MM Wave Power Amplifier Feedback Loops for Wider Bandwidth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power amplifiers fail to achieve large bandwidth, high linearity, and low power consumption simultaneously, especially at millimeter wave frequencies, which are essential for high-quality mobile device transmission and reception.

Innovation Solution

A multistage MM wave power amplifier architecture with weak negative feedback and interleaved double feedback loops is employed, utilizing resistors and other components to enhance bandwidth and gain, while also incorporating electrostatic discharge protection through coplanar waveguide and microstrip line networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If conventional open loop designs are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but bandwidth and linearity performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamplifier structureVSAvoidbandwidth performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback network that taps signals from intermediate amplifier stages and feeds them back to earlier stages. This feedback mechanism enables the amplifier to achieve wide bandwidth (greater than 8GHz) and high linearity by controlling signal levels and reducing distortion, while maintaining a practical device complexity through systematic signal routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If feedback circuits are added to improve bandwidth, then bandwidth increases, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback network is designed to tap only a portion of the signal from intermediate stages rather than the full signal, and the feedback is applied selectively to specific stages. This partial feedback approach achieves the necessary bandwidth and linearity improvement without requiring excessive feedback strength that would demand additional power for signal restoration and amplification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Power

If amplifier stages are increased to improve gain, then gain increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamplifier gainVSAvoidcircuit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The amplifier is divided into multiple discrete stages, each contributing to the overall gain. The feedback network segments the signal path by tapping from specific intermediate stages and feeding back to specific earlier stages. This segmented approach allows systematic gain accumulation while maintaining manageable complexity through modular stage design and structured feedback routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2792067B1Millimeter wave power amplifier
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2792067B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2792067B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2792067B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A millimeter wave power amplifier is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a MM wave power amplifier (300) includes a plurality of amplifier stages (302, 304, 306, 308) coupled together to receive a MM wave input signal and produce an amplified MM wave output signal, and one or more feedback elements (310, 312) coupled across the amplifier stages (302, 304, 306, 308), each feedback element (310, 312) coupled across an odd number of the amplifier stages (302, 304, 306, 308) to increase an operating bandwidth of the power amplifier (300).