Ultra-Wideband High Efficiency Medium Power Amplifier (UWHiMP)

In response to the AF222-0020 Phase II SBIR solicitation “Ultra-Wideband High Efficiency Power Amplifier for Multi-function RF Systems” MaXentric proposes UWHiMP (“Ultra-Wideband High Efficiency Medium Power Amplifier”).  UWHiMP will utilize advanced processes, wideband matching networks, and supply modulation to create a multi-band, 2-18 GHz, power amplifier with at least 50% PAE and 15 dB of gain at greater than 2W output power.  Novel power amplifier concepts and system architectures will be explored to include continuous class B/J topologies that extend the narrow band performance of the traditional class B amplifier for wide bandwidth applications. Three bands (2-7 GHz, 7-13 GHz, and 13-18 GHz respectively) will be used to gain contiguous 2-18 GHz coverage.  Wideband matching networks, leveraging MaXentric’s past work with GaN MMIC designs, will provide the necessary fundamental and harmonic terminations required to provide suitable efficiency across the full 2-18 GHz span.  Furthermore, UWHiMP will be designed to accommodate supply modulators ensuring that efficiency remains high when the amplifier is operated backed off or with high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) waveforms.  In phase I MaXentric Technologies performed a trade study to determine the optimal architecture and design specifications required to create an ultra-wideband, medium output power, high efficiency power amplifier, sized to fit within a Ku-band phased array grid, suitable for future DoD radar, communications, and EW systems.  Feasibility and trade space studies, amplifier designs, and simulated performance were summarized in a final report and a phase II blueprint was created along with a strategy for design, assembly, and testing the PA which will be carried out during the phase II efforts.