Design of a broadband high-efficiency power amplifier through mixed strategy

This letter presents a mixed strategy to design broadband high-efficiency power amplifiers (PAs), where the mixed continuous mode PA provide theoretical impedances. Furthermore, only a single one-stage coupler circuit with appropriate terminals is exploited to satisfy the fundamental and second harmonic impedances requirements necessary for mixed continuous mode PA realization. Combination of mixed modes PAs' desired impedances and the coupler's impedance frequency modulation trajectory, the available design frequency band can be determined. For validation, a broadband high-efficiency PA covering the frequency range 0.4-3.0 GHz is designed and then fabricated using a CGH40010F transistor. Measured results indicate that the implemented PA can deliver saturated output power of 40.2-42.7 dBm across the frequency range 0.4-3.0 GHz, with drain efficiency of between 60.4% and 74.5%.