DC/DC converter controlled power amplifier module for WCDMA applications

A single package power amplifier module with a GaAs PA and a Si DC/DC converter for WCDMA application is presented. Integration of a linear power amplifier and a power management chip is implemented to improve the efficiency of the PA at low output power by changing the supply voltage. Overall PA performance at 27.5dBm is identical to the discrete WCDMA power amplifier and the efficiency at 16dBm output power is improved from 8 ~ 9% at 3.4V supply voltage to 16.8% with the DC/DC converter. Receive band noise power is minimized to -135dBm/Hz at 190MHz offset by noise reduction techniques in the module