Lecture 6: Microwave Amplifiers (3) 8.

Compute maximum power

Design procedure for a small signal amplifier: gain for the amplifier.
1. List the specifications such as frequency, power gain, NF, etc. 9. Choose a source power gain
circle to intercept with the noise
2. Choose a device --- very critical step.
circle.
3. Measure S-parameter and noise parameters of the device (or
10. Design the input and output
obtain from the vendor) for the conditions specified (for the
impedance matching network
hybrid design).
values --- another crucial step!
4. S-parameters and noise parameters from the foundry (for MMIC
11. Realize the matching
design).
networks based on the
5. Study the Min., Max., and variations of the device parameters. application at hand.
6. Check the stability conditions. 12. Whenever possible, use good
CAD tools for accurate design
7. Plot constant gain and constant noise figure circles on the same
predictions.
Smith chart. ELEC518, Kevin Chen, HKUST 1 ELEC518, Kevin Chen, HKUST 2

Narrow band amplifiers: typically have bandwidth less than 10%

of the center frequency. Most of the amplifiers designed for
II. Low-noise amplifier design
portable communication amplifiers fall in this category.
1. Determine the source impedance from the reflection
I. Maximum power gain design
coefficients data for minimum noise figure provided by the
1. Determine the source and load impedances from the vendor. The load impedance is designed for the maximum
reflection coefficients data for the maximum power gain power gain. These values are taken at the center frequency
provided by the vendor. These values are taken at the center for the amplifier.
frequency for the amplifier.
2. Realize the matching elements to transform the source and
2. Realize the matching elements to transform the source and load impedances to 50 Ω.
load impedances to 50 Ω.

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III. Special considerations for monolithic RFIC circuit design:
1. Try to minimize the space taken by passive components to
reduce the die size (and therefore the cost).
2. Element values limited by planar process.
3. The design must be tolerant to the expected process
variation of the active device parameters due to the lack of
tuning capability.
4. RFIC/MMIC design requires “yield-driven” approach,
compared to the “performance-driven” approach of the
hybrid IC design.
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Broadband Transistor Amplifier Design
• Microwave transistors typically are not well matched in
broadband amplifiers.
• Broader bandwidth can be obtained at the expense of gain and
complexity.
Common approaches to achieving broader bandwidth
• Compensated matching networks: matching networks can be
designed to compensate for the gain rolloff in S21.
• Resistive matching networks: better matching with a loss in gain
and increase in noise figure.
• Negative feedback: negative feedback can be used to flatten the
gain response of the transistor at the expense of gain and noise
figure.
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Broadband Transistor Amplifier Design: Balance Amplifiers
Challenges for broadband transistor amplifiers:
• Conjugate matching will give maximum gain only over a
relatively narrow bandwidth.
• Designing for less than maximum gain will improve the gain
bandwidth, but the input and output ports of the amplifier will be
poorly matched.
• Gain rolloff of |S21| at a rate of 6 dB/octave.
Some common approaches to design broadband amplifiers:
• Compensated matching networks: frequency response of the
matching network can compensate the gain rolloff in |S21| .
• Negative feedback: flatten gain response, at the expense of gain
and noise figure.
• Balanced amplifiers: good matching, but the design is more
complicated. ELEC518, Kevin Chen, HKUST 6
Balance Amplifiers
Two amplifiers having 90o couplers at their input and output can
provide good matching over an octave bandwidth, or more. The
gain is equal to that of a single amplifier, however, and the design
requires two transistors and twice the DC power.
8
 How is the input and output mismatch improved in V2− − j
S21 of the overall amplifier is S21 = = (G A + GB )
Balance Amplifiers? V1+ 2
The input at each amplifier is given by Overall gain of the balanced amplifier is the average of the
+1 + −j + individual amplifier.
V =
A1 V1 VB+1 = V1
2 2 The total reflected voltage at the input can be written as
The output is given by
1 − −j − 1 −j
− −j + 1 + −j 1 V1− = VA1 + VB1 = ΓAVA+1 + ΓBVB+1
V =
2 VA2 + VB 2 = G AVA+1 + GBVB+1 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2
1 +
−j + = V1 ( ΓA − ΓB )
= V1 (G A + GB ) 2
2 V1− 1
S11 of the overall amplifier is S11 = + = ( ΓA − ΓB )
V1 2
S11 is small as long as the two amplifiers are close in performance.
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Advantages of balanced amplifiers Performance and Optimization of a Balanced Amplifier

Pozar, p. 834-835.

