Distributed active transformer
Encyclopedia
Distributed active transformer is a circuit
topology
that allows low-voltage transistor
s to be used to generate large amounts of RF (radio frequency
) power. Its main use has been in making integrated CMOS
power amplifier for wireless applications, such as GSM/GPRS
cellular phones.
At the time it was introduced, the distributed active transformer
gave over an order of magnitude performance improvement over the previous state of the art.
Electronic circuit
An electronic circuit is composed of individual electronic components, such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes, connected by conductive wires or traces through which electric current can flow...
topology
Topology (electronics)
The topology of an electronic circuit is the form taken by the network of interconnections of the circuit components. Different specific values or ratings of the components are regarded as being the same topology....
that allows low-voltage transistor
Transistor
A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals and power. It is composed of a semiconductor material with at least three terminals for connection to an external circuit. A voltage or current applied to one pair of the transistor's terminals changes the current...
s to be used to generate large amounts of RF (radio frequency
Radio frequency
Radio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
) power. Its main use has been in making integrated CMOS
CMOS
Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor is a technology for constructing integrated circuits. CMOS technology is used in microprocessors, microcontrollers, static RAM, and other digital logic circuits...
power amplifier for wireless applications, such as GSM/GPRS
General Packet Radio Service
General packet radio service is a packet oriented mobile data service on the 2G and 3G cellular communication system's global system for mobile communications . GPRS was originally standardized by European Telecommunications Standards Institute in response to the earlier CDPD and i-mode...
cellular phones.
At the time it was introduced, the distributed active transformer
Transformer
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coils. A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and thus a varying magnetic field...
gave over an order of magnitude performance improvement over the previous state of the art.
External links
- Thesis - Distributed Active Transformer for Integrated Power Amplification - Ichiro Aoki (2002) - California Institute of Technology
- Aoki,I.; Kee,S.; Magoon,R.; Aparicio,R.; Bohn,F.; Zachan,J.; Hatcher,G.; McClymont,D.; Hajimiri,A.; "A Fully-Integrated Quad-Band GSM/GPRS CMOS Power Amplifier"; Solid-State Circuits, IEEE Journal of; Dec. 2008
- Aoki,I.; Kee,S.D.; Rutledge,D.B.; Hajimiri,A.; "Fully Integrated CMOS Power Amplifier Design Using the Distributed Active-Transformer Architecture"; Solid-State Circuits, IEEE Journal of; Mar. 2002
- Aoki,I.; Kee,S.D.; Rutledge,D.B.; Hajimiri,A.; "Distributed Active Transformer - A New Power-Combining and Impedance-Transformation Technique"; Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on; Jan. 2002