Amplifier output matching
 

On a reciever, I'm using a MMIC LNA at VHF (2m), and while it's quite clear to
me why I need to match at the amplifier's input -- to minimize VSWR and get as
much of the signal from the antenna into the system -- it's not quite to clear
to me just how important output matching is. The S22 parameters for this LNA
are very close to an open circuit with a little capacitance -- I expect the
output looks back into a drain or something else that's a reasonably decent
current source at RF, and you see that shunted by parasitic capacitances.

So... how important is it that I bother to build a matching network at the
output? (I'll be "outputting" to another ~50 ohm input.) It doesn't really
seem that important, and building something like an L-match with de-Q-ing
resistor drops the gain a couple dB anyway.

I know that for a transmitter output matching is important so that reflections
from poor or non-existant terminations don't blow up the output amplifier, but
for low-level signals as in a receiver it wouldn't seem to matter so much?

Thanks,
---Joel Kolstad

Amplifier output matching
 

Joel Kolstad wrote:
On a reciever, I'm using a MMIC LNA at VHF (2m), and while it's quite clear to
me why I need to match at the amplifier's input -- to minimize VSWR and get as
much of the signal from the antenna into the system -- it's not quite to clear
to me just how important output matching is. The S22 parameters for this LNA
are very close to an open circuit with a little capacitance -- I expect the
output looks back into a drain or something else that's a reasonably decent
current source at RF, and you see that shunted by parasitic capacitances.

So... how important is it that I bother to build a matching network at the
output? (I'll be "outputting" to another ~50 ohm input.) It doesn't really
seem that important, and building something like an L-match with de-Q-ing
resistor drops the gain a couple dB anyway.

I know that for a transmitter output matching is important so that reflections
from poor or non-existant terminations don't blow up the output amplifier, but
for low-level signals as in a receiver it wouldn't seem to matter so much?

Thanks,
---Joel Kolstad

OK, since you called it an LNA, I assume you want to take advantage of
the low noise. In that case, you do NOT necessarily want to match the
input for low SWR. You want to match to the amplifier's input noise
resistance: the equivalent input noise voltage divided by the
equivalent input noise current. This in general is NOT the same as the
input impedance. Adjust the input match for the lowest noise figure,
not the lowest SWR, if it's low noise you want.

Output matching will transfer the greatest power to the load. Assuming
S12 is very low, adjusting the output matching will not materially
affect the input power, so maximizing the output power will maximize
the gain. You may or may not have a need to do that. And you need to
pay attention to amplifier stability: is it unconditionally stable, or
must you keep the load within some bounds to keep it stable? Have a
look for articles about "maximum available gain" and "maximum usable
gain." For example, see
http://www.microwaves101.com/encyclo...factor.cfm#mag.

Cheers,
Tom

Amplifier output matching
 

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the information; someone else pointed me yesterday to the idea that
you'd generally match the input for optimum noise performance rather than
optimum power transfer. The data sheet claims that the optimum noise figure
is 0.8dB, but the part itself is marketed as "typical 1.8dB NF" -- which they
obtained from their own eval board that, as far as I can tell, was matched
pretty close to optimum power transfer. In any case, at present mine is also
matched at the input for optimum power transfer, and I'll measure its noise
figure and see whether or not I'm around 1.8dB or better... if so I don't
think I'm going to worry about it too much.

Output matching will transfer the greatest power to the load.

Yeah, but it's not practical, is it? I'm looking back at (approximately) a
current source, and my load is dictated as (approximately) 50 ohms, so the
load itself is what's driving the power transferred, no?

Assuming
S12 is very low

It is, 0.01 everywhere.

And you need to
pay attention to amplifier stability: is it unconditionally stable, or
must you keep the load within some bounds to keep it stable?

I haven't calculated its k factor; I'll do that soon -- thanks for the link.

---Joel

Amplifier output matching
 

Joel Kolstad wrote:
Hi Tom,

Thanks for the information; someone else pointed me yesterday to the idea that
you'd generally match the input for optimum noise performance rather than
optimum power transfer. The data sheet claims that the optimum noise figure
is 0.8dB, but the part itself is marketed as "typical 1.8dB NF" -- which they
obtained from their own eval board that, as far as I can tell, was matched
pretty close to optimum power transfer. In any case, at present mine is also
matched at the input for optimum power transfer, and I'll measure its noise
figure and see whether or not I'm around 1.8dB or better... if so I don't
think I'm going to worry about it too much.

Output matching will transfer the greatest power to the load.

Yeah, but it's not practical, is it? I'm looking back at (approximately) a
current source, and my load is dictated as (approximately) 50 ohms, so the
load itself is what's driving the power transferred, no?

Well, no... Clearly it's not exactly a current source. Perhaps it's
1000 ohms, or 10000 ohms, (plus some reactance, of course) which is
high but not a pure current source. Then a network that matches 1000
ohms, or 10000 ohms, to 50 ohms (and cancels the reactance), will give
you the most power output. That is a linear, small-signal model, but
that should be a pretty good approximation for any application where
you need a low-noise preamp.

