Academic literature on the topic 'GaN MMIC Power Amplifiers'

With the growth of smart phones, the demand for more broadband, data centric technologies are being driven higher. As mobile operators worldwide plan and deploy 4th generation (4G) networks such as LTE to support the relentless growth in mobile data demand, the need for strategically positioned pico-sized cellular base stations known as ‘pico-cells’ are gaining traction. In addition to having to design a transceiver in a much compact footprint, pico-cells must still face the technical challenges presented by the new 4G systems, such as reduced power consumptions and linear amplification of the signals. The RF power amplifier (PA) that amplifies the output signals of 4G pico-cell systems face challenges to minimize size, achieve high average efficiencies and broader bandwidths while maintaining linearity and operating at higher frequencies. 4G standards as LTE use non-constant envelope modulation techniques with high peak to average ratios. Power amplifiers implemented in such applications are forced to operate at a backed off region from saturation. Therefore, in order to reduce power consumption, a design of a high efficiency PA that can maintain the efficiency for a wider range of radio frequency signals is required. The primary focus of this thesis is to enhance the efficiency of a compact RF amplifier suitable for a 4G pico-cell base station. For this aim, an integrated two way Doherty amplifier design in a compact 10mm x 11.5mm monolithic microwave integrated circuit using GaN device technology is presented. Using non-linear GaN HFETs models, the design achieves high effi-ciencies of over 50% at both back-off and peak power regions without compromising on the stringent linearity requirements of 4G LTE standards. This demonstrates a 17% increase in power added efficiency at 6 dB back off from peak power compared to conventional Class AB amplifier performance. Performance optimization techniques to select between high efficiency and high linearity operation are also presented. Overall, this thesis demonstrates the feasibility of an integrated HFET Doherty amplifier for LTE band 7 which entails the frequencies from 2.62-2.69GHz. The realization of the layout and various issues related to the PA design is discussed and attempted to be solved.

In this research, an innovative phased array antenna module is proposed to implement a high-power, high-efficient and compact C-band radio transmitter. The module configuration, which can be integrated into front-end circuits, was designed as planar layers stacked up together to form a metallic cube. The layers were fabricated by using a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling machine and screwed together. The antenna parts and the amplifier units were designed at two opposite sides of the cube to spread the dissipated heat produced by the amplifiers and act as a heat sink. Merging the antenna parts with the amplifier circuits offers additional advantages such as decreasing the total power loss, mass, and volume of the transmitter modules by removing the extra power divider and combiner networks and connectors between them as well as reducing the total signal path. To achieve both a maximum possible radiation efficiency and high directivity, the aperture waveguide antenna was selected as the array element. Four antenna elements have been located in a cavity to be excited equally and the cavity is excited through a slot on its underside so a compact subarray is formed. Antenna measurements demonstrated a 15.5 dBi gain and 20 dB return loss at 10 % fractional bandwidth centered around 5.8 GHz and with more than 98% radiation efficiency. The total dimensions of the subarray are approximately 8*12*4 cm3. The outcoming signal from the amplifiers is transferred into the slot exciting the subarray through a microstrip-to-waveguide transition (MWT). A novel and robust MWT structure was designed for the presented application. The MWT was also integrated with a microstrip coupler to monitor the power from the amplifier output. The measured insertion loss of the MWT along with the microstrip coupler was less than 0.25 dB along with more than 20 dB return loss within the same bandwidth of the subarray. The microstrip coupler shows 38 dB of coupling and more than 48 dB of isolation with negligible effects on the amplifier output signal and the insertion/return loss of the MWT. The amplifier subcomponents consist of power combiners/dividers (PCDs), high power amplifiers (HPAs) and bias circuitry. A Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) three-stage HPA was designed in a commercially available 0.15 um AlGaN/GaN HEMT technology provided by National Research Council Canada (NRC) and occupies an area of 4.7*3.7 mm2. To stabilize the HPA, a novel inductive degeneration technique was successfully used. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first time this technique has been used to stabilize HPAs. Careful considerations on input/output impedances of all HEMTs were taken into account to prevent parametric oscillations. Other instability sources, i.e. odd-mode, even-mode, and low frequency (bias circuit) oscillations were also prevented by designing the required stabilization circuits. The electromagnetic simulation of the HPA shows 35 W (45.5 dBm) of saturated output power, 26 dB large signal gain and 29% power added efficiency within the same operating bandwidth as the subarray. The output distortion is less than 27 dB, indicating that the HPA is highly linear. The PCD was designed by utilizing a novel, enhanced configuration of a Gysel structure implemented on Rogers RT-Duroid5880. The insertion loss of the Gysel is less than 0.2 dB while return loss and isolation are greater than 20 dB over the entire bandwidth. The same subarray area (8*12 cm2) has been used for the amplifier circuits and up to eight HPAs can be included in each module. All the above parts of the transmitter module were fabricated and measured, except the MMIC-HPA.

