A fully-integrated 900-MHz CMOS power amplifier for mobile RFID reader applications

A 900-MHz linear power amplifier has been fabricated for ultra-high-frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) reader applications using a 0.25-/spl mu/m CMOS technology. An on-chip transmission-line transformer is used for output matching network. Input and inter-stage matching components, and RF chokes are fully integrated in the designed amplifier so that no external components are required. The power amplifier provides linear output power of 27 dBm at 920 MHz with a 2.5-V supply. Power-added-efficiency (PAE) at 1-dB-gain-compression point (P1dB) is 28 %. Gain flatness over the full UHF RFID band, which covers from 860 MHz to 960 MHz, is 1 dB.