Fast impedance matching using interval halving of resonator position numbers for a high-power evanescent-mode cavity tuner

Abstract

A fast interval-halving search is demonstrated that can be used to optimize power-amplifier load impedance in real-time with a high-power evanescent-mode cavity tuner, consisting of two evanescent-mode resonant cavities. The power-added efficiency is optimized by tuning the resonator position numbers, which map to resonant frequencies, without need for a load-pull characterization. Because no characterization is required, significant time savings in computation is expected, and tuning is expected to be more robust to drift and hysteresis of the tuner characteristics.