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

8-10 Oct. 2007

Firstpage

296

Lastpage

299

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

differential amplifiers; directional couplers; power amplifiers; radio networks; radiofrequency amplifiers; DC power consumption; RF power switch; balanced amplifier; dynamic switching network; hot switching network; reconfigurable power amplifier networks; static switching network; switchable directional couplers; switched branch line; Broadband amplifiers; Circuits; Directional couplers; Energy consumption; Phase shifters; Power amplifiers; Power generation; Radio frequency; Radiofrequency amplifiers; Switches;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Wireless Technologies, 2007 European Conference on

Conference_Location

Munich

Print_ISBN

978-2-87487-003-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ECWT.2007.4404005

Filename

4404005