Design and Large-Signal Characterization of High-Power Varactor-Based Impedance Tuners
Journal article, 2018

This paper presents a new systematic and efficient method for the design of high-power varactor-based impedance tuners. By incorporating the varactor losses and voltage handling capabilities, the method allows the impedance tuning range to be maximized and losses to be minimized under high-power operating conditions. A 2.2-GHz large-signal double-stub tuner has been designed using the proposed methodology and SiC varactor diodes. Using comprehensive large-signal measurements, a 25-W input power handling is demonstrated up to Γ max ∼ 0.8. Two-tone linearity measurements show an input third-order intercept point exceeding 50 dBm for most impedances. These results clearly demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technique for the design of high-performance large-signal tuners.

silicon carbide (SiC)

tunable matching network

High power

impedance tuner

load-pull

large-signal network analyzer (LSNA)

Author

Cesar Sanchez Perez

Qamcom Research & Technology

Christer Anderson

Qamcom Research & Technology

Koen Buisman

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics

Dan Kuylenstierna

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics

Niklas Rorsman

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics

Christian Fager

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics

IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques

0018-9480 (ISSN) 15579670 (eISSN)

Vol. 66 4 1744-1753

Subject Categories

Aerospace Engineering

Signal Processing

Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering

DOI

10.1109/TMTT.2018.2791969

More information

Latest update

4/18/2018