Patent ID: 6818951
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A power LDMOS transistor amplifier comprising:a plurality of transistor segments, wherein: each of the transistor segments comprises a source, a gate, and a drain, a well, and a drain drift region interconnecting said drain and said well; and all of the transistor segment sources are connected together; all of the transistor segment gates are connected together; and all of the transistor segment drains are connected together, wherein: each of the transistor segments in a first group of the transistor segments has a first threshold voltage; each of the transistor segments in a second group of the transistor segments has a second threshold voltage; and the first threshold voltage is different from the second threshold voltage, wherein each of said transistor segments has a threshold voltage and wherein the threshold voltage of said transistor segments is graded throughout said power LDMOS transistor, wherein, during operation of said power LOMOS transistor, more and more of said transistor segments become active as an input voltage on said transistor segment gates is increased, allowing for improved efficiency or linearity under backed-off operating conditions with maintained peak power capability.