First Power Controlled Stage; Power Controlled Driver Stage; Final Stage - Motorola GM328 Service Manual

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3.1

First Power Controlled Stage

The first stage (U3401) is a 20dB gain integrated circuit containing two LDMOS FET amplifier
stages. It amplifies the RF signal from the VCO (TXINJ). The output power of stage U3401 is
controlled by a DC voltage applied to pin 1 from the op-amp U3402-1, pin 1. The control voltage
simultaneously varies the bias of two FET stages within U3401. This biasing point determines the
overall gain of U3401 and therefore its output drive level to Q3421, which in turn controls the output
power of the PA.
Op-amp U3402-1 monitors the drain current of U3401 via resistor R3444 and adjusts the bias
voltage of U3401 so that the current remains constant. The PCIC (U3501) provides a DC output
voltage at pin 4 (INT) which sets the reference voltage of the current control loop. A raising power
output causes the DC voltage from the PCIC to fall, and U3402-1 adjusts the bias voltage for a lower
drain current to lower the gain of the stage.
In receive mode the DC voltage from PCIC pin 23 (RX) turns on Q3442, which in turn switches off
the biasing voltage to U3401.
Switch S3440 is a pressure pad with a conductive strip which connects two conductive areas on the
board when the radio's cover is properly screwed to the chassis. When the cover is removed, S3440
opens and the resulting high voltage level at the inverting inputs of the current control op-amps
U3402-1 & 2 switches off the biasing of U3401 and Q3421. This prevents transmitter key up while
the devices do not have proper thermal contact to the chassis.
3.2

Power Controlled Driver Stage

The next stage is an LDMOS device (Q3421) providing a gain of 12dB. This device requires a
positive gate bias and a quiescent current flow for proper operation. The bias is set during transmit
mode by the drain current control op-amp U3402-2, and fed to the gate of Q3421 via the resistive
network R3429, R3418, R3415 and R3416.
Op-amp U3402-2 monitors the drain current of U3421 via resistors R3424-27 and adjusts the bias
voltage of Q3421 so that the current remains constant. The PCIC (U3501) provides a DC output
voltage at pin 4 (INT) which sets the reference voltage of the current control loop. A raising power
output causes the DC voltage from the PCIC to fall, and U3402-2 adjusts the bias voltage for a lower
drain current to lower the gain of the stage.
In receive mode the DC voltage from PCIC pin 23 (RX) turns on Q3422, which in turn switches off
the biasing voltage to Q3421.
3.3

Final Stage

The final stage is an LDMOS device (Q3441) providing a gain of 12dB. This device also requires a
positive gate bias and a quiescent current flow for proper operation. The voltage of the line
MOSBIAS_2 is set in transmit mode by the ASFIC and fed to the gate of Q3441 via the resistive
network R3404, R3406, and R3431-5. This bias voltage is tuned in the factory. If the transistor is
replaced, the bias voltage must be tuned using the Customer Programming Software (CPS). Care
must be taken not to damage the device by exceeding the maximum allowed bias voltage. In receive
mode U3402-2 pulls the bias voltage to low via D3401. The device's drain current is drawn directly
from the radio's DC supply voltage input, PASUPVLTG, via L3436 and L3437.
A matching network consisting of C3441-49, L3443, and two striplines, transforms the impedance to
50 ohms and feeds the directional coupler.
VHF (136-174 MHz) Transmitter Power Amplifier (PA) 25 W