Light-Weight, High-efficient, Wideband Compact Power Amplifier

The military makes extensive use of high-power signals at frequencies from 1.5 MHz to 3 GHz for communication, jamming, and other applications. The proposed ultra-wideband high-efficiency power amplifier is based upon a combination of a high-efficiency RFpower amplifier (PA) and electronic tuning. The high-efficiency PA provides maximum power output and minimum power consumption, thus allowing increases in battery life and reductions in size, weight, and prime power. Electronic tuning ensures that the PAmaintains high-efficiency operation over a wide band of frequencies and in the presence of variable load impedance. Basic power modules with outputs of 200 to 500 W are envisioned. This technology will enable small, light-weight military radios capable of operating over a wide range of frequency and for a long time from a single battery. Examples include an airborne jammer and a manpack communication transceiver. Similar benefitsare possible in a variety of commercial applications. Cellular base stations have similar output power and frequency range, but the average efficiency of current transmitters is no more than 10 percent. Application of this technology can increase theoutput power by 20 percent and reduce the power consumption by a factor of 4 to 6. The resultant transmitter will not only cost less to buy, but also less to operate. Broadcast transmitters and a variety of communication radios can also benefit from thistechnology.