MMIC-based class-A/F power amplifier for ultra-linear-commercial PCS multiple-modulation-format base station power amplification

Abstract

An MMIC based, three stage, class-A/F driver amplifier provided greatly improved linear power in concurrent multiple modulation formats over previous MMICs and class A/F amplifiers. The modified class A/F structure suppresses the 3rd and 5th order products by more than 15.8 dB and 13 dB respectively, over a typical class A/F amplifier, and by 17.8 dB over a straight class A amplifier. This provides a 3rd order intercept of 56.7 dBm. for only 48 watts DC. The amp has 0.3 dB gain flatness over a 10% AMPs bandwidth. The technique is patented.