You do need to consider losses in whatever matching network you use;
and many matching networks will be highly resonant to transform between
impedances that are in a large ratio. Realize that the match at the
operating frequency may give you a load at some other frequency which
causes instability...

If the source (the output impedance) was really a current source, you
could get near-infinite power gain (again, assuming that S12 is zero)
by transforming the load to as high an impedance as possible. Consider
the small-signal low-frequency model of a bipolar transistor where the
output is a current source shunted by a resistance. Assume that
(internal effective) resistance is infinite. Now the current from the
current source all flows into the load. Since power is i^2*R,
increasing R increases the power without bound. A matching network
just transforms your practical load (e.g. 50 ohms) to the desired load
R.

What's practical depends on how wide a bandwidth you want, and how good
you are at designing and building impedance matching networks. (I can
personally come up with lots of IMpractical networks! ;-)

Cheers,
Tom

Amplifier output matching
 

Thanks again Tom, you've really cleared things up for me here.

Here's the concrete numbers... in the center of the band, S22 -- converted
back to an impedance -- is 119.5-j90 ohms. With a 2V source, if I conjugate
match my 50 ohm load obviously I get 1V across the resistor or 20mW = 13dBm.
Without a match... let's see... current around the loop is 2/(119.5-j90+50) =
9.2+j4.89 mA, and power in the 50 ohm load is I^2*R = 3.04+j4.5mW = (looking
just at real power) 4.83dBm. So... without a match... I'd be leaving 13-4.83
= 8.18dB of gain "on the floor"... ouch!

---Joel

Amplifier output matching
 

To chime in late: typically the routine in LNA design is noise match
at the input, then conjugate match at the output considering the
effects of the noise match. Really the only reason to play games with
the input noise match is either for broadbanding or to address a
specific stability issue, which usually is better handled by judicious
feedback.


Joel Kolstad wrote:
Thanks again Tom, you've really cleared things up for me here.

Here's the concrete numbers... in the center of the band, S22 -- converted
back to an impedance -- is 119.5-j90 ohms. With a 2V source, if I conjugate
match my 50 ohm load obviously I get 1V across the resistor or 20mW = 13dBm.
Without a match... let's see... current around the loop is 2/(119.5-j90+50) =
9.2+j4.89 mA, and power in the 50 ohm load is I^2*R = 3.04+j4.5mW = (looking
just at real power) 4.83dBm. So... without a match... I'd be leaving 13-4.83
= 8.18dB of gain "on the floor"... ouch!

---Joel

Amplifier output matching
 

K7ITM a écrit :
...

What's practical depends on how wide a bandwidth you want, and how good
you are at designing and building impedance matching networks. (I can
personally come up with lots of IMpractical networks! ;-)

1Meg is a pretty high value so we all can conclude that you're excellent :-)


--
Thanks,
Fred.

Amplifier output matching
 

On Oct 25, 2:50 pm, "Joel Kolstad"
wrote:
Thanks again Tom, you've really cleared things up for me here.

Here's the concrete numbers... in the center of the band, S22 -- converted
back to an impedance -- is 119.5-j90 ohms. With a 2V source, if I conjugate
match my 50 ohm load obviously I get 1V across the resistor or 20mW = 13dBm.
Without a match... let's see... current around the loop is 2/(119.5-j90+50) =
9.2+j4.89 mA, and power in the 50 ohm load is I^2*R = 3.04+j4.5mW = (looking
just at real power) 4.83dBm. So... without a match... I'd be leaving 13-4.83
= 8.18dB of gain "on the floor"... ouch!

---Joel

OK, things aren't quite as bad as you've painted them, Joel. Given the
analysis you did for the second half, what you need to do for the first
half is to look at the power delivered to 119.5 ohms with 1 volt across
it. That's 1/119.5 watts, or about 8.4 milliwatts. That's about
+9.23dBm That's the maximum power you can get from that source. Into
50 ohms with no matching, the magnitude of the current is 10.42mA.
The resistor does NOT care what phase angle relative to your arbitrary
reference that is. So the power in that case is 5.43mW, or +7.35dBm.
You've left not 8dB, but just under 2dB, of gain "on the floor."
Things don't get really bad till the mismatch is quite a bit worse than
that. Note that your 2dB occurs with an SWR of about 4:1. At 2:1 SWR,
you only lose half a dB.

Cheers,
Tom

Amplifier output matching
 

Thanks for the correction, Tom. They really did give me a EE at one point in
time, believe it or not, it's just been forever since I've had to do Real
Work!
---Joel

Amplifier output matching
 

Joel Kolstad wrote:
On a reciever, I'm using a MMIC LNA at VHF

Andy writes:
Joel, all of the advice I've read on this post is good advice, but
I didn't see any reference to the Linville or Stern stability factors.

Devices, ESPECIALLY at VHF, which are matched into source
and load often oscillate. Hell, they USUALLY oscillate.
Hence , S12 is a major factor in these designs....

Most of the time, devices in this range must be mismatched
to some degree to provide stability.

