Distributed amplifiers are notable for providing very broadband gain. The concept of connecting parallel gain stages with transmission lines harkens back to 1948; Bill Packard, the co-founder of Hewlett-Packard Co., used vacuum tubes for the gain stages.1The broadband gain possible with such amplifiers still has a place. Even though many modern monolithic-microwave-integrated-circuit (MMIC) amplifiers are optimized for specific bands, many applications require broadband gain through high microwave frequencies.
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