A highly linear fully integrated CMOS power amplifier with an analog predistortion technique

Abstract: A transformer-based CMOS power amplifier (PA) is linearized using an analog predistortion technique for a 2.5-GHz m-WiMAX transmitter. The third harmonic of the power stage and driver stage can be cancelled out in a specific power region. The two-stage PA fabricated in a standard 0.18-μm CMOS process delivers 27.5 dBm with 27% PAE at the 1-dB compression point (P_1dB) and offers 21 dB gain. The PA achieves 5.5 % EVM and meets the spectrum mask at 20.5 dBm average power. Another conventional PA with a zero-cross-point of g_m3 bias is also fabricated and compared to prove its good linearity and efficiency.

Key words: linear, CMOS, power amplifier, m-WiMAX, transformer, analog predistortion