Motorola used to have an excellent App Note on amplifier
matching, and the degree of mis-matching to ensure stability
It was called " Effects of Y parameters" or " Calculating Stability
in... " or some such, and the number was in the 100s or 200s.

If you know the Sparamters ( or Y parameters, for the app note)
you can easily do a Linville on the numbers to see if the LNA
is unconditionally stable for all source and loads.....

It probly won't be.....

Then, you can do a Stern to see what degree of mismatching is
needed to just reach the stability threshold.... If you program
the equations into a computer ( I use BASIC but an EXCEL
spreadsheet will work well also) you can quickly decide what you
want to do. Note that the amplifier configuration is the source
of the parameters and not just the device. For instance, common
base is often unconditionally stable while common emitter more
often than not is never unconditionally stable. The S or Y
parameters for the amp in these configurations show it
when a Linville is applied.

It may be that optimum noise figure can't be reached with
unconditional stability...... so you just do the best you can.......
Personally, I've always found the best noise figure while
diddling the circuit, rather than calculating it..... but that's
just my own experience...


Good luck on your design. And don't get so hung up on this
"maximum power transfer Thevin" stuff, since any amplifier that
is Thevenin matched on it's output could only achieve 50% efficiency,
and most amplifiers do a lot better than that...... for the simple
reason that max power transfer isn't the main goal of an amplifier.....

Andy W4OAH in Eureka, Texas

Amplifier output matching
 

Lots of good input there, Andy; I appaeciate it.

The part in question claims it is stable working into and from 50 ohms; I do
put too much emphasis on matching to that somewhat arbitrary value at times.

---Joel

Amplifier output matching
 

AndyS wrote:
Joel Kolstad wrote:
On a reciever, I'm using a MMIC LNA at VHF

Andy writes:
Joel, all of the advice I've read on this post is good advice, but
I didn't see any reference to the Linville or Stern stability factors.

Devices, ESPECIALLY at VHF, which are matched into source
and load often oscillate. Hell, they USUALLY oscillate.
Hence , S12 is a major factor in these designs....

Most of the time, devices in this range must be mismatched
to some degree to provide stability.

Motorola used to have an excellent App Note on amplifier
matching, and the degree of mis-matching to ensure stability
It was called " Effects of Y parameters" or " Calculating Stability
in... " or some such, and the number was in the 100s or 200s.

If you know the Sparamters ( or Y parameters, for the app note)
you can easily do a Linville on the numbers to see if the LNA
is unconditionally stable for all source and loads.....

It probly won't be.....

Then, you can do a Stern to see what degree of mismatching is
needed to just reach the stability threshold.... If you program
the equations into a computer ( I use BASIC but an EXCEL
spreadsheet will work well also) you can quickly decide what you
want to do. Note that the amplifier configuration is the source
of the parameters and not just the device. For instance, common
base is often unconditionally stable while common emitter more
often than not is never unconditionally stable. The S or Y
parameters for the amp in these configurations show it
when a Linville is applied.

It may be that optimum noise figure can't be reached with
unconditional stability...... so you just do the best you can.......
Personally, I've always found the best noise figure while
diddling the circuit, rather than calculating it..... but that's
just my own experience...


Good luck on your design. And don't get so hung up on this
"maximum power transfer Thevin" stuff, since any amplifier that
is Thevenin matched on it's output could only achieve 50% efficiency,
and most amplifiers do a lot better than that...... for the simple
reason that max power transfer isn't the main goal of an amplifier.....

Andy W4OAH in Eureka, Texas

Note that the free RFSim99 can display stability circles on the Smith
chart display of S11 and S22. They change as you move the cursor
frequency, and redraw quickly so it's easy to check over a frequency
range.

I don't know why the myth persists that you can achieve no more than
50% efficiency if a load is matched to the source impedance. A
Thevenin-equivalent source does not necessarily look anything like the
Thevenin circuit inside; it simply behaves WITH RESPECT TO THE LOAD in
the same way (over the range of loads and outputs for which it behaves
linearly, since the Thevenin model is a linear one). But that's all a
red herring anyway: in an LNA, "efficiency" is probably one of the
LAST things you should worry about. You should worry about noise. You
should worry about stability. And you should worry about distortion.
You should even worry about where you'll put it in the system. All
those would normally come a long ways ahead of concerns about
efficiency.

Cheers,
Tom

Amplifier output matching
 

Joel Kolstad wrote:
Lots of good input there, Andy; I appaeciate it.

The part in question claims it is stable working into and from 50 ohms; I do
put too much emphasis on matching to that somewhat arbitrary value at times.

---Joel

Put its S-parameters into a two-port instantiation in RFSim99, Joel,
and you can play with matching and stability to your heart's content.
It won't help you directly with noise, but if the data sheet tells you
about how to match the input for lowest noise, that would be at least a
good starting point for the input network. I think you posted that
it's an MMIC; they often don't provide as good a set of info as do
"bare" transistor data sheets. NEC, for example, seem to do a good job
providing data about S-parameters versus frequency and operating
conditions, and about noise figure versus input matching as well.

Cheers,
Tom