# US 2010/0164628 A1 · Distributed active transformer amplifier with differential power combiner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0164628 A1 - Document ID: US20100164628A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/648,163 - Filed: 2009-12-28 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-30 - Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.I. - Inventors: Andrea Pallotta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100164628A1 ## CPC - H03F 3/604: {using FET's} - H03F 1/0205: {in transistor amplifiers} - H03F 3/265: {with field-effect transistors only} - H03F 3/45179: {using MOSFET transistors as the active amplifying circuit (H03F3/45278 takes precedence)} - H03F 2200/534: Transformer coupled at the input of an amplifier - H03F 2200/537: A transformer being used as coupling element between two amplifying stages - H03F 2200/541: Transformer coupled at the output of an amplifier - H03F: AMPLIFIERS ## Abstract A power amplifier formed by a plurality of pairs of transistors, each pair including a first transistor and a second transistor having each a respective input terminal and a respective output terminal. The output terminals of the first and second transistors of each pair are connected to an output distributed active transformer connected to a differential output of the power amplifier. The input terminals of the first and second transistors of each pair are connected to an input distributed active transformer connected to an input of the power amplifier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power amplifier comprising a plurality of pairs of transistors, each pair comprising a first and a second transistors having each a respective input terminal and a respective output terminals; the output terminals of the first and second transistors of each pair being connected to an output distributed active transformer coupled to a differential output of the power amplifier, wherein the input terminals of the first and second transistors of each pair are connected to an input distributed active transformer coupled to an input of the power amplifier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A power amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said input distributed active transformer comprises an input primary element and a plurality of input secondary elements including at least one first and one second input secondary element, adjacent to each other, and the input terminal of the first transistor of a pair is coupled to an end of the first input secondary element and the input terminal of the second transistor of said pair is coupled to an end of the second input secondary element and the input primary element faces said plurality of input secondary elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A power amplifier according to claim 2, wherein said output distributed active transformer comprises a plurality of output primaries including at least one first and one second output primary elements and the output terminal of the first transistor of a pair is coupled to an end of the first output primary element and the output terminal of the second transistor of said pair is coupled to an end of the second output primary element and the output secondary element faces said plurality of output primary elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A power amplifier according to claim 3, wherein the input primary element surrounds said plurality of input secondary elements and the plurality of output primary elements surrounds the output secondary element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A power amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said input and output distributed active transformers extend along sides of a first and a second planar geometrical figure, coaxially to each other, and sa id pairs of transistors are coupled near edges of said geometrical figures. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A power amplifier according to claim 4, wherein said input primary is formed by a single metal region extending along the perimeter of a first planar geometrical figure having a side broken at the input of the power amplifier, said input secondary elements are formed by distinct metal regions extending parallel and facing each a respective side of the first planar geometrical figure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A power amplifier according to claim 5, wherein sa id input primary element and said output secondary element are formed by metal regions extending in a metal level, the power amplifier further comprising a first power distribution structure extending in a further metal level and coupled to the output distributed active transformer and a second power distribution structure extending in an additional metal level, different from the further metal level, and coupled to the input distributed active transformer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A power amplifier according to claim 7, wherein the first power distribution structure is coupled to the output distributed active transformer through first metal vias and the second power distribution structure is coupled to the input distributed active transformer through second metal vias. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A power amplifier according to claim 8, wherein said second power distribution structure extends below the first power distribution structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A power amplifier according to claim 9, wherein at least some metal vias of said second metal vias extend through said first power distribution structure, insulating regions being interposed between said some second metal vias and said first power distribution structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A power amplifier according to claim 8, wherein said first and second power distribution structures have a plurality of arms extending transversely to the sides of said first and second geometric figures. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A power amplifier according to claim 7, wherein the input and output distributed active transformers are formed in a single metal level.