Circulator Load Modulated Amplifier: A Non-Reciprocal Wideband and Efficient PA Architecture
Paper in proceeding, 2021

A novel power amplifier (PA) architecure, the Circulator Load Modulated Amplifier (CLMA), is presented and demonstrated. Based on a 3-port non-reciprocal combiner, the CLMA is able to modulate the load of a class-B amplifier by means of controlling the amplitude and phase of a class-C amplifier. The architecture enables broadband highly-efficient operation over a reconfigurable output power control range. As a proof of concept, a narrowband prototype PA based on GaN transistors and a commercial circulator is employed to validate the CLMA concept. It exhibits peak output power of 43.1 dBm and drain efficiency of 73% at 6-dB output power control range at a center frequency of 2.09 GHz.

wideband

circulator

GaN

power amplifier

load modulation

non-reciprocal

energy efficiency

Author

Han Zhou

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics

Jose-Ramon Perez-Cisneros

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics

Christian Fager

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics

IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest

0149645X (ISSN)

Vol. 2021-June 603-605

IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest
Atlanta, USA,

Subject Categories

Telecommunications

DOI

10.1109/IMS19712.2021.9574960

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5/1/2024 1