A compact and power-scalable 70W GaN class-E power amplifier operating from 1.7 to 2.6 GHz

A power-scalable, efficient and very wideband GaN class-E high-power amplifier is described. The large bandwidth performance is achieved by employing the so-called “class-E with parallel-circuit” loading conditions using a very compact all-lumped element implementation. The fundamental loading is realized by the magnetizing inductance of a novel bondwire-based transformer connected directly at the transistor drain. The PA input and output matching networks are entirely implemented with bondwire inductors and MOS/MIM capacitors. The amplifier provides an output power from 44 to 72W with a PAE ranging from 60 to 69% (DE of 64 to 71%) and a transducer power gain of 12.9±1.1dB over 39% bandwidth (1.75-2.60 GHz). The total area of the PA, including bias arrangements, 50Ω input and output matching networks, is only 2.9-by-1.7 cm².