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How to build more efficient RF power amplifiers by terminating harmonics in the package

Date:2018/10/24 15:58:43 Hits:

High data-rate mobile communication systems need RF power amplifiers (PAs) that offer high energy efficiencies, to help reduce the networks’ operating costs.

This is a challenge, since the complex modulation schemes used in the latest cellular standards have high peak-to-average-power ratios (PAR) that in turn demand high average efficiencies from the transmitters’ PAs. Many PA architectures have a ‘sweet spot’ at which they operate most efficiently, and operate at much lower efficiencies away from that spot. Achieving high average efficiencies therefore means building PA architectures that are efficient across a wide range of operating conditions.

We’ve seen some promising approaches to building such PAs, using GaN transistors in Doherty and out-phasing architectures. We think it is possible to achieve even greater efficiencies if the way in which the higher harmonics of the transmitted signal are terminated can be controlled more effectively without increasing the size or complexity of the PA board.

Our approach uses harmonically matched GaN transistors and a quasi load-insensitive (QLI) architecture to achieve the efficiencies of a Class-E amplifier in a standard RF package. The approach offers high-efficiency operation. Despite the way that Doherty and out-phasing PA architectures modulate their loads.

As a reminder, Figure 1 shows a simplified Doherty PA architecture.


Figure 1: A simplified Doherty PA architecture



Figure 2 A simplified out-phasing PA architecture



Building more efficient PAs using QLI techniques
We use a finite-inductance implementation of a Class-E amplifier to achieve high efficiency from a simple circuit structure. Numerous operating modes arise as the relation between the load network elements and the input parameters varies as a function of the resonance factor q = 1/ω√LC, through L and C, as shown in Figure 3.


Figure 3: The quasi load-insensitive Class E PA, with its finite DC feed inductor L and lowpass LC section (L1C1) and related waveforms


At q = 1.3, the PA goes into a Class-E operating mode that offers the best efficiency over a wide range of load resistances – as required for systems that use dynamic load modulation.

In standard RF packages, size and cost constraints only allow simple matching network topologies. A series capacitor is particularly difficult to implement internally. Therefore, we derived a functionally identical transformed low-pass LC section (L1C1), as shown in the lower half of Figure 3.

Since the higher harmonics are matched inside the package, a conventional fundamental load-pull system is good enough to achieve the optimum impedance for maximum efficiency, maximum output power and back-off (e.g., 6dB). The measured data shows that maximum output power and efficiency are aligned on the real axis of the amplifier’s Smith chart. The peak efficiency is preserved while the output power decreases for an increasing real part of the load, which shows that the second-harmonic impedance required to achieve peak efficiency during load modulation is unaffected. This property is very useful to boost the average efficiency of Doherty and out-phasing PAs.



Applying QLI techniques to a Class E Doherty PA design
Our load-pull measurements of the power and efficiency of the packaged device suggest that it has a λ/4 internal signal rotation. This internal rotation can be taken into account in the design of the load network of the Doherty PA, so it’s not necessary to add compensation lines at the output. The fundamental load impedance required at the package leads is also high enough to allow the Doherty combiner to be connected directly without an extra matching network.

The fact that higher harmonics are terminated inside the package means that the load network for the Doherty PA can be simple, compact and that it does not need higher harmonic matching. Furthermore, the main device is biased in Class-AB mode while the peak device is biased in Class-C mode for their quiescent currents to ensure conventional Doherty operation, so that when driven hard, the device will enter Class-E like operation.



Applying QLI techniques to a dual-input, mixed-mode outphasing PA design
The mixed-mode out-phasing design is shown in Figure 4 (b). Chireix compensation has been incorporated in the two branches by adjusting their electrical length by ±Δ, instead of adding an area-consuming shunt susceptance. The value of Δ determines the required out-phasing compensation angle.

For mixed-mode out-phasing operation, a combination of phase and input-power control is used to achieve the maximum drain / PAE efficiency vs power back-off. The drive profile to achieve the best efficiency response is stored in a lookup table. This means the out-phasing PA can avoid a sharp efficiency /gain roll-off at larger out-phasing angles, and so maintain its high line-up efficiency.


QLI PA architectures in practice
We tested these two PA architectures using a dual-input measurement setup that could sweep both the input phase and amplitude of the signal. The devices were not pushed into high compression, to avoid them overheating when operating with continuous waves. This means that the peak power with modulated signals is at least 1dB higher than the static measured output power. A vector-switched general memory polynomial approach was used for linearization. An optimized digital pre-distortion strategy should give even better linearization.


Conclusion

This work shows that it is possible to build high-efficiency, load-modulation based PAs by terminating higher harmonics inside the RF package. This approach also means that the power-combining networks can be simple and compact.


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