Bias Circuit Design for Microwave Amplifiers

2022-05-04 21:46:04      点击:


We need to provide a stable bias-t condition for our device in any amplifier application. Bipolar transistors: Must force the DC (average) value of VCE and IC to desired values and keep them constant using feedback techniques.


Never fix VBE: IC = ISE e VBE/VT . IC varies exponentially with temperature. Never fix IB: IC =  IB  varies tremendously from device to device and increases with temperature as well (0.7%/degree C).


Field Effect Transistors: Force VDS and ID to desired values and keep them constant. The main weakness of microwave FETs is the variation in threshold voltage, VT, and the transconductance gm from device to device and with temperature.


In some cases, bias tees stabilization may be accomplished with passive circuit elements. An emitter or source resistor provides negative feedback to stabilize bias-t current. For example, as seen in Fig. 1, RS is a self-bias tees resistor. VGS = - ID RS in order to provide a negative gate-source voltage. If ID increases, VGS decreases to compensate. But, wiring inductance is introduced in the source circuit, even with a bypass capacitor across RS. This will become significant when L = 1/(10gm) which is generally a very small inductance.


Referring again to Fig. 1, the BJT circuit uses the conventional 4 resistor bias approach where the emitter resistor provides negative feedback stabilization against drift of the bias tee point with temperature or device parameter variation from batch to batch of devices. But, these circuits are not often used for RF applications because the biasing resistances also load the circuit and reduce the gain. 


Therefore, bias tees circuit techniques that permit use of a directly grounded source or emitter connection are preferred for high frequency amplifiers when implemented using discrete components on PC boards. In RFIC implementations, more flexibility is possible. One can use CC, CB, CG, CD connections as well as choosing device areas to optimize circuit performance. 


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