Design of a 70 GHz Power Amplifier using a Digital InP HBT Process

A +15.1 dBm power amplifier (PA) operating at 70 GHz designed in a high speed digital InP HBT process is presented. The extraction of device models for the HBT's used in the PA design is discussed along with an electromagnetic simulation accounting for layout parasitics in the power cells. The design employs single-stage cascode amplifier topology in a finite ground CPW transmission line environment. The amplifier demonstrates the possibilities of utilising high speed digital InP HBT processes in the design of high frequency power amplifiers.