High efficiency GaN current-mode class-D amplifier at 2.6 GHz using pure differential transmission line filters

Author

Sigg, A. ; Heck, S. ; BraÌˆckle, A. ; Berroth, Manfred

Author_Institution

Inst. of Electr. & Opt. Commun. Eng., Univ. of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

Volume

49

Issue

1

fYear

2013

fDate

January 3 2013

Firstpage

47

Lastpage

49

Abstract

In class-D operation the impedances of the output network at each harmonic frequency at the intrinsic terminals of the transistors are of main importance. This reported work demonstrates a new concept using pure differential transmission line filters for the matching of these impedances. Furthermore, de-embedding techniques are used to compensate the impedance transforming characteristics of the package parasitics. A current-mode class-D (CMCD) amplifier with a power-added efficiency (PAE) of 62% and a corresponding output power of 29.5 W at 2.6 GHz has been demonstrated. To the authors% knowledge, these are the highest reported values of the PAE as well as the output power at this frequency for a CMCD.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; current-mode circuits; gallium compounds; impedance matching; power amplifiers; wide band gap semiconductors; GaN; class-D operation; current-mode class-D amplifier; deembedding technique; frequency 2.6 GHz; harmonic frequency; impedance matching; impedance transforming characteristics; output network; package parasitics; power 29.5 W; power amplifier; power-added efficiency; pure differential transmission line filter; transistor;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Electronics Letters

Publisher

iet

ISSN

0013-5194

Type

jour

DOI

10.1049/el.2012.3984

Filename

6415441