A Highly Efficient and Linear Class-AB/F Power Amplifier for Multimode Operation

The class-AB/F power amplifier (PA), a multimode PA, which can operate at both class-AB and class-F modes, is analyzed and compared with the conventional class-F and class-AB PAs. The open-circuited third harmonic control circuit enhances the efficiency of the PA without deteriorating the linearity of class-AB mode of the PA. The voltage and current waveforms are simulated to evaluate the appropriate operation for the modes. To demonstrate the multimode PA, the PA is implemented using an InGaP/GaAs HBT process and it is tested with reverse-link IS-95A code division multiple access (CDMA) and PCS1900 global system for mobile communications signals in the personal communications service band. The class-AB operation for a CDMA signal delivers a power-added efficiency (PAE) of 38.9% and an adjacent channel power ratio of 49.5 and 56.5 dBc at the offset of 1.25 and 2.25 MHz, respectively, at the output power of 28 dBm. The maximum PAE of 64.7% under the class-F operation is measured at 32.5-dBm output power for a GSM signal. The class-AB/F PA is a good candidate for the multimode PA of next-generation wireless communication systems.