Ces travaux de thèse se concentrent sur la conception d'amplificateur de puissance MMIC large-bande haut rendement en technologie GaN pour des applications militaires de type radar et guerre électronique. Les objectifs principaux sont de proposer des structures innovantes de combinaison de puissance notamment pour réduire la taille des amplificateurs actuels tout en essayant d'améliorer leur rendement dans le même temps. Pour cela, une partie importante de ces travaux consiste au développement de combineurs de puissance ultra compactes et faibles pertes. Une fois ces combineurs réalisés et mesurés, ils sont intégrés dans des amplificateurs de puissance afin de prouver leur fonctionnalité et les avantages qu'ils apportent. Différents types d'amplificateur tant au niveau de l'architecture que desperformances sont réalisés au cours de ces travaux<br>This work focus on the design of wideband and high efficiency GaN MMIC high power amplifiers for military applications such as radar and electronic warfare. The main objectives consist in finding innovative power combining structures in order to decrease the overall size of amplifiers and increasing their efficiency at the same time. For these matters, an important part of this work consisted in the design and realization of ultra compact and low loss power combiners. Once the combiners realized and measured, they are integrated into power amplifiers to prove their functionality and the advantages they bring. Several kind of amplifiers have been realized whether regrind their architecture or their performances

Ce travail répond à un besoin industriel accru en termes d’amplification des signaux sur porteuses à enveloppes variables utilisés par les systèmes de télécommunications actuels. Ces signaux disposent d’un fort PAPR et d’une distribution statistique d’enveloppe centrée en-deçà de la valeur crête d’enveloppe. La raison pour laquelle les industriels télécoms requièrent alors des amplificateurs de très fortes puissances de sortie, robustes, fiables et ayant une dépense énergétique optimale le long de la dynamique d’enveloppe associée à un niveau de linéarité acceptable. Ce document expose les résultats d’étude et de réalisation de deux Amplificateurs de Puissance Doherty (APD) à haut rendement encapsulés en boîtiers plastiques QFN. Le premier est un amplificateur Doherty symétrique classique (APD-SE) et le second est un amplificateur à deux entrées RF (APD-DE). Ces démonstrateurs fonctionnant en bande C sont fondés sur l’utilisation de la technologie Quasi-MMIC associant des barrettes de puissance à base des transistors HEMTs AlGaN/GaN sur SiC à des circuits d’adaptation en technologie ULRC. L’approche Quasi-MMIC associée à la solution d’encapsulation plastique QFN permettant une meilleure gestion des comportements thermiques offre des performances électriques similaires à celles de la technologie MMIC avec des coûts et des cycles de fabrication très attractifs. Durant ces travaux, une nouvelle méthode d’évaluation des transistors dédiés à la conception d’amplificateurs Doherty a été développée et mise en oeuvre. L’utilisation intensive des simulations électromagnétiques 2.5D et 3D a permis de bien prendre en compte les effets de couplages entre les différents circuits dans l’environnement du boîtier QFN. Les résultats des tests des amplificateurs réalisés fonctionnant sur une bande de 1GHz ont permis de valider la méthode de conception et ont montré que les concepts avancés associés à l’approche Quasi-MMIC ainsi qu’à des technologies d’encapsulation plastique, peuvent générer des fonctions micro-ondes innovantes. Les caractérisations de l’APD-DE ont relevé l’intérêt inhérent à la préformation des signaux d’excitation et des points de polarisation de chaque étage de l’amplificateur<br>This work responds to an increased industrial need for on carrier signals with variable envelope amplification used by current telecommunications systems. These signals have a strong PAPR and an envelope statistical distribution centred below the envelope peak value, the reason why the telecom industrialists then require a robust and reliable high power amplifiers having an energy expenditure along of the envelope dynamics associated with an acceptable level of linearity. This document presents the results of the study and realization of two, high efficiency, Doherty Power Amplifiers (DPA) encapsulated in QFN plastic packages. The first is a conventional Doherty power Amplifier (DPA-SE) and the second is a dual-input Doherty power amplifier (DPA-DE). These C-band demonstrators are based on the use of Quasi-MMIC technology combining power bars based on the AlGaN/GaN transistors on SiC to matching circuits in ULRC technology. The Quasi-MMIC approach combined with Quasi-MMIC approach combined with QFN plastic package solution for better thermal behaviour management offers electrical performances similar to those of MMIC technology with very attractive coasts and manufacturing cycles. During this work, a new evaluation method for the transistors dedicated to the design of DPA was developed and implemented. The intensive use of 2.5D and 3D electromagnetic simulations made it possible to take into account the coupling effects existing between the different circuits in the QFN package environment. The results of the tests of the amplifiers realised and operating on 1GHz bandwidth validated the design method and showed that the advanced concepts associated with the Quasi-MMIC approach as well as plastic encapsulation technologies can generate innovative microwave functions. The characterizations of the DPA-DE have noted the interest inherent in the preformation of the excitation signals and the bias points of each stage of the amplifier

