Multiharmonic manipulation for highly efficient microwave power amplifiers

Abstract

Multiharmonic manipulation is presented as the most effective solution to improve power amplifier (PA) efficiency performances. Remarkable improvements in output power, power gain and power-added efficiency (PAE) are demonstrated, properly manipulating the input and output second and third harmonics, as compared to more classical design approaches. Experimental results at 5GHz confirm the feasibility, the validity and effectiveness of the proposed approach, increasing the maximum measured power-added efficiency from 39% to 61%. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc

X-band 10W MMIC high-gain power amplifier with up to 60% PAE

“…This was accomplished by optimizing harmonics [9] [10], and Fig.4 details the simulated optimal impedances for 3 harmonics and resulting Γ load of the output matching network for a fundamental frequency of 10 GHz.…”

A C-band high-efficiency second-harmonic-tuned hybrid power amplifier in GaN technology

“…Output matching network is designed to obtain a short circuit condition at 3f 0 and purely (optimised) resistive loads at fundamental and 2f 0 across the intrinsic drain current source. This has been accomplished via two open stubs, to achieve the theoretical optimum voltage components ratio [8].…”

Power Balance in High Efficiency PAs

“…The number of controllable harmonics must be limited to the second and third ones, due also to practical implementation and feasibility constraints. With such hypotheses, a new practical approach (Harmonic Manipulation, HM) for the design of harmonic-tuned amplifiers has been recently suggested in [3]. In this case, assuming the active device output acting as a current source voltage-controlled by the external input signal P in , the output drain voltage waveform can be shaped through a proper choice of the output harmonic terminations.…”

“…Moreover, basic constraints imposed on the high efficiency goal have to be applied. In this paper such constraints will be focused starting from power balance considerations, and analytic results [3] previously obtained will be exploited.…”