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Joint RF and large-signal stability optimization of MMIC power combining amplifiers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 August 2013

Natanael Ayllon*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Electricidad y Electrónica, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
Juan-Mari Collantes
Affiliation:
Departamento de Electricidad y Electrónica, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
Aitziber Anakabe
Affiliation:
Departamento de Electricidad y Electrónica, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
Geoffroy Soubercaze-Pun
Affiliation:
DCT/RF/HT, CNES, 18 Av. Edouard Belin, 31401, Toulouse, France
Stephane Forestier
Affiliation:
Thales Alenia Space – France, 26 av. J. F. Champollion, 31037, Toulouse, France
Dominique Langrez
Affiliation:
Thales Alenia Space – France, 26 av. J. F. Champollion, 31037, Toulouse, France
*
Corresponding author: N. Ayllon Email: Natanael.Ayllon@esa.int

Abstract

In this paper, authors report on an enhanced approach for the design of monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) power combining amplifiers. Commonly used techniques for the stabilization of such circuits are empirical and too conservative. This leads very often to a non-desired degradation of the radio frequency (RF) performances that are inherent to the physical properties of such stabilization networks at the fundamental frequency of operation. The methodology proposed here is based on the use of large-signal optimization processes that combine RF and stability analyses from the early stages of the design. This approach results in an improvement of the RF performances while sufficient stability margins are preserved. The optimization procedure is explained on a Ku-band MMIC power amplifier for space-borne communications.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2013 

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References

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