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 Distributed Amplifiers Operating principle

• Old idea getting a new life. • The input signal propagates down the gate line, with each FET
• Bandwidth in excess of a decade are possible, with good input tapping off some of the input power.
and output matching. • The amplified output signals from the FETs form a traveling
wave on the drain line.
• The propagation constants and lengths of the gate and drain lines
are chosen for constructive phasing of the output signals.
• The termination impedances on the lines serve to absorb waves
traveling in the reverse directions.
• The gate and drain capacitances of the FET effectively become
part of the gate and drain transmission lines, while the gate and
Configuration of an N-stage distributed amplifier. drain resistances introduce loss on these lines.
• Distributed amplifiers are also know as the traveling wave
amplifiers (TWAs).
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Analysis: separate loaded transmission lines for gate and drain

Transmission line circuit for the drain line.

Transmission line circuit for

the gate line.

Equivalent circuit of a single

unit cell of the gate line.
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 Gate transmission line analysis Drain transmission line analysis
jωC gs / l g
Z = jωLg Y = jωC g +
1 + jωRiC gs
New characteristic impedance of the gate line is

Z Lg
Zg = =
Y C g + C gs / l g
The attenuation is:
 jωC gs / l g 
γ g = α g + jβ g = ZY = jωLg  jωC g + 
 1 + jωRiC gs 

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Gain of a distributed amplifier:

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 Power Dividers and Directional Couplers
• Passive components used for power division or power
combining
• In the form of three-port (T-junction) networks and four-
port (directional) networks

Basic Properties of Dividers and Couplers

Three-Port Networks (T-Junctions)
Reference: Y. Ayasli, et al.
It would be useful to have a passive lossless network that
IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory and
Techniques, vol. 30, pp. 976-981, July divides input port power at any port between the other
1982. two ports while being matched at all three ports. This
would require the network to be matched, lossless and
reciprocal.
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Two Types of Circulators

Network S-matrix 2

(1) Matched Sii = 0 0 S12 S13 (1) Clockwise circulation

(2) Lossless Unitary [S] [S] = S21 0 S23
0 0 1
(3) Reciprocal S31 S32 0 1
[S] = 1 0 0
Symmetric [S] This matrix can satisfy (1) 0 1 0
and (3), but not (2). 3

it rotates power from port 1->2, port 2->3 and port 3->1.
Therefore, using “normal” lossless components such as 2

transmission lines, capacitors and inductors it is impossible to (2) Clockwise circulation

construct a 3-port network matched at all 3 ports. 0 1 0
Need to relax one of the restrictions. [S] = 0 0 1 1

1 0 0
A. For a nonreciprocal 3-port network (Sij ≠ Sji), using it rotates power from port 1->2, port 2->3 and
anisotropic materials (such as ferrite), all ports can be port 3->1. 3

matched and a circulator is created.

