# US 10,122,328 B2 · Broadside-coupled transformer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,328 B2 - Document ID: US10122328B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/477,525 - Filed: 2017-04-03 - Published: 2018-03-22 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-21 - Assignees: Qorvo US, Inc. - Applicants: Qorvo US, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Roberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122328B2 ## CPC - H03F 1/565: {using inductive elements} - H01P 5/00: Coupling devices of the waveguide type - H01P 5/187: {Broadside coupled lines} - H03H 7/38: Impedance-matching networks - H03F 2200/387: A circuit being added at the output of an amplifier to adapt the output impedance of the amplifier - H03F 2200/541: Transformer coupled at the output of an amplifier - H03F: AMPLIFIERS - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) - H03H: IMPEDANCE NETWORKS, e.g. RESONANT CIRCUITS; RESONATORS (waveguides, resonators, lines or other devices of the waveguide type H01P) ## Abstract A broadside-coupled transformer is disclosed. The broadside-coupled transformer has a dielectric substrate with a first planar conductor disposed on the dielectric substrate. The first planar conductor includes first and second ends. A second planar conductor is positioned over and spaced apart from the first planar conductor. The second planar conductor includes third and fourth ends. The fourth end is electrically coupled to the first end of the first planar conductor to realize a Ruthroff transformer configuration. Support posts for supporting the second planar conductor over the first planar conductor each have a bottom attached to the dielectric substrate without contacting the first planar conductor and a top attached to a surface of the second planar conductor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A broadside-coupled transformer comprising: a dielectric substrate; a first planar conductor disposed on the dielectric substrate and having a first end and a second end; a second planar conductor positioned over and spaced apart from the first planar conductor and having a third end and a fourth end wherein the fourth end is electrically coupled to the first end of the first planar conductor; and support posts that each have a bottom attached to the dielectric substrate without contacting the first planar conductor and a top attached to a surface of the second planar conductor to support the second planar conductor over the first planar conductor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 1 wherein the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor are arranged over the dielectric substrate in an elongated U-shaped pattern. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 1 wherein space between the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor is filled with air. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 1 wherein a lower surface of the second planar conductor is not in direct contact with a solid dielectric. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 1 wherein an upper surface of the second planar conductor is not in direct contact with a solid dielectric. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 1 wherein upper and lower surfaces of the second planar conductor are not in direct contact with a solid dielectric. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 1 wherein the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor each have a thickness that is greater than 2 μm and less than 6 μm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 1 wherein the dielectric substrate is made of silicon carbide (SiC). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 1 wherein the first planar conductor, the second planar conductor, and the support posts are made of metal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 9 wherein the metal is gold (Au). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 1 wherein the second planar conductor has sidewalls that define a width that is at least 20 μm wider than a width defined by sidewalls of the first planar conductor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 11 wherein the first planar conductor has a width that is from 10 μm to 100 μm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The broadside-coupled transformer of claim 11 wherein the support posts are separated and spaced from the sidewalls of the first planar conductor by at least 2 μm. ### Claim 14 Impedance transformation circuitry having a first port, a second port, and a third port comprising: a broadside-coupled transformer comprising: a dielectric substrate having a frontside and a backside, wherein the backside has a ground plane disposed thereon; a first planar conductor disposed on the frontside of the dielectric substrate and having a first end and a second end; a second planar conductor positioned over and spaced apart from the first planar conductor and having a third end and a fourth end wherein the fourth end is electrically coupled to the first end of the first planar conductor; and support posts that each have a bottom attached to the dielectric substrate without contacting the first planar conductor and a top attached to a surface of the second planar conductor to support the second planar conductor over the first planar conductor; and an input matching circuit section coupled between the first port, the first end of the first planar conductor, the third port and the ground plane, wherein the input matching circuit section is tuned to extend bandwidth of the broadside-coupled transformer towards lower frequencies. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The impedance transformation circuitry of claim 14 wherein the input matching circuit section is configured as a bias tee having a bias input coupled to the third port and a bias output coupled to the first port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The impedance transformation circuitry of claim 14 wherein the first planar conductor, the second planar conductor, and the support posts are made of gold (Au). ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The impedance transformation circuitry of claim 14 wherein the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor each have a thickness that is greater than 2 μm and less than 6 μm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The impedance transformation circuitry of claim 14 wherein the input matching circuit section comprises: a first capacitor coupled between the first port and the first end of the second planar conductor; and a first inductor coupled between the first port and the third port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The impedance transformation circuitry of claim 18 wherein the input matching circuit section further includes a second capacitor coupled from the third port to ground. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The impedance transformation circuitry of claim 18 further including an output matching circuit section coupled between the third end of the second planar conductor and the second port. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The impedance transformation circuitry of claim 20 further including package transition circuitry coupled between the output matching circuit section and the second port, wherein the package transition circuitry is configured to provide transition impedance that is tuned to reduce RF signal reflection and loss due to parasitic impedance of wire bonds within an external component package coupled to the second port. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The impedance transformation circuitry of claim 20 wherein the output matching circuit section comprises a second inductor coupled in series with a second capacitor between the third end of the second planar conductor and the second port. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The impedance transformation circuitry of claim 22 wherein the output matching circuit section further includes a third capacitor coupled between the third end of the second planar conductor and ground.