Complementary balanced low-noise amplifier circuit
AssigneeQorvo US, Inc.
InventorMarcus Granger-Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A complementary balanced low-noise amplifier is disclosed. In one aspect, the low-noise amplifier (LNA) may be a single-ended cascoded complementary common-source LNA that is capable of operating in low-power conditions. In particular, the LNA may include a first path with a common-source amplifier formed from an N-type material and a second path with a common-source amplifier formed from a P-type material that collectively form a complementary common-source amplifier. By providing two paths in the complementary amplifier, headroom may be preserved for output transistors. Additionally, higher-order intercept points (e.g., IP2 or IP3) characteristics have better performance profiles resulting in better overall performance and improved user experience.
Claims19
An amplifier comprising:
- an input configured to receive a signal;
- an output;
- a first path comprising:
- a first common-source transistor;
- and
- a second transistor cascoded relative to the first common-source transistor;
- and
- a second path comprising:
- a third common-source transistor;
- and
- a fourth transistor cascoded relative to the third common-source transistor;
- wherein the first path is coupled to the second path at the input and the output;
- and
- wherein the first path and the second path do not share a common current.
An amplifier comprising:
- an input configured to receive a signal;
- an output;
- a first path defining a first second order intercept point (IP2) based on a hypothetical point where power of second order components in the first path reach a same level as power of fundamental components in the first path, the first path comprising:
- a first common-source transistor;
- and
- a second path defining a second IP2 based on a second hypothetical point where power of second order components in the second path reach a same level as power of fundamental components in the second path, the second path comprising:
- a third common-source transistor;
- wherein the first path is coupled to the second path at the input and the output;
- and wherein complementary structures of the first path and the second path cause the first IP2 to cancel substantially the second IP2.
An amplifier comprising:
- an input configured to receive a signal;
- an output;
- a first path comprising:
- a first common-source transistor;
- and
- a second path comprising:
- a third common-source transistor;
- wherein the first path is coupled to the second path through a capacitor to a node, and the node is coupled through a second capacitor to the output and wherein the first path is coupled to the second path at the input.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.