Design of high efficiency power amplifier for parametric array transducer using variable power supply

Parametric array transducers are used for long-range and highly directional communication in an air or underwater environments. The power amplifiers for parametric array transducers should have sufficient linear output characteristic and high efficiency to avoid communication errors, system heating, and fuel problems. But the conventional power amplifier with fixed source voltage is very low efficient due to large power loss by the big difference between the fixed source voltage and the amplifier output voltage. Thus to solve the problems this paper proposes the high efficiency power amplifier for parametric array transducers. The proposed power amplifier ensures high linearity of output characteristic by utilizing the push-pull class B type amplifier and furthermore gets high efficiency by applying the envelope tracking technique that variable source voltage tracks the envelope of the amplified signal. Also the paper suggests the detailed circuit topology and design guideline of class B push-pull type amplifier and variable output voltage AC/DC converter. Its characteristics are verified by the detailed experimental results.