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Showing posts from June, 2025

Expanding on W1GHZ GaAsFET LNA Bias with Optocouplers

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After reading the W1GHZ GaAsFET LNA Bias entry, I wanted to see what the performance of these exposed-base optocouplers are. The concept comes from the IEEE Microwave Journal Application Notes: Photovoltaic Bias for Depletion-Mode Devices in Low-Noise Amplifier Applications (DOI 10.1109/MMM.2022.3226635). It's not open access, so I figured some publicly available characterization data would be cool to share. I have access to a dual-channel precision SMU (source-measure unit, Wikipedia ) and that's exactly what we need to characterize the photovoltaic behavior of optocouplers! Keysight B2902B SMU front panel during a 20 mA input, open circuit output measurement