Ultra Linear High Efficiency Power Amplifier Design

Course 108

Greenbelt, MD	Oct 18-Oct 22, 2010
Course 108-4281	Presented by Ed Niehenke
Register by 9/13/2010 and pay $1995, otherwise pay $2195

Request an onsite quote for this course

Summary:

This five-day course presents the latest design techniques for ultra linear, high efficiency power amplifiers. The first three days cover high efficiency power amplifier design techniques while the last two days focus on the design of linear power amplifier systems.

Students are encouraged to bring their laptop computers to class. The design software available for use in this public course is from Applied Wave Research (AWR).

Learning Objectives:

Upon completing the course, the participant will be able to:

• Describe various transistors and modulators, along with their effects on power amplifiers.
• List selection criteria for determining optimum tune and non-tuned load.
• Improve power amplifier efficiency using Doherty, Chireix and other techniques.
• Use CAD to model bipolar, FET/PHEMT, and adjacent power leakage for digitally modulated signals.
• Apply a variety of linearization techniques (such as RF feedback, feedforward, and predistortion) to reduce distortion in power amplifiers.

Target Audience:

Design engineers and technicians working with any kind of RF power amplifier at the component or system level will benefit from this course, as will semiconductor technologists working on RF and microwave device development. A background in RF design basics, as provided by Applied RF Techniques I is recommended as a prerequisite.

Outline:

Day One

Digital and Analog Input Signals
Power Amplifier Requirements
Selection Criteria for Transistors
Power Amplifier Efficiency (PldB and PAE)
Load Pull Measurement Techniques
• Gain and power match • Cripps method for predicting performance
Design techniques and circuits for classes A, AB, B, C, D, E and F

Day Two

Power Amplifier Design
• Load line selection • RF and power • Efficiency and PAE
Power Combining
• Quadrature • in phase • serial • push-pull • cluster matched
Cluster Matching Design Example
Efficiency Enhancement Under Reduced Power
• Doherty • Chireix • Envelope tracking • Adaptive biasing techniques

Day Three

CAD Analysis of Nonlinear Circuit
• Time domain (SPICE) • Harmonic balance • Circuit envelope
Varactor and Schottky Barrier Diode Two-Terminal Nonlinearity
• I-V, C-V, and C-I
Nonlinear Bipolar Models
• CAD BJT power amplifier design example
Nonlinear FET Model
• CAD FET power amplifier design example

Day Four

Power Amplifier Distortion
• Harmonic and intermodulation • AM to AM • AM to PM • Spectral regrowth
RF Feedback Systems to Improve Linearity
• Series, shunt, and transformer coupled circuits
Analysis, design and stability considerations
• Error vector magnitude • Noise analysis • CAD example • Practical limitations

Day Five

Predistortion to Improve Linearity
FET, diode, driver amplifier, CAD design examples
Adaptive Predistortion to Improve Linearity
Design techniques, efficiency enhancement, power requirements
Signal Processing Techniques to Reduce Distortion
LINC (Linear amplification using nonlinear amplifiers)
Kahn Transmitter to Improve Linearity
Detector, limiter, DC modulator, design example, limitations
Linearization: Summary and Technique Comparisons

Subject Areas Covered

RF Power Amplifier Design

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