Bayram Ibrahimov,
Azerbaijan Technical University, Baku, Azerbaijan;
bayram.ibrahimov@aztu.edu.az
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5364-1181
Oleg Varlamov,
Institute of Radio and Information Systems (IRIS), Vienna, Austria;
ovarlamov@media-publisher.eu
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3996-9156
DOI: 10.36724/2664-066X-2024-10-2-12-20
SYNCHROINFO JOURNAL. Volume 10, Number 2 (2024). P. 12-20.
Abstract
The article discusses methods of highly efficient linear RF power amplifier and transmitter design for future 5G/6G networks. Based on a consideration of various known methods for constructing high-efficiency power amplifiers, the prospects of developments using the envelope elimination and restoration (EER, or Kahn method) and envelope tracking (ET) method are substantiated. The prospects for implementing PWM switching converter-modulator for these methods are assessed. Based on the evaluation calculations performed, it is shown that this structure can potentially be used as an EEP/ET modulator for a number of 5G/6G applications and will have advantages over structures using class AB amplification.
Keywords: Envelope elimination and restoration, Envelope tracking, High efficiency RF power amplifier, PWM Modulator
References
[1] A. Pastukh, V. Tikhvinskiy, S. Dymkova, and O. Varlamov, “Challenges of Using the L-Band and S-Band for Direct-to-Cellular Satellite 5G-6G NTN Systems,” Technologies, vol. 11, no. 4, p. 110, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.3390/technologies11040110.
[2] R. Caverly, F. Raab, J. Staudinger, “High-Efficiency Power Amplifiers,” IEEE Microw. Mag. 2012, 13, pp. 22-32. doi: 10.1109/MMM.2012.2216716.
[3] A. Grebennikov, M.J. Franco, “Switchmode RF and Microwave Power Amplifiers,” Academic Press: London, UK, 2021.
[4] O.V. Varlamov, I.A. Goncharov and V.G. Lavrushenkov, “High-power HF digital-analog converter for SSB signal power amplifiers,” Telecommunications and Radio Engineering, vol. 44, no. 8, pp. 49, 1989.
[5] H. Chireix, “High power outphasing modulation,” Proc. IRE, 1935, 23, pp. 1370-1392. doi: 10.1109/JRPROC.1935.227299.
[6] L. Kahn, “Single-sideband transmission by envelope elimination and restoration,” Proc. IRE, 1952, no. 40, pp. 803-806. doi: 10.1109/JRPROC.1952.273844.
[7] P. Asbeck, Z. Popovic, “ET comes of age: Envelope tracking for higher-efficiency power amplifiers,” IEEE Microw. Mag. 2016, no. 17, pp. 16-25. doi: 10.1109/MMM.2015.2505699.
[8] G.P. Gibiino, J. Couvidat, G. Avolio, D. Schreurs, A. Santarelli, “Supply-terminal 40 MHz BW characterization of impedance-like nonlinear functions for envelope tracking PAs,” Proceedings of the ARFTG Microwave Measurement Conference, San Francisco, CA, USA, 27 May 2016; pp. 1-4.
[9] P. Chen, A. Alt, J. Moreno Rubio, S. Alsahali, J. Lees, R. Quaglia, M. Casbon, P.J. Tasker, “Optimizing Linearity of Envelope Tracking Power Amplifier Using Baseband Linearization Approach,” Proceedings of the 2020 International Workshop on Integrated Nonlinear Microwave and Millimetre-Wave Circuits (INMMiC), Cardiff, UK, 16-17 July 2020.
[10] O.V. Varlamov, D.C. Nguyen and S.E. Grychkin, “Simultaneous Application of Several Synthetic Methods for High Efficiency Radiofrequency Amplification,” 2021 Systems of Signals Generating and Processing in the Field of on Board Communications, 2021, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/IEEECONF51389.2021.9416126.
[11] Y.-T. Hsu, Z.-Y. Lin, J.-J. Lee, K.-H. Chen, “An envelope tracking supply modulator utilizing a GAN-based integrated four-phase switching converter and average power tracking-based switch sizing with 85.7% efficiency for 5G NR power amplifier,” IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 2021, no. 56, pp. 3167–3176. doi: 10.1109/JSSC.2021.3079403.
