RF and Microwave Power Amplifiers

RF and Microwave Power Amplifiers is a comprehensive guide to designing and understanding RF power amplifiers and systems, with a focus on achieving high efficiency across all classes and variations. This book provides essential tools and techniques for mastering the most critical areas of RF design, including Laterally Diffused Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (LDMOS), Gallium Nitride (GaN), and Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor (HBT).

This resource explores aspects of operation, including power, efficiency, saturation effects, biasing, drive mismatches, switching, and design strategies for handling Standing Wave Ratio (SWR). It focuses on real-world applications, focusing on how efficiency improvements contribute to higher output power, greater reliability, reduced size and cost, and longer battery life for portable devices.

This book combines foundational theory with practical insights, offering step-by-step equations, final design formulas, and problems-solving techniques. With background material, advanced discussions, and solutions for self-study or classroom use, it is a guide to understanding and designing efficient, reliable RF power amplifiers. It serves as an indispensable resource for practicing engineers transitioning into RF power, experienced RF designers in need of a reliable reference, and students preparing for a career in one of the most in-demand areas of the industry.

CHAPTER 1. POWER AMPLIFIERS AND SYSTEMS
1-1 Applications of Power Amplifiers
1-2 Construction of Power Amplifiers
1-3 Basic Concepts
1-4 Efficiency Characteristics
1-5 Power Amplifiers vs. Small-Signal Amplifiers
1-6 Classes of Power Amplifiers
1-7 Power Amplifiers vs. Amplifier Systems
1-8 Definitions and Mathematics
1-9 Utilization Factor
1-10 Harmonics, Distortion, and Spurious Products

CHAPTER 2. SIGNALS
2-1 Characterization of Narrow-Band Signals
2-2 Average Efficiency
2-3 Probability-Density Functions
2-4 PDFs of Common Signals
2-5 Range of Peak Power
2-6 Linearity
2-7 References
2-8 Problems
2-A Conversion of PDFs

CHAPTER 3. LOADS
3-1 Basic Concepts for Power Amplifiers
3-2 Mismatched Loads
3-3 Smith Chart
3-4 Ratings
3-5 Cripps’ Method
3-6 Load-Pull Techniques
3-7 S Parameters (Two-Port Networks)
3-8 Stability
3-9 Multiple Sources
3-10 References
3-11 Problems
3-A Conversions: SWR - Reflection Coefficient - Return Loss
3-B Conversions: S and ABCD Parameters
3-C Conversions: S and T Parameters

CHAPTER 4. RF-POWER TRANSISTORS
4-1 Ratings and Specifications
4-2 Packages
4-3 Models for RF-Power Transistors
4-4 MOSFETs
4-5 GaN HEMTs
4-6 Bipolar RF-Power Transistors
4-7 Other RF-Power Devices
4-8 Reliability
4-9 Configurations
4-10 Miller Effect and Neutralization
4-11 RF Feedback
4-12 References
4-13 Problems

CHAPTER 5. CLASS-A POWER AMPLIFIERS
5-1 Single-Ended Class-A Amplifier
5-2 Saturation Voltage and Resistance
5-3 Variation of Load Impedance
5-4 Average Efficiency
5-5 Push-Pull Class-A Amplifier
5-6 Variable Quiescent Current
5-7 Problems

CHAPTER 6. CLASS-B POWER AMPLIFIERS
6-1 Push-Pull Class-B Amplifier
6-2 Saturation Voltage and Resistance
6-3 Variation of Load Impedance
6-4 Average Efficiency
6-5 Broadband Push-Pull Configurations
6-6 Single-Ended Configurations
6-7 Complementary and Quasi-Complementary Configurations
6-8 Quasi-Complementary Configurations with Separate Dc Feeds
6-9 Biasing Class-B Amplifiers
6-10 Driving Class-B Amplifiers
6-11 References
6-12 Problems

CHAPTER 7. CLASS-C POWER AMPLIFIERS
7-1 Classical Class-C Ampliier
7-2 Square-Wave Drain Current
7-3 Operation in Saturation
7-4 Drive and Bias
7-5 Mismatched Loads
7-6 Harmonics and Frequency Multiplication
7-7 Supply Modulation
7-8 Gate-Bias Modulation
7-9 References
7-10 Problems

