Off-chip distributed drain biasing of high power distributed amplifier monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) chips

摘要

Off-chip distributed drain biasing increases output power and efficiency for high power distributed amplifier MMICs. An off-chip bias circuit has a common input for receiving DC bias current and a plurality of parallel-connected bias chokes among which the DC bias current is divided. The chokes are connected to a like plurality of drain terminals at different FET amplifier stages to supply DC bias current at different locations along the output transmission line. Off-chip distributed drain biasing increases the level of DC bias current that can be made available to the amplifier and add inductances to selected FET amplifier stages, typically the earlier stages, to modify the load impedance seen at the drain terminal to better match the amplifier stages to improve power and efficiency.