MEMS-switched class-A-to-E reconfigurable power amplifier

Abstract

Reconfigurable microwave power amplifiers are essential components of multifunctional front-ends. This paper discusses the design and demonstration of a MEMS-reconfigurable power amplifier at 10 GHz that functions in either a linear class-A mode or a high-efficiency class-E mode. The measured performance is compared to non-reconfigurable class-A and -E amplifiers on the same substrate. The reconfigurable output network is designed such that the decrease in efficiency due to the additional output loss is no more than 5% when compared to a non-reconfigurable circuit. Both modes achieve 20 dBm output power, with 24% power-added efficiency and 26.6% drain efficiency at the 1 dB compression point in class-A mode, and 49% power-added efficiency and 58.3% drain efficiency in the class-E mode.