[12] O.V. Varlamov, “Multiphase PWM characteristics in the EER transmitter envelope path,” 2021 International Conference on Engineering Management of Communication and Technology (EMCTECH), 2021, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/EMCTECH53459.2021.9619166.
[13] D. Kim, J.-S. Bang, J. Baek, S. Park, Y.-H. Jung, J. Han, I.-H. Kim, S.-Y. Jung, T. Nomiyama, J.-S. Paek, et al., “33.9 a hybrid switching supply modulator achieving 130 MHz envelope-tracking bandwidth and 10 W output power for 2G/3G/LTE/NR RF Power Amplifiers,” Proceedings of the 2021 IEEE International Solid- State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), San Francisco, CA, USA, 13–22 February 2021.
[14] J.-S. Bang, D. Kim, J. Lee, S. Jung, Y. Choo, S. Park, Y.-H. Jung, J.-Y. Ko, T. Norniyama, J. Baek, et al., “2-TX digital envelope-tracking supply modulator achieving 200 MHZ channel bandwidth and 93.6% efficiency for 2G/3G/LTE/NR RF Power Amplifiers,” Proceedings of the 2022 IEEE International Solid- State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), San Francisco, CA, USA, 20-24 February 2022.
[15] T. Cappello, T.W. Barton, C. Florian, M. Litchfield, Z. Popovic, “Multilevel Supply-Modulated Chireix Outphasing With Continuous Input Modulation,” IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 2017, no. 65, pp. 5231-5243. doi: 10.1109/TMTT.2017.2756038.
[16] C.-H. Kuo, J.-T. Yeh, J.-H. Chen, Y.-J.E. Chen, “A Dual-Phase Center-Aligned 7-Bit Digital Pulsewidth Modulator for Polar Transmitters,” IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 2022, no. 70, pp. 5205-5212. doi: 10.1109/TMTT.2022.3205586.
[17] O. Varlamov, D.C. Nguyen, and A. Grebennikov, “Broadband and Efficient Envelope Amplifier for Envelope Elimination and Restoration/Envelope Tracking Higher-Efficiency Power Amplifiers,” Sensors, vol. 22, no. 23, p. 9173, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.3390/s22239173.
[18] S.E. Grychkin, A.M. Zakharov and O.V. Varlamov, “Calculation and Simulation of GaN FET Modulator for Envelope Elimination and Restoration Power Amplifier,” 2023 Systems of Signal Synchronization, Generating and Processing in Telecommunications (SYNCHROINFO, Pskov, Russian Federation, 2023, pp. 1-7, doi: 10.1109/SYNCHROINFO57872.2023.10178469.
[19] F.H. Raab, “Efficiency of Doherty RF Power-Amplifier Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, vol. BC-33, no. 3, pp. 77-83, Sept. 1987, doi: 10.1109/TBC.1987.266625.
[20] F. Raab, “Efficiency of Outphasing RF Power-Amplifier Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 33, no. 10, pp. 1094-1099, October 1985, doi: 10.1109/TCOM.1985.1096219.
[21] R. Langridge, T. Thornton, P.M. Asbeck and L.E. Larson, “A power re-use technique for improved efficiency of outphasing microwave power amplifiers,” IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 47, no. 8, pp. 1467-1470, Aug. 1999, doi: 10.1109/22.780396.
[22] D.J. Jennings and J.P. McGeehan, “A high-efficiency RF transmitter using VCOderived synthesis: CALLUM,” IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 47, pp. 715-721, June 1999.
[23] F.H. Raab, B.E. Sigmon, R.G. Myers and R.M. Jackson, “L-band transmitter using Kahn EER technique,” IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 46, no. 12, pp. 2220-2225, Dec. 1998, doi: 10.1109/22.739200.
[24] G. Hanington, Pin-Fan Chen, P.M. Asbeck and L.E. Larson, “High-efficiency power amplifier using dynamic power-supply voltage for CDMA applications,” IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 47, no. 8, pp. 1471-1476, Aug. 1999, doi: 10.1109/22.780397.