Complementary Transistor Harmonic Trap for Linear RF Amplifiers

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Solution Overview

Problem

As wireless devices evolve to handle increasing bandwidth and signal complexity, maintaining linearity and accuracy in amplifier circuits becomes challenging due to signal densification, requiring amplifiers that can efficiently amplify input signals without altering their content.

Innovation Solution

The use of an active device comprising an n-type and a p-type transistor with shared source, coupled by capacitors, which provides high breakdown voltage, memorylessness, and harmonic signal trapping capabilities, distinguishing between even and odd signals generated during Class AB or C operation, and is utilized in conjunction with tuning blocks to achieve linear output signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If bandwidth and signal complexity are increased, then more data can be transmitted, but linearity and signal accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoidsignal linearity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The amplifier is divided into separate n-type and p-type transistor branches, each handling specific signal components. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each branch for linearity while collectively handling complex broadband signals, resolving the contradiction between high data capacity and signal accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs memoryless nonlinear distortion compensation by dynamically adjusting operating parameters of the transistors based on input signal characteristics. This enables the amplifier to maintain linearity across varying bandwidth and signal complexity conditions, preventing linearity degradation as data capacity increases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If power supply voltage is increased to improve breakdown voltage, then device reliability improves, but power consumption increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply voltage is segmented and distributed across multiple transistor branches rather than applying full voltage to a single device. This segmentation allows each transistor to operate at lower individual voltages (reducing power consumption) while the series configuration maintains high overall breakdown voltage (improving reliability)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite configuration of n-type and p-type transistors with complementary characteristics. This composite structure achieves high breakdown voltage through the series arrangement while the complementary device properties enable efficient power utilization, reducing overall power consumption compared to single-type high-voltage designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3158642B1Memoryless active device which traps even harmonic signals
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 ETHERTRONICS
  • EP3158642B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3158642B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~3B
  • EP3158642B1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

An active device and circuits utilized therewith are disclosed. In an aspect, the active device comprises an n-type transistor having a drain, gate and bulk and a p-type transistor having a drain, gate and bulk. The n-type transistor and the p-type transistor include a common source. The device includes a first capacitor coupled between the gate of the n-type transistor and the gate of the p-type transistor, a second capacitor coupled between the drain of the n-type transistor and the drain of p-type transistor and a third capacitor coupled between the bulk of the n-type transistor and the bulk of p-type transistor. The active device has a high breakdown voltage, is memory less and traps even harmonic signals.