What is it about?
In this article, a 2 to 6 GHz solid‐state power amplifier with 53 dBm output power has been analyzed, designed, and fabricated. To achieve a wideband high output power, we introduce a 16‐way hybrid power combiner based on microstrip planar binary and parallel structures. The simulation and measurement results of the proposed hybrid power combining network (PCN) show that the maximum power combining efficiency is around 86% with the insertion loss of around 0.6 to 1.5 dB and an isolation of 20 dB between the ports. Also, to compensate the output power variations due to the thermal and operating frequency changes across the bandwidth, a digital level control (DLC) unit utilizing an agile control algorithm is proposed which decreases the output power variations to 2% of the desired output power. A cooling heatsink fan system has been also designed in order to transfer the heat generated power to the air. The measured output power for the applied input continuous wave is higher than 52.5 dBm. In addition, the power added efficiency (PAE) is better than 15% across the wide portion of the bandwidth and the measured third‐order intermodulation is about 20 dBc (average).
Featured Image
Why is it important?
It is very important for industrial applications. The methodology used for the design and particularly the measurement results proves the applicability of the fabrication and parasitics modeling. Another significant value of this work is the capability of a laboratory in combining theoretical originality with the industrial innovation.
Perspectives
Working on the theoretical base of research is challenging, but when the theory goes to the practical field many complications would appear. Fabrication has its own complexity, particularly when aimed at the industrial level. What has been designed and fabricated as a 200 W industrial power amplifier in the wide frequency band of 2-6 GHz is actually a very complex system. In my opinion, this system can be very useful for industry and prooves the capability of an innovative laboratory in a university.
Professor Nasser Masoumi
University of Tehran
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A 200 W broadband high power amplifier using hybrid power combining network and digital level control, International Journal of RF and Microwave Computer-Aided Engineering, May 2020, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/mmce.22159.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
