EuMW MicroApps Keyntote 2013 Steve Cripps

Continuous Mode RFPA
Design: Recent Developments

Steve C. Cripps
Cardiff University, UK
Steve C Cripps crippss@cardiff.ac.uk)

Centre for High Frequency Engineering, Cardiff University
Summary
Introductory Comments
Continuous PA Modes (Summary)
Zero-grazing mathematics extended
Harmonic Clipping Contours
PA Design Using Clipping Contours
Conclusions

Introduction
IT was 30 years ago today..........
.....well, not quite today, but in 1983 I published
a paper at the International Microwave
Symposium (MTT-S then called) which proposed
a simple technique for designing RFPAs
30 years later, Im still at it; developing a
priori design methodology for PAs

Introduction (-2)

Traditional PA Modes (-1)

current
Voltage
zeroknee
3
2.75
2.5
2.25
2
1.75
1.5
1.25
1
0.75
0.5
0.25
0
0
90
180
270
360
450
540
630
720
Moving from Class A to Class B, the optimum

fundamental match changes very little
But the harmonics, especially the 2nd harmonic
component of current, can wreak havoc (!)
C la ss AB/B
Designers strive to present a harmonic short at all

frequencies, and are rewarded with 78% efficiency
Nothing else will do !!! ??? (WRONG!)

current
Voltage
zeroknee
3
2.75
2.5
2.25
2
1.75
1.5
1.25
1
0.75
0.5
0.25
0
0
90
180
270
360
450
540
630
720
Class J mode is another singular point in

harmonic space, which gives the same efficiency
as Class B
It requires a finite reactive 2H termination, and a
reactive fundamental component

Zo= R L
C la ss B
C la ss J
Class B and Class J are singular points in

harmonic impedance space
But there is a continuum set of modes in
between!
Continuous Modes (-1)

Vds = 1 cos sin + ( 12 )sin 2
(i.e., V1q = 1, V2 q = 12 )
This is the " ClassJ" PA.
This expression factorizes !
Vds = (1 cos )(1 sin )
This expression can be further generalized,

Vds = (1 cos )(1 sin )

4
= -1
= -0.5
=0
= 0.5
=1
Normalized Voltage
0
0
90
180
270
360
450
540
630
720
Angular Phase () [radians]
As parameter is varied from 1 to +1, voltage

waveform changes from Class B (sinewave) to Class
J waveform
Note that the Vpk/Vdc ratio also varies from 2 (Class
B) to nearly 3 (Class J), thus showing useful
intermediate conditions
10

Zo= R L
C la ss B
C la ss J
As the parameter varies between 1 and +1, there

is a continuum set of modes in between Class B and
Class J, all having the same efficiency
11

Z
2 f0
re s.
f0
re s.
Design space can be used to maintain optimum

efficiency over substantial bandwidths
Arrows indicate approximate impedance trajectory for
circuit topology shown
12
Maximum P2dB emulated efficiency
80
80
Model-Predicted Efficiency
70
70
Realised PA Drain Efficiency
60
60
Minimum P2dB emulated efficiency
50
50
Realised PA Pout @P2dB
40
40
30
30
1.20
1.30
1.40
1.50
1.60
1.70
1.80
1.90
Frequency / GHz
2.00
2.10
2.20
2.30
2.40
Drain Efficiency, Pout / %, dBm
Drain Efficiency, Pout / %, dBm
2.50
10W (Cree GaN) PA design reported at IMS2009

(and in 2009 Dec Transactions)
>65% DE over 700 MHz b/w (40% b/w)
ACPR < -30dBc
13
Extended Continuous Modes (-1)

Zo= R L
C la ss B
C la ss J
A continuum of B-J impedance states exist which

give constant power and efficiency
But the 2nd harmonic has to be constrained to reactive
values
14
Sidenote: push-pull modes (-1)
Continuous mode theory sits very well with

push-pull mode Pas
Typical GHz baluns are made using a section of
transmission line, which in odd mode excitation
gives a 2:1 transformation at each device........
15
Sidenote: push-pull operation (-2)
..........and in even mode (2nd harmonic)

excitation present an open circuit, so 2nd
harmonic loading stays reactive (but not o/c!)
over very broad bandwidth
16
Sidenote: Push-pull operation (-3)
2.5:1 bandwidth 50W GaN design

Sidenote: Push-pull operation (-4)
Decade bandwidth GaN design (measured

data)
Extended Continuous Mode Analysis (-1)
A more general expression for RFPA device

output voltage can be written as:
This generates a set of zero-grazing waveforms

that include cases of lower than optimum power,
and 2nd harmonic impedances having resistive
components
This formulation now allows the designer to
quantify the impact of near misses on
fundamental and harmonic impedance targets
19

V ( ) = Vdc + V1R cos + V1Q sin + V2R cos 2 + V2Q sin 2
Normalise, Vdc = 1
v ( ) = 1 + v1R cos + v1Q sin + v 2R cos 2 + v 2Q sin 2
{1 cos( + )}{1 cos( + )}
(" zero grazing " )
v1R =
( cos + cos )
1 + ( / 2 )cos( )
(
/ 2 )cos( + )
v 2R =
1 + ( / 2 )cos( )
v1Q =
v 2Q
( sin + sin )
1 + ( / 2 )cos( )
( / 2 )sin( + )
=
1 + ( / 2 )cos( )

20

( cos + cos )
=
1 + ( / 2 )cos( )
(
sin + sin )
v1Q =
1 + ( / 2 )cos( )
(
/ 2 )cos( + )
v 2R =
1 + ( / 2)cos( )
( / 2 )sin( + )
=
1 + ( / 2 )cos( )
v1R
v 2Q
For given V1R,V1Q, two of the slack parameters

