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RF power amplifiers and MEMS varactors

This thesis is concerned with the design and implementation of radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers and micro-electromechanical systems---namely MEMS varactors. This is driven by the many wireless communication systems which are constantly moving towards increased integration, better signal quality, and longer battery life. / The power amplifier consumes most of the power in a receiver/transmitter system (transceiver), and its output signal is directly transmitted by the antenna without further modification. Thus, optimizing the PA for low power consumption, increased linearity, and compact integration is highly desirable. / Micro-electromechanical systems enable new levels of performance in radio-frequency integrated circuits, which are not readily available via conventional IC technologies. They are good candidates to replace lossy, low Q-factor off-chip components, which have traditionally been used to implement matching networks or output resonator tanks in class AB, class F, or class E power amplifiers. The MEMS technologies also make possible the use of new architectures, with the possibility of flexible re-configurability and tunability for multi-band and/or multi-standard applications. / The major effort of this thesis is focused on the design and fabrication of an RF frequency class AB power amplifier in the SiGe BiCMOS 5HP technology, with the capability of being tuned with external MEMS varactors. The latter necessitated the exploration of wide-tuning range MEMS variable capacitors, with prototypes designed and fabricated in the Metal-MUMPS process. / An attempt is made to integrate the power amplifier chip and the MEMS die in the same package to provide active tuning of the power amplifier matching network, in order to keep the efficiency of the PA constant for different input power levels and load conditions. / Detailed simulation and measurement results for all circuits and MEMS devices are reported and discussed.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.112576
Date January 2007
CreatorsMahdavi, Sareh.
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageMaster of Engineering (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 002713666, proquestno: AAIMR51467, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.

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