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 Applications of Circulators: C. For a reciprocal and all-matched 3-port network (Sij =
Sji), but with lossy components.
• Protects a power amplifier from output mismatch.
This is the case of the resistive divider. A lossy 3-port
• Allows a transmitter and receiver to share an antenna.
network can be made to have isolation between its output
B. For a lossless and reciprocal 3-port network (Sij = Sji), ports.
but with only two ports matched.
0 S12 S13 Four Port Networks (Directional Couplers)
[S] = S12 0 S23 Pozar’s book shows that a matched, reciprocal, lossless four-port
S13 S32 S33 network is possible, and that it has directional coupling between
pairs of ports.
The requirement for unitary
matrix leads to There are two possible forms of [S] for a directional coupler, one
with outputs differing by 90° in phase and the other with outputs
0 ejθ 0 differing by 180° in phase. Any 90° coupler can be made into a
[S] = ejθ 0 0 180° coupler by adding a 90° transmission to one port, and vice
0 0 ejφ Totally mismatched versa.
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1 2 1 2 1 λ /4 2 Coupled Isolated
Input Output
Input Output Σ Output
90° 90° 180° 180° Zo λ /4
Coupler Hybrid
Isolated Coupled ∆ Output
Isolated Output
4 3 4 3 4 3
Z o /¦2 Input Through

0 α jβ 0 0 α β 0 
α A branch-line coupler A coupled-line
0 0 jβ  α 0 0 − β
[S ] =  
[S ] =   directional coupler
 jβ 0 0 α β 0 0 α 
    Coupling, Directionality and Isolation
0 jβ α 0 −β α
0 0 

α2 + β 2 =1 Coupling = C = 10log(P1/P3) = -20logβ dB

Any 90° coupler can be made into a 180° coupler by adding a Directivity = D = 10 log (P3/P4) = 20logβ/ |S14| dB
90° transmission to one port, and vice versa.. The 90° coupler is
Isolation = I = 10log(P1/P4) = -20log |S14| dB
referred to as a quadrature hybrid, and can be created using directly
connected branch lines between two transmission lines or by means
I= D + C dB
of coupled transmission lines.
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 Resistive Divider The input impedance of the divider is
If we relax the requirement for zero loss, Z0 2Z0
we can realize a matched, reciprocal Z in = + = Z0 matched
power divider. 3 3
Since the network is symmetric from all three ports, the
Such a divider output ports are also matched.
can be realized
Output Power
by connecting
V1
three Zo An equal-split three-port
The output voltage from port 2 and 3 are, V2 = V3 =
transmission resistive power divider. 2
lines to a star Thus, S21 = S31 = S23 = 1/2, which indicates -6 dB below
circuit consisting the input power level. We have
The impedance looking into the resistor
of three resistors 0 1 1 
followed by the output line, is
1 1
R = Zo/3.
[S ] = 1 0 1 Port 2 and 3 are P2 = P3 = Pin
Z0 4Z 2  not isolated. 4
Z= + Z0 = 0
3 3 1 1 0 power
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Features of the Wilkinson dividers

The Wilkinson Power Divider
1. By choosing the impedance of the λ/4 lines to be 2 Zo, the
Motivation: to solve the problem of output isolation matched output loads ZL = Zo are transformed to 2Zo so they can be
The Wilkinson power divider is a three-port that has all ports placed in parallel to equal 2Zo/2 = Zo creating a matched condition at
matched with isolation between the two output ports. the input port.
2. Any mismatched power returned from a load at either output port is
divided equally between the load on the input port (the generator
source impedance, presumed to be Zg = Zo) and the resistor R.
3. None of the reflected power from a mismatched load is dissipated
in the other load, so the output ports are isolated (S23 = S32 = 0).
When the Wilkinson power divider is driven at port 1 and the
An equal-split Microstrip Wilkinson Equivalent circuit outputs are matched, no power is dissipated in the resistor. Thus the
power divider
divider is lossless when the outputs are matched; only reflected
The Wilkinson power divider can be made to give arbitrary power from ports 2 or 3 is dissipated in the resistor. Since S23 = S32
power division. But an equal-split one is used here for = 0, ports 2 and 3 are isolated.
analysis. ELEC518, Kevin Chen, HKUST 31 ELEC518, Kevin Chen, HKUST 32
 S-parameters of a Wilkinson divider
S11 = 0 S 22 = S33 = 0
The (4-port) Directional Couplers
• A fraction of a wave
traveling from port 1 to port
2 via the transmission line
1-2 is coupled to port 3, but
not to port 4.
• A fraction of a wave
traveling from port 2 to port
1 is coupled to port 4, but
not to port 3.
• The same coupling exists in
transmission line 1-2 for
waves traveling on line 4-3.
ELEC518, Kevin Chen, HKUST
V1e + V1o Recalling the definition of Coupling, Directivity and
S12 = S 21 = S 23 = S32 = 0
V2e + V2o Isolation factors. C and D can be measured directly, but the
Coupling = C =10log(P1/P3) power level at the coupled ports (3 and 4)
= − j/ 2
may be small enough to make this
Directivity = D = 10 log(P3/P4) difficult, particularly if the signal coupled
from the input to reverse output port 4 is
Isolation = I = 10log(P1/P4)
masked by a reflected wave from an
imperfectly matched load at port 2.
The Quadrature (90O) Hybrid Directional
Couplers
• A 3 dB directional coupler with a 90o phase difference in the
outputs of the through and coupled arms.
• Exist in the form of branch-line, coupled line and or Lange
(interdigitated).
Symbols for directional couplers.
33 ELEC518, Kevin Chen, HKUST 34