(,,) can be eliminated, and a zero-grazing
contour plotted on the V2 impedance plane
Note that for a stipulated current waveform, the
Vs define the Zs !
21
Clipping Contours (-1)
Class AB with optimum fundamental match (Zfo=RL)

Non-clipping (safe) region for 2nd harmonic lies
entirely outside the Smith Chart
Grazes at the short-circuit point
22
Class B with -1dB fundamental match (0.8*RL)

Clipping region for 2nd harmonic now floods into the
Smith Chart !
Optimum match is a marginal design stategy!
23
Class B with -1dB fundamental match (vertex of

1dB Cripps contour)
Safe (non-clipping) 2nd harmonic region still
extensive
24
Second harmonic, in the right place, can actually

extend the fundamental 1dB contour region !
This shows a backed-off Class B-J condition,
fundamental load = 0.8*RL+jRL
25
Impedance trajectory of 50 Ohm SCSS

OK at spot frequency, but care needed even over
5-10% bandwidths to avoid 2H clipping
26
PA Design using Clipping Contours (-1)
Even in a narrow band design, clipping contours

provide a valuable guide for placing the 2H
impedance inside the safe region
27
Issues ? ( -1 )
So what about the higher harmonics,
doesnt this analysis assume they are still

shorted?
Yes. But the voltage companents are driven

0
by the current components, and the 2nd

harmonic is much higher than the higher
harmonics. Indeed, at higher fundamental
frequencies (X-Ku band), even the 2nd
harmonic gets soft.
Issues ? ( -2 )
But wait a minute, what about Class F? That

uses third harmonic?
Only in a sense. If your circuit presents
impedances way over towards an open
circuit at the 3rd harmonic,
things do change
0
and the ClassB-J mode waveforms will also
change. But in practice the 3rd harmonic
impedance is dominated by the device
output capacitance.
1pF at 30GHz is 5 Ohms....not my idea of
an o/c ;-)
Issues ? ( -2a, the Class F Odyssey)
But thats another story.......

Issues ? ( -3 )
By zero grazing, do you mean knee

clipping ?
Yes. Allowing waveforms to reach zero is an

0
approximation. In practice
we apply zerograzing theory at the edge of the knee
region.

Issues (-4)
Class B-J modes have peak voltages higher

tan
2Vdc
Well, so what? Class E PAs can have peak

voltages 3-4 time Vdc and no-one complains
(= get your own house
in order
0
first.........sorrrrrrry......)
GaN devices can tolerate high peak-to-DC
voltages
Does anyone actually measure it?

Conclusions
Class B-J modes have been demonstrated

to give extended bandwidth PA designs
This more generalised theory allows for
harmonic impedances that are not purely

0
reactive, and quantifies the effects of
missing an ideal set of design impedance
goals

Conclusions
Sorry its taken another 30

years................!
Questions?


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Continuous Mode RFPA

Design: Recent Developments

Steve C Cripps crippss@cardiff.ac.uk)

Steve C Cripps crippss@cardiff.ac.uk)

Steve C Cripps crippss@cardiff.ac.uk)

Steve C Cripps crippss@cardiff.ac.uk)

Traditional PA Modes (-1)

Moving from Class A to Class B, the optimum

Traditional PA Modes (-2)

Designers strive to present a harmonic short at all

Traditional PA Modes (-3)

Class J mode is another singular point in

Traditional PA Modes (-4)

Class B and Class J are singular points in

Continuous Modes (-1)

This expression can be further generalized,

Continuous Modes (-2)

Angular Phase () [radians]

As parameter is varied from 1 to +1, voltage

Continuous Modes (-3)

As the parameter varies between 1 and +1, there

Continuous Modes (-4)

Design space can be used to maintain optimum

Maximum P2dB emulated efficiency

Realised PA Drain Efficiency

Realised PA Pout @P2dB

Drain Efficiency, Pout / %, dBm

Drain Efficiency, Pout / %, dBm

Continuous Modes (-5)

10W (Cree GaN) PA design reported at IMS2009

Extended Continuous Modes (-1)

A continuum of B-J impedance states exist which

Sidenote: push-pull modes (-1)

Continuous mode theory sits very well with

Sidenote: push-pull operation (-2)

..........and in even mode (2nd harmonic)

Sidenote: Push-pull operation (-3)

2.5:1 bandwidth 50W GaN design

Sidenote: Push-pull operation (-4)

Decade bandwidth GaN design (measured

Extended Continuous Mode Analysis (-1)

A more general expression for RFPA device

This generates a set of zero-grazing waveforms

Extended Continuous Mode Analysis (-2)

{1 cos( + )}{1 cos( + )}

(" zero grazing " )

Steve C Cripps crippss@cardiff.ac.uk)

Extended Continuous Mode Analysis (-3)

For given V1R,V1Q, two of the slack parameters

Clipping Contours (-1)

Class AB with optimum fundamental match (Zfo=RL)

Clipping Contours (-2)

Class B with -1dB fundamental match (0.8*RL)

Clipping Contours (-3)

Class B with -1dB fundamental match (vertex of

Clipping Contours (-4)

Second harmonic, in the right place, can actually

Clipping Contours (-5)

Impedance trajectory of 50 Ohm SCSS

PA Design using Clipping Contours (-1)

Even in a narrow band design, clipping contours

So what about the higher harmonics,

doesnt this analysis assume they are still

Yes. But the voltage companents are driven