학술논문

A Broadband Asymmetrical Doherty Power Amplifier With Optimized Continuous Mode Harmonic Impedances
Document Type
Periodical
Source
IEEE Journal of Microwaves IEEE J. Microw. Microwaves, IEEE Journal of. 3(4):1120-1133 Oct, 2023
Subject
Fields, Waves and Electromagnetics
Harmonic analysis
Bandwidth
Impedance
Power system harmonics
Optimized production technology
Transistors
Threshold voltage
Power amplifiers
Doherty power amplifier
continuous modes
high efficiency
class J
gallium nitride (GaN)
continuous inverse class F
digital pre-distortion (DPD)
load modulation
wideband
Language
ISSN
2692-8388
Abstract
This article presents a design methodology for an asymmetrical Doherty Power Amplifier (DPA) which achieves a high average efficiency at back off across its operating bandwidth. It is shown that by combining continuous modes with post matching techniques, it is possible to achieve excellent efficiency performance whilst maintaining broadband operation. Analysis is provided on how the knee effect can reduce the effective potential efficiency of Class J and Continuous Inverse Class F modes. An optimum combination of $2\text{nd}$ and $3\text{rd}$ harmonic impedances is then proposed for the carrier PA which can minimise this knee effect impact on efficiency performance. Also, it is shown how the drain supply can be used to improve the bandwidth over which an intrinsic optimum load can be maintained. Based on this analysis, a simple iterative design procedure is then presented which can be directly implemented with standard RF design tools. This design procedure is then verified in the design and manufacture of a prototype DPA using the Wolfspeed CG2H40010F GaN HEMT. The realised PA operates between 2.1 and 3.2 GHz with a peak power output of between 43.9 and 44.5 dBm. The PA achieves a high average drain efficiency of 64.7 % at 8–9 dB of back off. The DPA has been tested with and without digital pre-distortion (DPD) by considering a 60 MHz LTE OFDM signal with 9 dB peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). When DPD is enabled, the presented DPA achieves a drain efficiency of between 52.1–64.3 with an adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) of between −42.2– −44.1 dB over the bandwidth of 2.1–3.2 GHz.

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