TABLE OF CONTENTS In the previous chapters, we provided tools and techniques for designing stable amplifiers for high-frequency applications. These amplifiers are intended for applications in which the signal is small and the amplifier circuit is linear.
Chapter 2 introduced networks. Simple current and voltage sources can be used to analyze circuits and describe their signal response. This technique assumes that the amplitude or strength of the signal does not affect the circuit's operation. Z-, Y-, and chain parameters can be used to characterize a circuit. Many small networks can be connected in series, parallel, and cascade to build large networks. These parameters are commonly used in computer-aided design (CAD) programs.
Chapter 3 introduced the properties of transmission lines and high-frequency circuits. Transmission lines play a crucial role in guiding signals from one place to another and within the amplifier circuit itself. We have presented the fundamentals of signal propagation in a transmission line. Voltage and current vary in time and position in a transmission line as signals propagate in them. It is often awkward or might even be impossible to measure these voltages or currents directly. Instead, these signals are characterized by power waves, which propagate in both directions along the transmission line. S-parameters describe the network response to these power waves. They are valuable because they relate directly to power flow, which is easier to measure at high frequencies than voltage and current. S-parameters for high-frequency transistors are provided by the manufacturer. High-frequency transistors are the...
