A 140GHz power amplifier with 20.5dBm output power and 20.8% PAE in 250-nm InP HBT technology

Ahmed S.H. Ahmed, Munkyo Seo, Ali A. Farid, Miguel Urteaga, James F. Buckwalter, Mark J.W. Rodwell

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report a high-efficiency D-band power amplifier in 250nm InP HBT technology. The design has three common-base stages and a low-loss 4:1 transmission-line output power combiner. The amplifier has 20.5 dBm peak saturated output power with 20.8% PAE and 15dB associated large-signal gain at 140GHz. At 1dB gain compression, the output power is 17dBm with 9.7% PAE. The amplifier's peak small-signal gain is 20.3dB at 140GHz, and the small-signal 3-dB bandwidth is 120-163GHz. Over a 125-150GHz bandwidth, the saturated output power is within 2dB of its 140GHz maximum, with an associated PAE greater than 14.3%. The amplifier consumes 0.52W DC power and occupies 0.69mm2 area. To the authors' knowledge, this result improves the state-of-the-art peak PAE at 140GHz by 1.6:1 for amplifiers of comparable saturated output power.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIMS 2020 - 2020 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages492-495
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9781728168159
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2020
Externally publishedYes
Event2020 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, IMS 2020 - Virtual, Los Angeles, United States
Duration: 4 Aug 20206 Aug 2020

Publication series

NameIEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest
Volume2020-August
ISSN (Print)0149-645X

Conference

Conference2020 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, IMS 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Los Angeles
Period4/08/206/08/20

Keywords

  • D-band
  • High efficiency
  • InP
  • Millimeter wave
  • Power amplifiers
  • Transmission-line combiner

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