access icon free Optimised high-efficiency Class E radio frequency power amplifier for wide bandwidth and high harmonics suppression

© The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Received 12/08/2013, Accepted 18/10/2013, Revised 29/09/2013, Published 03/01/2014

A Class E power amplifier offers high efficiency approaching 100% for an ideal case. A new wide bandwidth Class E power amplifier design has been introduced combining a parallel-circuit load network with reactance compensation technique and high-order harmonic suppression circuit. The proposed topology has been discussed based on theory and its experimental verification. A hardware prototype was designed and built, and measurement results showed drain efficiency of 70% and second harmonic rejection of more than 84 dBc (as well as higher harmonics), and output power level more than 6.5 W with ±0.5 dB power flatness, across very high frequency (VHF) band (136–174 MHz). The performance achieved demonstrated highest harmonic suppression across wide bandwidth for VHF range according to authors’ knowledge. Simulations of power performance (i.e. efficiency and output power) were verified by measurements, and good agreements were obtained.

Inspec keywords: VHF amplifiers; power amplifiers; wideband amplifiers; circuit optimisation

Other keywords: parallel-circuit load network; power 6.5 W; high harmonics suppression; second harmonic rejection; high-order harmonic suppression circuit; very high frequency band; frequency 136 MHz to 174 MHz; VHF range; drain efficiency; reactance compensation technique; optimised high-efficiency class E radio frequency power amplifier; wide bandwidth class E power amplifier design

Subjects: General circuit analysis and synthesis methods; Amplifiers

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