US 9,413,309 B1 · Apparatus and methods for a cascode amplifier topology for millimeter-wave power application

Abstract

Provided herein are apparatus and methods for a cascode amplifier topology for millimeter-wave power application. The cascode amplifier can use a neutralized common source stage cascoded with a bootstrapped common gate stage to provide an amplifier topology having enhanced performance, gain, stability and reliability. Additionally, a bootstrap capacitor of the common gate stage can be patterned between the source fingers and the drain fingers of a cascode transistor so as to improve device performance. Operating as an RF power amplifier, a single-stage cascode amplifier using the neutralized common source stage with the bootstrapped common gate stage can provide greater than 15 dB of power gain to signals of the E band.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

an amplifier comprising:
a first circuit, wherein the first circuit is configured to receive an input signal, wherein the first circuit has neutralization of gate-to-drain parasitic capacitance;
a second circuit, wherein the second circuit is configured to generate an amplified signal, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit together form a cascode circuit;
a first node between the first circuit and the second circuit;
and
wherein the second circuit has at least a first capacitor having an amount of capacitance tailored to an intended operating band of the amplifier such that the first capacitor is configured to resonate with a first parasitic capacitance between the first node and an AC ground to substantially cancel the first parasitic capacitance.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and methods for a cascode amplifier topology for millimeter-wave power application

Life of this patent

Apparatus and methods for a cascode amplifier topology for millimeter-wave power application

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20