Reconfigurable PA networks using switchable directional couplers as RF switch

Author

Lehmann, Thomas ; Hettstedt, Falk ; Knöchel, Reinhard

Author_Institution

Univ. of Kiel, Kiel

fYear

2007

fDate

9-12 Oct. 2007

Firstpage

1054

Lastpage

1057

Abstract

Reconfigurable power amplifiers are presented, which utilize switched directional couplers. A power amplifier is built up with several individual smaller stages connected in parallel using the "balanced" amplifier scheme. If the required output power decreases, some of the stages are switched off in order to decrease the DC power consumption and increase the drive of the remaining stages, thus increasing efficiency. The idea is to use switched branch line (right handed and left handed) couplers with switches to ground at their transversal planes as rf power switch in static and dynamic "hot" switching reconfigurable PA networks. The paper presents theoretical considerations and experimental results for built networks.

Keywords

directional couplers; power amplifiers; DC power consumption; RF switch; balanced amplifier scheme; left handed coupler; reconfigurable PA networks; reconfigurable power amplifiers; rf power switch; right handed coupler; switchable directional couplers; switched branch line; transversal planes; Broadband amplifiers; Circuits; Directional couplers; Energy consumption; Phase shifters; Power amplifiers; Power generation; Radio frequency; Radiofrequency amplifiers; Switches;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Microwave Conference, 2007. European

Conference_Location

Munich

Print_ISBN

978-2-87487-001-9

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/EUMC.2007.4405378

Filename

4405378