To meet the demands for higher efficiency and size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C), a high efficiency Power
Amplifier (PA) design is discussed. The primary focus is on Class F and Inverse Class F PAs for increased efficiency in
P, L, S, and X band applications. By incorporating innovative matching techniques at the second and third harmonics
and including fast voltage switching circuits, efficiencies over 80% are achievable at a peak output power greater than 25
Watts. These technologies allow for a reduction in battery size and cooling requirements, while achieving state-of-the-art
efficiencies.
The reduction of size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) of radio frequency (RF) components is becoming increasingly
important to meet industry requirements. In meeting the SWaP-C objectives, RF components will be required to be
smaller and more power efficient than the current state- of- the- art while sustaining high performance functionality. In
compliance with SWaP-C and high performance functionality is a High Efficiency Switching Power Amplifier. This
study focuses on the more efficient breed of switching power amplifiers (PAs), particularly the Class F PA with new
techniques to operate broadband on multiple radar bands. Efficiencies in the range of 60% to 80% for Class F PAs have
been reported in literature; however, this efficiency is only attainable over narrow bandwidths on the order of 10%.
Several innovative techniques have been identified to increase the efficiency and operational bandwidth of RF power
amplifiers (PAs) for radar applications. The amplifier design also incorporates fast turn on and turn off circuits to
achieve switching times of less than one microsecond (μs). This enables the PA to be switched off during the receive
period to prevent self-generated noise from corrupting the received signal. Also, high-power transmit and receive (T/R)
switches at the antenna feed can be eliminated. A wideband PA enables the design of a multi-band radar, reducing the
number of components needed for operation in the L and X bands. A high efficiency PA is also key to reducing battery
size and cooling requirements in radar applications.
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