High Efficiency Continuous Inverse Class-F Power Amplifier with Modified Current Waveform

Abstract Continuous inverse class-F (CICF) is a recent mode of harmonically-tuned RF power amplifiers used to extend the operating bandwidth of the conventional narrowband class-F−1 power amplifier by producing variable set of drain current waveforms and load admittances that give the same operating efficiency. In this work, a new approach of analysis is developed by suggesting some modified drain current waveforms and comparing the resulting theoretical performance characteristics such as drain efficiency and output RF power with the conventional type. It has been shown that the drain current with a truncated square wave shape can better model the actual behavior of the power amplifier, delivering a theoretical efficiency higher by about 8% than the conventional shape. Besides, a simple analytic technique for extracting the device harmonic load impedances for the desired band is also presented. Based on the theoretical analysis, a 6 W power amplifier circuit was designed and simulated to operate within the frequency band 800 – 1000 MHz. Simulation results indicated that a drain efficiency of values between 82% and 86% was obtained across the specified band.