CHAPTER 8. CLASS-D POWER AMPLIFIERS
8-1 Complementary Class-D Power Amplifier
8-2 Other Complementary Class-D Power Amplifiers
8-3 Transformer-Coupled Voltage-Switching Class-D Power Amplifiers
8-4 Full-Bridge Configuration
8-5 Current-Switching Configuration
8-6 Untuned Class-D Power Amplifiers
8-7 Effects of Saturation
8-8 Mismatched Loads
8-9 Switching Time and Alignment
8-10 Effect of Drain Capacitance upon Voltage-Switching Class-D PA
8-11 Effect of Drain Capacitance upon Current-Switching Class-D PA
8-12 Output Filters and Matching Networks
8-13 Driving Switching PAs
8-14 Switching Transients
8-15 Modulation of Switching Amplifiers
8-16 Class-D Frequency Multipliers
8-17 References
8-18 Problems

CHAPTER 9. CLASS-E POWER AMPLIFIERS - BASICS
9-1 Single-Ended Class-E Power Amplifier
9-2 Push-Pull Class-E Power Amplifier
9-3 Effects of Saturation
9-4 Effects of Switching Time
9-5 Effects of Variations in Circuit Components
9-6 Effects of Variations in Load Impedance
9-7 Harmonics
9-8 Filters and Matching Networks
9-9 Driving Class-E PAs
9-10 Switching Transients
9-11 Amplitude Modulation of Class-E PAs
9-12 References
9-13 Problems
9-A Basic Equations for Ideal Class-E Amplifier
9-B Equations for Optimum Operation
9-C Equations for General Operation
9-D Effects of Virtual-Drain Impedance
9-E Calculation of Harmonics

CHAPTER 10. CLASS-E POWER AMPLIFIERS - ADVANCED TOPICS
10-1 Higher-Frequency Operation with Excess Capacitance
10-2 Broadband Operation of Standard Class E
10-3 Finite Choke Impedance
10-4 Broadband Operation of Finite-Choke Class-E PAs
10-5 Effects of Varactor Capacitance
10-6 Class-E Frequency Multipliers
10-7 Class-DE Power Amplifiers
10-8 Class-EF Power Amplifiers
10-9 Realizability of Waveforms
10-10 References
10-11 Problems
10-A Suboptimum Class E
10-B Formulas for Class EF

CHAPTER 11. CLASS-F POWER AMPLIFIERS - BASICS
11-1 Third-Harmonic Peaking
11-2 All-Harmonic Class F
11-3 Second-Harmonic Peaking
11-4 All-Harmonic Inverse Class F
11-5 Class F with Finite Number of Harmonics
11-6 Saturation Voltage and Resistance
11-7 Mismatched Loads
11-8 Output Networks Using Transmission Lines
11-9 Output Networks Using Discrete Components
11-10 Driving and Biasing Class-F PAs
11-11 Linear Operation
11-12 Amplitude Modulation
11-13 References
11-14 Problems
11-A Maximally Flat Waveforms
11-B Transmission-Line Matching Networks

CHAPTER 12. CLASS-F POWER AMPLIFIERS - ADVANCED TOPICS
12-1 General Formulation
12-2 Finite-Harmonic Class C 12-3 Class E in the Frequency Domain
12-4 Finite-Hamonics Class-E PAs
12-5 Transitional Power Amplifiers
12-6 PA Classes in the Frequency Domain
12-7 Class-J PA
12-8 Second-Harmonic Continuous-Mode Waveforms
12-9 Fourth-Harmonic Continuous-Mode Waveforms
12-10 Output Networks for Continuous-Mode PAs
12-11 Harmonic Injection
12-12 References
12-13 Problems

APPENDIX A. ACRONYMS
APPENDIX B. FREQUENCY RANGES
APPENDIX F. FOURIER SERIES
APPENDIX L. RF POWER-AMPLIFIER BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX M. MATH SYMBOLS
APPENDIX P. PHYSICAL CONSTANTS
APPENDIX T. TRANSMISSION-LINE TRANSFORMERS
APPENDIX U. UNITS
APPENDIX W. TRANSMISSION LINES
INDEX