A Fully Integrated Dual-Band CMOS Power Amplifier Using a Variable Switched Interstage Matching Network

ABSTRACT

This work demonstrates a dual-band, two-stage power amplifier designed for WLAN and Wi-MAX applications (2/5 GHz) in 0.18 um complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Dual-band operation is achieved by only varying a switchable inductor in the interstage matching network and low-Q broadband on-chip input and output matching networks. This reduces the need for dual-band off-chip matching networks, thus making the design area efficient. The post-layout simulation results indicate a maximum P_sat of 17.8/16.3 dBm and a peak power-added efficiency (PAE) of 26/15% at 2/5 GHz. Measurements of a Quad Flat No Lead (QFN) packaged version indicate a maximum P_sat of 16.2 dBm and a PAE of 26% and harmonic contents below −12.5 dBc. Most importantly, the proposed power amplifier occupies a core area of only 0.9 mm² and does not use any off-chip component.

Keywords:

• CMOS power amplifier
• Dual band
• Fully integrated
• Interstage matching
• WLAN

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ritabrata Bhattacharya

Ritabrata Bhattacharya completed his BTech degree in electronics and communication from Vellore Institute of Technology, India, in 2009, and joined the Centre for Applied Research in Electronics, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, India, where he is currently working towards his PhD degree in multifunctional radio frequency integrated circuits. His research interests are the design of CMOS-based low-noise amplifiers and power amplifiers.

E-mail: [email protected]

Robin Gupta

Robin Gupta completed his BTech degree in electronics and communication from JSS Academy of Technical Education, India, in 2008, and MTech degree from Centre for Applied Research in Electronics at IIT Delhi in 2011. He is currently employed at Intel Mobile Communications in Power Drivers for 3G/2G smart phones. His research interests include optimization of power domains for smart phones.

E-mail: [email protected]

Ananjan Basu

Ananjan Basu (born 12 August 1969) did his BTech degree in electrical engineering and MTech degree in communication and radar engineering from IIT Delhi in 1991 and 1993, respectively, and PhD Degree in electrical engineering from University of California, Los Angeles, CA, in 1998. He has been employed at the Centre for Applied Research in Electronics, IIT Delhi. His specialization is in microwave and millimetre-wave component design and characterization including CMOS-based transceivers.

E-mail: [email protected]

Karun Rawat

Karun Rawat received his PhD degree in electrical engineering from University of Calgary, Canada, in 2012. He is currently an assistant professor in CARE centre, IIT Delhi. Before this, he was a postdoctoral research fellow in iRadio Labs, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada. He also worked as a scientist in the Space Applications Center, Indian Space Research Organization, Ahmedabad, from 2003 to 2007. He is a reviewer of several well-known journals including IEEE transactions and letters, and has 25 publications in journals and conferences. He is currently senior member of IEEE, USA. His current research interests are in the areas of non-linear circuit design for power amplification using CMOS and GaN MMIC technology. His research area also extends to architectural level design of concurrent multi-band/multi- mode transmitters for software-defined radio applications.

E-mail: [email protected]

Shiban K. Koul

Shiban K. Koul is a professor in the Centre for Applied Research in Electronics, IIT Delhi. He is the author/co-author of more than 100 research papers and seven state-of-the art books. He is the chief editor of the Journal of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE) India (Electromagnetics Section). He is on the editorial boards of the Journal of IETE, International Journal of RF and Microwave Computer-Aided Engineering, and the Microwave and Optical Technology Letters. Dr Koul is a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India), and IEEE, USA. He is recipient of several prestigious awards/accolades. His current research includes microwave and millimetre-wave circuit design using suspended strip-line and dielectric integrated guides and RF MEMS.

E-mail: [email protected]