High-Efficiency Class-E Power Amplifier With Shunt Capacitance and Shunt Filter

Abstract

An analysis of a novel single-ended Class-E mode with shunt capacitance and shunt filter with explicit derivation of the idealized optimum voltage and current waveforms and load-network parameters with their verification by frequency domain simulations with 50% duty ratio is presented. The ideal collector voltage and current waveforms demonstrate a possibility of 100% efficiency. The circuit design with transmission lines at 2.14 GHz is discussed and analyzed. In order to reduce the voltage peak factor, the load network parameters can be rearranged to correspond to Class-E/F 3 mode by providing a short-circuit condition at the third harmonic when the second-harmonic tank is connected in series to the shunt filter. Broadband capability of a Class-E mode with shunt filter using reactance compensation technique has been demonstrated by two examples, one with lumped elements and the other with transmission-line elements. The test board of a transmission-line broadband Class-E GaN HEMT power amplifier with shunt filter was measured and high-performance results with the output power of around 41 dBm, average drain efficiency of 68%, and power gain of about 9 dB were achieved across the frequency band from 1.4 to 2.7 GHz.