A Brief Review: Stage-Convertible Power Amplifier Using Differential Line Inductor

In this review article, a stage-convertible RF power amplifier designed with a 0.18-μm RF CMOS process is described. A method to implement a low-power matching network is an essential technology for the stage-convertible power amplifier. Various low-power matching networks with distributed active transformers as an output power combiner are compared in terms of the amounts of undesired coupling, the chip size, and the amount of power loss. The feasibility of a differential line inductor for the stage-convertible power amplifier is assessed and explained. Finally, we show that the differential line inductor is a realistic means of reducing the overall chip size, enhancing the quality factor of the matching network, and minimizing the undesired coupling between the inter-stage matching network and any output matching network. Additionally, the operating mechanism of the stage-convertible power amplifier using the differential line inductor for a low-power matching network is described in detail.