Bias circuits and methods for silicon-based amplifier architectures that are tolerant of supply and bias voltage variations, bias current variations, and transistor stack height, and compensate for poor output resistance characteristics. Embodiments include power amplifiers and low-noise amplifiers that utilize a cascode reference circuit to bias the final stages of a cascode amplifier under the control of a closed loop bias control circuit. The closed loop bias control circuit ensures that the current in the cascode reference circuit is approximately equal to a selected multiple of a known current value by adjusting the gate bias voltage to the final stage of the cascode amplifier. The final current through the cascode amplifier is a multiple of the current in the cascode reference circuit, based on a device scaling factor representing the relative sizes of the transistor devices in the cascode amplifier and in the cascode reference circuit.

An LNA having a plurality of paths, each of which can be controlled independently to achieve a gain mode. Each path includes at least an input FET and an output FET coupled in series. A gate of the output FET is controlled to set the gain of the LNA. Signals to be amplified are applied to the gate of the input FET. Additional stacked FETs are provided in series between the input FET and the output FET.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a series or source feedback is provided to a solid-state power amplifier to achieve improved amplifier output power, good impedance match, and low voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR). In an embodiment, an inductive element is coupled to the source of the power amplifier transistor to serve as a series or source feedback for the transistor. In an embodiment, a high-impedance transmission line such as a microstrip or coplanar waveguide is provided as an inductive element coupled to the source of the transistor. In an embodiment, a series or source feedback is provided to each amplifier in a multistage amplifier circuit.

Processes and systems for producing glass fibers having regions devoid of glass using submerged combustion melters, including feeding a vitrifiable feed material into a feed inlet of a melting zone of a melter vessel, and heating the vitrifiable material with at least one burner directing combustion products of an oxidant and a first fuel into the melting zone under a level of the molten material in the zone. One or more of the burners is configured to impart heat and turbulence to the molten material, producing a turbulent molten material comprising a plurality of bubbles suspended in the molten material, the bubbles comprising at least some of the combustion products, and optionally other gas species introduced by the burners. The molten material and bubbles are drawn through a bushing fluidly connected to a forehearth to produce a glass fiber comprising a plurality of interior regions substantially devoid of glass.

An amplifier circuit includes an input terminal used to receive an input signal, an output terminal used to output an output signal, an amplification unit, and a phase adjustment unit. The amplification unit includes an input terminal coupled to the input terminal of the amplifier circuit, an output terminal coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier circuit, a first terminal coupled to a first voltage terminal, and a second terminal coupled to a second voltage terminal. The phase adjustment unit is coupled to the amplification unit. When the amplifier circuit is operated in a first mode, the output signal has a first phase, and when the amplifier circuit is operated in a second mode, the output signal has a second phase. A difference between the first phase and the second phase is within a predetermined range.

Methods and devices to fabricate low-cost wideband LNAs that are tunable to multiple frequency bands. Decoupling capacitors are used as part of a tuning circuit implemented at the LNA input. The capacitors are switchably selectable to also tune a signal into desired frequency bands.

A variable gain low noise amplifier (LNA) and a method for controlling a gain of the variable gain LNA are provided. The variable gain LNA may include a first transistor, a first degeneration inductor, a second transistor and a second degeneration inductor, wherein the first degeneration inductor is coupled to a source terminal of the first transistor, and the second degeneration inductor is coupled to a source terminal of the second transistor. Gate terminals of the first transistor and the second transistor are configured to receive an input signal. The first transistor and the first degeneration inductor belong to a first branch of the variable gain LNA, and the second transistor and the second degeneration inductor belong to a second branch of the variable gain LNA. More particularly, a gain of the variable gain LNA is determined by controlling whether to turn off the second branch.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a series or source feedback is provided to a solid-state power amplifier to achieve improved amplifier output power, good impedance match, and low voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR). In an embodiment, an inductive element is coupled to the source of the power amplifier transistor to serve as a series or source feedback for the transistor. In an embodiment, a high-impedance microstrip is provided as an inductive element coupled to the source of the transistor. In an embodiment, a series or source feedback is provided to each amplifier in a multistage amplifier circuit. In an embodiment, a greater series or source feedback is provided at a later stage of a multistage amplifier circuit, whereas a smaller series or source feedback is provided at an earlier stage of the multistage amplifier circuit.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a series or source feedback is provided to a solid-state power amplifier to achieve improved amplifier output power, good impedance match, and low voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR). In an embodiment, an inductive element is coupled to the source of the power amplifier transistor to serve as a series or source feedback for the transistor. In an embodiment, a high-impedance microstrip is provided as an inductive element coupled to the source of the transistor. In an embodiment, a series or source feedback is provided to each amplifier in a multistage amplifier circuit. In an embodiment, a greater series or source feedback is provided at a later stage of a multistage amplifier circuit, whereas a smaller series or source feedback is provided at an earlier stage of the multistage amplifier circuit.

Methods and devices to minimize or reduce phase discontinuity between different gain modes (including bypass, active and passive modes) with reduced increase in circuit size (footprint or number of components) and complexity, without impacting other performance parameters, are disclosed. Phase shifter elements that can be disposed in both the active and passive bypass paths are also described. Moreover, devices using the same reconfigurable phase shifter elements in both active and bypass modes are described. Components of the phase shifters can also perform output matching when the phase shifters are implemented as part of an RF receiver front-end.