; and an integrated coupler-detector unit. The distributed pre-driver, the digital signal adjuster, the distributed high power amplifier and the integrated coupler-detector unit are formed at an interface of a Gallium Nitride layer and an Aluminum Gallium Nitride layer of a monolithic microwave integrated circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark K. Yu, Chenggang Xie
  • Patent number: 7432922
    Abstract: A source driver for LCD devices, used for driving at least one data line, comprises an input for receiving a predetermined voltage; an output electrically being connected to the data line and having an output voltage; a voltage clamping circuit for clamping the output voltage within a predetermined voltage range; a first differential amplifier for increasing the clamped output voltage toward the predetermined voltage; and a second differential amplifier for decreasing the clamped output voltage toward the predetermined voltage. The present invention also provides a source driving method for LCD devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaw Guang Chang, Ming Cheng Chiu
  • Patent number: 7315206
    Abstract: A traveling-wave amplifier includes amplifiers coupled anti-parallel to transmission lines. Phase(s) of the amplifiers provide phase matching, which may additionally or alternately be provided by couplers or spatial offset of the amplifiers and couplers. The traveling-wave amplifier provides compensation for the losses of the transmission lines, amplification of the signals and isolation between input and output by coupling the amplifiers to the transmission lines anti-parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Lukas Leyten, Jozef Reinerus Maria Bergervoet
  • Patent number: 7239852
    Abstract: A common source, bi-directional microwave amplifier is described. More particularly, the present invention is a microwave, common source, bi-directional amplifier that includes a first amplification path and a second amplification path wherein the signal directional flow is controlled through the selective biasing of the first amplification path and the second amplification path. Each amplification path is designed to optimize desired performance. For signal flow through the first amplification path, the first amplification path is biased-on and the second path is biased-off. For signal flow through the second amplification path, the second amplification path is biased-on and the first path is biased-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ming-Jer Yang, Matt Nishimoto, Yun-Ho Chung, Michael Battung, Richard Lai
  • Patent number: 7233207
    Abstract: A system and a method for providing an input to a distributed power amplifying system are provided. In an embodiment, a distributed power amplifying system includes a plurality of amplifying sections (102, 104, 106, and 108) and a plurality of drivers (110, 112, 114, and 116). Each of the plurality of drivers receives a common transmit signal (118) and an individual control signal (120, 122, 124, and 126). Each of the plurality of drivers independently preconditions the common transmit signal, to provide a transmit output signal (128, 130, 132, and 134) to each of the plurality of amplifying sections. The common transmit signal provided to each of the plurality of drivers is preconditioned, based on the individual control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Thompson, Robert E. Stengel
  • Patent number: 7194390
    Abstract: A predictor allows the computation of the greatest lower bound of the noise figure pertaining uniformly over the operating band of a wideband amplifier. This computation is done directly from noise-parameter data of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David F. Schwartz, Jeffery C. Allen, J. William Helton
  • Patent number: 7132894
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a differential traveling wave amplifier having a lumped differential preamplifier stage and a distributed differential amplifier stage coupled by a differential end termination interface. In certain embodiments, the distributed differential amplifier stage may include transverse electromagnetic transmission lines coupled between its input and output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Shapiro, Jose Robins, Kevin W. Glass, Kursad Kiziloglu
  • Patent number: 6930557
    Abstract: A multi-stage amplifier includes first and second amplifier stages, and first and second capacitors. The first amplifier stage includes a input line having a first input end and a second input end; an input terminal block connected to the second input end; an amplifier circuit amplifying a first signal input to the first input end; an output line having a first output end where the first signal amplified is output, and a second output end; and an output terminal block connected to the second output end. The second amplifier stage includes components similar to that of the first amplifier stage. The first capacitor is connected between the first output end of the first amplifier stage and the first input end of the second amplifier stage. The second capacitor is connected to any one of the input and output terminal blocks of the first and second amplifier stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Hisao Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 6930556
    Abstract: A system for amplifying a signal is provided. The system includes a wave guide and an active loop amplifier disposed in the wave guide. The active loop amplifier receives the signal and generates a magnetic field in response to the signal, such as one that couples to the propagating mode of the wave guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David B. Rutledge, James Rosenberg, Ichiro Aoki, Scott D. Kee, Michael P. DeLisio, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6900695
    Abstract: A distribution network which can be an active power splitter or an active power combiner or alternatingly power splitter and such a power combiner. The power splitter consists of two distributed amplifiers with a common input and one output each, and the power combiner consists of two distributed amplifiers with one input each and a common output. For the power splitter, a switching element is connected between each connection point on the outputs of the amplifying elements and ground, and for said power combiner, a switching element is connected between each connection point on the inputs of the amplifying elements and ground, the switching elements being optimised to take, depending on a control voltage, one of two distinct states. A first state corresponding to a capacitance and a second state corresponding to a low impedance short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Totalforsvarets Forskningsinstitut
    Inventor: Aziz Ouacha