Components of a power amplifier controller may support lower voltages than the power amplifier itself. As a result, a surge protection circuit that prevents a power amplifier from being damaged due to a power surge may not effectively protect the power amplifier controller. Embodiments disclosed herein present an overvoltage protection circuit that prevents a charge-pump from providing a voltage to a power amplifier controller during a detected surge event. By separately detecting and preventing a voltage from being provided to the power amplifier controller during a surge event, the power amplifier controller can be protected regardless of whether the surge event results in a voltage that may damage the power amplifier. Further, embodiments of the overvoltage protection circuit can prevent a surge voltage from being provided to a power amplifier operating in 2G mode.

Components of a power amplifier controller may support lower voltages than the power amplifier itself. As a result, a surge protection circuit that prevents a power amplifier from being damaged due to a power surge may not effectively protect the power amplifier controller. Embodiments disclosed herein present an overvoltage protection circuit that prevents a charge-pump from providing a voltage to a power amplifier controller during a detected surge event. By separately detecting and preventing a voltage from being provided to the power amplifier controller during a surge event, the power amplifier controller can be protected regardless of whether the surge event results in a voltage that may damage the power amplifier. Further, embodiments of the overvoltage protection circuit can prevent a surge voltage from being provided to a power amplifier operating in 2G mode.

Integrated circuits, such as power amplifier integrated circuits, are disclosed containing compact-footprint, vertically-integrated capacitor-avalanche diode (AD) structures. In embodiments, the integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate, a metal layer system, and a vertically-integrated capacitor-AD structure. The metal layer system includes, in turn, a body of dielectric material in which a plurality of patterned metal layers are located. The vertically-integrated capacitor-AD structure includes a first AD formed, at least in part, by patterned portions of the first patterned metal layer. A first metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor is also formed in the metal layer system and at least partially overlaps with the first AD, as taken along a vertical axis orthogonal to the principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. In certain instances, at least a majority, if not the entirety of the first AD vertically overlaps with the first MIM capacitor, by surface area, as taken along the vertical axis.

Integrated circuits, such as power amplifier integrated circuits, are disclosed containing compact-footprint, vertically-integrated capacitor-avalanche diode (AD) structures. In embodiments, the integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate, a metal layer system, and a vertically-integrated capacitor-AD structure. The metal layer system includes, in turn, a body of dielectric material in which a plurality of patterned metal layers are located. The vertically-integrated capacitor-AD structure includes a first AD formed, at least in part, by patterned portions of the first patterned metal layer. A first metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor is also formed in the metal layer system and at least partially overlaps with the first AD, as taken along a vertical axis orthogonal to the principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. In certain instances, at least a majority, if not the entirety of the first AD vertically overlaps with the first MIM capacitor, by surface area, as taken along the vertical axis.

A power amplifier circuit includes a current generator and a current mirror driver. The current generator has a first input connected to a first voltage supply and an output configured to generate a first current. The current generator includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first resistor and a second resistor. The first transistor has an emitter connected to ground. The second transistor has a base connected to a base of the first transistor and an emitter connected to ground. The first resistor is connected between the first voltage supply and a collector of the first transistor. The second resistor is connected between the first voltage supply and a collector of the second transistor. The current mirror drive has a first input connected to the output of the current generator to receive the first current and an output configured to generate a second current.

A power amplifier circuit includes a current generator and a current mirror driver. The current generator has a first input connected to a first voltage supply and an output configured to generate a first current. The current generator includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first resistor and a second resistor. The first transistor has an emitter connected to ground. The second transistor has a base connected to a base of the first transistor and an emitter connected to ground. The first resistor is connected between the first voltage supply and a collector of the first transistor. The second resistor is connected between the first voltage supply and a collector of the second transistor. The current mirror drive has a first input connected to the output of the current generator to receive the first current and an output configured to generate a second current.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an active region provided in the substrate, a plurality of gate fingers provided on the active region, extending in an extension direction, and arranged in an arrangement direction orthogonal to the extension direction, and a gate connection wiring commonly connected to the plurality of gate fingers and provided between the plurality of gate fingers and a first side surface of the substrate, wherein when viewed from the arrangement direction, a first position where a first end of a first gate finger as a part of the plurality of gate fingers is connected to the gate connection wiring is closer to the first side surface than a second position where a first end of a second gate finger as another part of the plurality of gate fingers is connected to the gate connection wiring.

A circuit includes a field effect transistor (FET), a reference transistor having an output coupled to an output of the FET, an active bias circuit coupled to the reference transistor and configured to generate an input signal for the reference transistor in response to a change in drain current of the reference transistor due to carrier trapping and to apply the input signal to an input of the reference transistor, and a summing node coupled to an input of the FET and to the input of the reference transistor. The summing node adds the input signal to an input signal of the FET to compensate the carrier trapping effect.

A circuit includes a field effect transistor (FET), a reference transistor having an output coupled to an output of the FET, an active bias circuit coupled to the reference transistor and configured to generate an input signal for the reference transistor in response to a change in drain current of the reference transistor due to carrier trapping and to apply the input signal to an input of the reference transistor, and a summing node coupled to an input of the FET and to the input of the reference transistor. The summing node adds the input signal to an input signal of the FET to compensate the carrier trapping effect.

A Doherty amplifier circuit comprising: a splitter having: a splitter-input-terminal for receiving an input signal; a main-splitter-output-terminal; and a peaking-splitter-output-terminal; a main-power-amplifier having a main-power-input-terminal and a main-power-output-terminal, wherein; the main-power-input-terminal is connected to the main-splitter-output-terminal; and the main-power-output-terminal is configured to provide a main-power-amplifier-output-signal; a peaking-power-amplifier having a peaking-power-input-terminal and a peaking-power-output-terminal, wherein: the peaking-power-input-terminal is connected to the peaking-splitter-output-terminal; and the peaking-power-output-terminal is configured to provide a peaking-power-amplifier-output-signal. The splitter, the main-power-amplifier and the peaking-power-amplifier are provided by means of an integrated circuit.