Ces travaux de thèse s’intègrent dans le cadre du processus d’amélioration continue de l’efficacité et de la linéarité des amplificateurs de puissance en présence des signaux sur porteuses modulées utilisés par les systèmes de télécommunications modernes.Ces signaux présentent un PAPR élevé et une distribution statistique d’enveloppe centrée en-deçà de la valeur crête d’enveloppe. De ce fait, les amplificateurs de puissance conventionnel (classe AB à polarisation fixe) sont souvent surdimensionnés pour répondre aux besoins des industriels télécoms. La technique de suivi d’enveloppe a été utilisée pour augmenter la PAE le long de l’OBO (10 dB pour LTE) tout en gardant un gain en puissance constant associé à une bonne linéarité en termes de conversion d’AM/AM. Une méthode de conception d’amplificateur de puissance en technologie MMIC fondé sur l’utilisation des HEMTs GaN a été développée et utilisée pour concevoir un AP délivrant une puissance de sortie de 4W et fonctionnant en bande K [17-20GHz]. L’AP réalisé a été ensuite couplé à un modulateur numérique de polarisation de drain. L’ensemble AP et modulateur de polarisation constituant un système de suivi d’enveloppe appelé APSE a été caractérisé en termes d’efficacité et de linéarité en présence de signaux modulés. L’APSE montre des performances très intéressantes comparées à celles obtenue avec un AP à polarisation fixe. En effet à un OBO de l’ordre de 7dB, dans la bande [17-20GHz], la PAE est améliorée de [10-7.5 points]. La PAE moyenne le long de l’OBO varie entre 32 et 36% sur la bande considérée et elle est associée à une EVM variant entre 5 à 1.6% avec une DPD quasi-statique appliquée au signal en bande de base. Les caractérisations de l’APSE ont démontré l’intérêt de l’utilisation des amplificateurs de puissance à suivi d’enveloppe dans les systèmes de télécommunications modernes<br>This thesis work is part of the process of continuous improvement of the efficiency and linearity of power amplifiers in presence of signals on modulated carriers used in modern telecommunications systems. These signals have a high PAPR and a statistical envelope distribution centered below the envelope peak value. As a result, conventional power amplifiers (Class AB fixed bias) are often oversized to meet the needs of the telecom industry. The envelope tracking technique has been used to increase the PAE along the OBO (10 dB for LTE) while maintaining a constant power gain associated to a good linearity in terms of AM/AM conversion. A power amplifier design method in MMIC technology based on the use of GaN HEMTs has been developed and is used to design an APdelivering an output power of 4W and operating in K-band [17-20GHz]. The realized APwas then coupled to a digital drain bias modulator. The APand bias modulator assembly constituting an envelope tracking system called APSE was characterized in terms of efficiency and linearity in presence of modulated signals. The APSE shows very interesting performances compared to those obtained with a fixed bias AP. Indeed, at an OBO of about 7dB, in the [17-20GHz] band, the PAE is improved by [10-7.5]. The average PAE along the OBO varies between 32 and 36% over the considered band and it is associated to an EVM varying between 5 and 1.6% with a quasi-static DPD applied to the baseband signal.The characterizations of APSE have demonstrated the interest of the use of envelope tracking power amplifiers in modern telecommunications systems

Mestrado em Engenharia Electrónica e Telecomunicações<br>The satellite communications have become a valid alternative to conventional communications, through fiber or copper, in situations of catastrophe or even as complement to improve the quality of the services provided at a worldwide scale. Recently, radio frequency engineers have worked towards a reliable solution to replace the travelling wave tube amplifiers on board of the satellite communications. Despite the travelling wave tube amplifiers reveal a good performance, its weight, size and cost are a serious technical problem to the main satellite manufacturers. However, this scenario tends to change due to the exploitation of the Gallium Nitride technology in high power, efficiency and frequency applications. The objective of this work involves an implementation of two power amplifiers in class B, resorting to a Gallium Nitride transistors and using different types of planar transmission lines, for a 5.8GHz frequency which is often used in uplink transmissions for C-band or even in recent applications of wireless power transmission. The best results were obtained for the microstrip lines power amplifier, achieving 34.1dBm of output power, 62.35% of drain efficiency at saturation and a small-gain of 17dB.<br>As comunicações via satélite têm-se tornado uma alternativa válida às vias de comunicações convencionais, como a fibra e o cobre, em situações de catástrofe ou até como complemento para melhorar a qualidade de serviços disponibilizados à escala global. Recentemente, os engenheiros de rádio frequência têm trabalhado para encontrar uma solução definitiva e fiável para a substituição dos amplificadores a válvulas nos satélites de comunicações. Apesar destes amplificadores apresentarem uma performance de destaque, o seu tamanho, peso, consumo e custo são sérios problemas para as empresas especializadas na sua construção. Contudo, o panorama tende a mudar devido à exploração da tecnologia de Nitreto de Gálio em aplicações de alta potência, frequência e eficiência. O objetivo desta trabalho passa pela implementação de dois amplificadores de potência em classe B, recorrendo a transístores de Nitreto de Gálio e usando diferentes linhas de transmissão planares, para a frequência de 5.8GHz que é frequentemente usada em transmissões uplink na banda C, ou mesmo nas recentes aplicações de transferência de energia sem fios. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos pela implementação em linhas microstrip, atingindo os 34.1dBm de potência de saída, 62.35% de eficiência na saturação e um ganho máximo de 17dB.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2006.<br>Title from first page of PDF file (viewed December 13, 2006). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.