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US5107152A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Control component for a three-electrode device

Assignee: MIA-COM Inc
•
Filing: 1989-09-08
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Granted: 1992-04-21
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Expires: 2009-09-08
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Abstract

Abstract A gate biasing circuit including a Schottky barrier diode in series with an ion implanted resistor for use with a baseband MMIC control components such as an MESFET. The diode gate biasing scheme improves the low frequency distortion characteristics of GaAs MESFET control components significantly, allowing microwave power handling and distortion characteristics to be maintained below 100 Hz.

Inventors

  • 👤 Nitin Jain
  • 👤 Ronald J. Gutmann
  • 👤 David Fryklund

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 18:51
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/687; H03K17/16; H03K17/161; H03K17/162

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 207 words
A control component for a three-electrode device having first and second signal electrodes and a control electrode, said three-electrode device having a channel between said first and second signal electrodes, said control component comprising: means establishing a periodic signal to be coupled between the first and second electrodes of the device, an input terminal for receiving a control voltage signal for switching said device between conducting and non-conduction states, a coupling capacitance inherent to said three-electrode device, said coupling capacitance coupling said channel to said control electrode; bias means for enhancing low frequency power handling and efficiency capabilities and including a resistance means and a diode means having high and low current conduction states, and means coupling the resistance means and diode means in a series circuit between said input terminal and said control electrode, said bias means enabling system operation with periodic signals including signals having frequencies greater than 20 MHz, said diode means arranged polarity-wise so that said diode means is in its low current conduction state when said control voltage signal causes said device to be in its conducting state, said diode means having a capacitive reactance in its low current conduction state that is higher than a capacitive reactance of said coupling capacitance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 207 words
A control component for a three-electrode device having first and second signal electrodes and a control electrode, said three-electrode device having a channel between said first and second signal electrodes, said control component comprising: means establishing a periodic signal to be coupled between the first and second electrodes of the device, an input terminal for receiving a control voltage signal for switching said device between conducting and non-conduction states, a coupling capacitance inherent to said three-electrode device, said coupling capacitance coupling said channel to said control electrode; bias means for enhancing low frequency power handling and efficiency capabilities and including a resistance means and a diode means having high and low current conduction states, and means coupling the resistance means and diode means in a series circuit between said input terminal and said control electrode, said bias means enabling system operation with periodic signals including signals having frequencies greater than 20 MHz, said diode means arranged polarity-wise so that said diode means is in its low current conduction state when said control voltage signal causes said device to be in its conducting state, said diode means having a capacitive reactance in its low current conduction state that is higher than a capacitive reactance of said coupling capacitance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
A control component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said three-electrode device is a field-effect-transistor and said first, second and third electrodes are source, drain and gate, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
A control component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said periodic signal is an RF signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A control component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said diode includes a Schottky barrier diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
A control component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said diode means is monolithically formed in an integrated circuit with said resistance means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
A control component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control component is constructed of discrete circuit components.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
A control component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control component is constructed of a hybrid of discrete and integrated circuit components.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 37 words
A control component as set forth in claim 2 wherein said diode means has a maximum high current conductance state capacitance less than the gate capacitance of the transistor when the transistor is in the conducting state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 41 words
A control component as set forth in claim 2 wherein the control voltage includes a negative bias voltage that is selected to be less than but close to the avalanche breakdown voltage of the transistor during the non-conducting state of operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 48 words
A control component as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control voltage signal includes an applied positive voltage chosen to be substantially equal to the maximum amplitude of said periodic signal coupled between said first and second electrodes of the device during the conducting state of operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
A control component as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control voltage signal is a positive voltage on the order of 5.0 volts or more.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 33 words
A control component as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control voltage signal is a positive voltage chosen to be less than the maximum amplitude of said periodic signal in the channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 32 words
A control component as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control voltage includes a negative bias voltage chosen closer to the avalanche breakdown voltage than the pinch-off voltage of the diode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 28 words
A control component as set forth in claim 2 wherein the capacitive reactance of the diode is greater than the reactance of the transistor gate coupling capacitive reactance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 26 words
A control component as set forth in claim 2 wherein the reverse-bias current of the diode is in a range on the order of 50-250 microamps.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 26 words
A control component as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resistance means has a resistance substantially greater than any resistance of said means for coupling.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 34 words
A control component as set forth in claim 2, wherein the active area of said diode means is equal to or slightly less than the area of the gate electrode of the field-effect transistor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 26 words
A control component as set forth in claim 2, wherein the control voltage signal is set to the point where the required switching speed is attained.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 22 words
A control component as claimed in claim 1 wherein the channel is coupled to the control electrode only through said coupling capacitance.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US3731116A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-04-21 1995-10-21 1996-04-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-04-21 1999-10-21 2000-04-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-04-21 2003-10-21 2004-04-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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