0 j 1 0 
Brach-Line Couplers  
The [S] matrix is given by − 1  j 0 0 1
[S ] =
Highly symmetric 2 1 0 0 j 
 
0 1 j 0 
A practical microstrip quadrature
hybrid prototype.
Some practical design issues:
A branch-line coupler in
normalized form 1. Limited bandwidth: due to the nature
of quarter-wave line. Multisection design
B1 = 0 (port 1 is matched) will help.
j
B2 = − (half - power, - 90o phase shift from port 1 to 2) 2. The effect of discontinuity at the
2
1 junctions: shunt arms are usually
B3 = − (half - power, - 180o phase shift from port 1 to 3) lenghthened by 10o - 20o.
2
B4 = 0 (no power to port 4)
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 Coupled Line Theory Even mode excitation: E-field symmetric about the center line
Various geometries
C12 is open-
circuited
Ce=C11 = C22,
Edge-coupled stripline Broadside-coupled stripline assuming the
two strips are L LCe 1
identical in size Z 0 e = = = ,
Ce Ce vCe
Edge-coupled microstrip line. and location.
where v is the propagation velocity on the line.
Odd mode
excitation Co=C11 + 2C12 = C22+ 2C12

1
Z0e =
vCo
Equivalent circuit Voltage null
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Tight Couplers: The Lange Couplers and Ring The Lange couplers has the following features:
Hybrid Couplers • There is a 90o phase difference between the output lines (ports 2 and 3)
• Coupled-line couplers are not suitable to achieve coupling factors of
3 dB or 6 dB, due to the loose coupling. • Difficult to fabricate the bonding wires due to the narrow spacing between
the lines.
• Tight coupling can be achieved by the special layout of the coupled
lines, so that the fringing fields at the edge of the lines can contribute The 180o Hybrid
to the coupling.
• The two outputs are either in phase
The Lange Couplers:
or with a 180o phase difference.
The interdigitated Lange coupler The unfolded Lange coupler
• A signal applied to port 1 is evenly
divided into two in-phase
components at port 2 and 3, with port 0 1 1 0
4 isolated.  0 − 1
− j 1 0 
• A signal applied to port 4 is equally [S ] =
2 1 0 0 1
split into two out-of-phase  
components at port 2 and 3, with port 0 − 1 1 0
1 isolated.
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• When operated as a combiner, with inputs at ports 2 and 3, the sum of
the inputs will be formed at port 1 (the sum port), while the difference
will be formed at port 4 (the difference port).

Ring Hybrid (rat-race): a typical 180o Hybrid

Port 3 Port 1

Port 4
Port 2

Similar to branch-line coupler. Can be easily constructed in

planar (microstrip or stripline) form. Read pp. 403-407 of Pozar.
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