0.4-3.0 GHz highly efficient harmonic-tuned power amplifier

Abstract

An optimisation-based method is proposed for the design of highly efficient harmonic tuned-power amplifier (HT-PA) with multi-octave bandwidth. The distributed basic matching cell with L-type structure is utilised to construct the broadband matching network, whose topology and parameters are determined through optimisation. To validate the proposed method, a 0.4-3.0 GHz HT-PA is implemented and the power added efficiency of 53-72%, output power of more than 40 dBm and 10-12 dB gain are achieved across the frequency band. When tested with 20 MHz long-term-evolution advanced signals, the broadband HT-PA shows about -30 dBc adjacent channel leakage ratio at about 36 dBm average output power, with drain efficiency higher than 36%.