Reconfigurable Class S power amplifiers at RF and microwave frequencies

Abstract

When a delta-sigma modulator (DSM) is placed before a class D switching stage the combination can be used to amplify time varying envelope signals. However a bandpass DSM is commonly employed and is required to have a sampling frequency approximately four times the carrier frequency. At RF or microwave frequencies proprietary hardware was previously needed to implement the DSM. However, it is shown here in simulation and from experimental measurement that a suitable DSM for class S power amplifiers can be implemented at RF and microwave frequencies using mid-range FPGA technology.