A CMOS power amplifier for a UHF RFID reader

A CMOS power amplifier for an RFID reader, which is implemented in a 0.18 μm CMOS process, is designed on a system IC, including output matching circuits. The developed amplifier has an efficiency of 27 % at 900 MHz and an output power of 24 dBm with a supply voltage of 1.8 V. In addition, it is isolated with shielding metal lines and is ESD protected. Furthermore, it is robust to high supply voltages and load impedance variations.