A 2-18 GHz Dual-Mode GaN Power Amplifier Based on Distributed Structure

• Published in: IEEE microwave and wireless technology letters (Print) Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 651 - 654
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wei, Lin, Zhikang, Tao, Hongqi, Meng, Hongfu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Piscataway IEEE 01.06.2024; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Continuous radiation; Distributed amplifiers; Distributed power amplifier (DPA); dual mode; Gallium nitrides; GaN monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs); high voltage; High voltages; Logic gates; Low pass filters; Power amplifiers; Power transmission lines; Switches; Switching; Switching circuits; Transistors; Transmission lines; Ultrawideband; ultrawideband (UWB)
• ISSN: 2771-957X; 2771-9588
• DOI: 10.1109/LMWT.2024.3392153

Based on 0.2-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\mu </tex-math></inline-formula> m GaN HEMT high-voltage process, a ultrawideband (UWB) dual-mode power amplifier (PA) was designed using the distributed structure. Different from distributed amplifiers in conventional low-pass filtering networks, LC series resonant networks are used to regulate the filtering characteristics. The switching transistors are used in the design to convert the low-pass and bandpass characteristics of the gate artificial transmission line, so as to realize the conversion of 2-18 GHz continuous wave (CW) and 8-12-GHz pulse two working modes. When the drain voltage (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">V_{\text {D}} </tex-math></inline-formula>) is 28 V, the amplifier can achieve 10-W CW power output at 2-18 GHz with power added efficiency (PAE) greater than 20%. When <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">V_{\text {D}} </tex-math></inline-formula> is 40 V, the pulse output of 20 W at 8-12 GHz can be achieved, and the peak PAE can reach 35%. The innovative method of switching transistor combined with LC resonant network rematches the PA to obtain high PAE in the desired BW under high-voltage operation.