Objectives:

· We would like to design a simple Class A power amplifier using the load-pull method.

· This is a low power and low voltage power amplifier, the output is slated for not more than 10 mW, with operating frequency at 410 MHz.

· The design steps is divided into 3 parts, the first is to design the DC biasing of the amplifier, the second is to perform a load-pull test on the circuit and finally we verify the performance of the circuit. Two performance test is carried out, the gain compression test and the third order intercept (TOI) point test.

Background:

· The transistor chosen for the job is BFR92A which comes in SOT-23 package. The maximum I_C sustainable by the transistor is 30.0mA, with transistion frequency f_T = 5GHz, which is more than sufficient for the job.

· Since this is a large signal nonlinear circuit, substantial harmonics will be generated, therefore the chosen simulation method is the Harmonic Balance Method.

· Common emitter configuration is used and the schematic for performing DC simulation and large signal load-pull test is shown in Figure 1.

· The amplifier is driven by a source with impedance of 50Ohms at the fundamental frequency. We assume the source impedance also maintains at 50Ohms at the other higher harmonics. If this assumption is not true, then we just assign new values to the impedance at higher harmonics.

Step 1: DC Simulation and Maximum RF Output Power Estimation

In performing this simulation we merely deactivate the Harmonic Balance and Parameter Sweep control. The DC simulation results are:

V_C	V_E	V_B	I_C
3.0V	0.338V	1.12V	3.34mA

The result is reasonable, as V_CC = 3.0V, V_E of 0.1V_CC or higher will ensure adequate bias stability and prevent thermal runnaway. The dissipated DC power is:

P_DC = (2´3.0)´0.00334 = 20.04mW

The RF output power will not be higher than this level. The ideal efficiency of this Class-A circuit is 50%, assuming a realistic value of 33%, the RF output power will be no more than6.61mW for linear operation.

Step 2: Performing Load-Pull Test

Figure 1 – The schematic of the Class A power amplifier.

The load-pull test:

As it name implies, the load-pull test is a brute force method to find the optimum load impedance. We actually change large signal load impedance from a small value (near 0) to a large value and calculate the power deliver to the load. A series of contours, known as isopower lines are then plotted on the Smith chart, representing the load reflection coefficients with similar output power level. At the optimum load impedance the power amplifier will deliver maximum power to the load. The optimum load for power amplifier is different from the maximum conjugate gain load for small signal amplifier. In power amplifier design, we are more concern with the maximum output power than the gain of the amplifier. The purpose of the power amplifier is to provide a buffer between the load and other amplifier stages, so that a slight change of load will have minimal effect on the performance of other small signal amplifier stages. In this respect we assume that there is adequate drive from the source for the power amplifier to operate at the peak power level. Some assumptions for this simulation:

· We only consider up to fifth harmonics in the Harmonic Balance simulation.

· The large signal source impedance remains at 50Ohms for all harmonics.

· The large signal load impedance appears as short circuit for higher harmonics (Due to non convergence during simulation, we set Z_{L(2nd harmonic)} to 2.0Ohms). This is justified by the fact that impedance matching network is usually used at the output. We could utilize a low-pass impedance matching network for this purpose. If this is not the case, then we must determine the relationship between the large signal impedance values at higher harmonics and the impedance value at the fundamental frequency. As during the load-pull test, we only change the impedance value at the fundamental frequency. This is a very complicated affair and will not be pursued at this state. As the aim is to clarified the concept and procedure of a Class-A power amplifier design.

Changing the load impedance:

To sweep the load impedance at fundamental frequency, we change its S₁₁ amplitude ® and phase (q).

G_Load= S11 = Re^j^q

Thus it is seen in from “SweepVar” and “Parameter Sweep” settings in Figure 1, R is swept from 0 to 0.98 while q is swept from 0^o to 360^o at a step of 10^o.

Source power and harmonic distortion:

The source used is a one-tone power source. As shown in Figure 1, this example use a source that delivers a power of –20dBm if a load of 50Ohm is connected to it. In other words P_in = -20dBm is the available power. Once we have determined the load impedance, we need to check for the level of harmonic distortion. This is done by calculating the ratio of power at fundamental frequency over power due to higher harmonics. The current probes and named nodes in the schematic of Figure 1 are for this purpose. We call this ratio the Distortion Ratio (DR). Whenever this ratio is less than 0.1 or –10dB, we can assume the circuit to be in linear mode. Concepts such as input impedance can then be applied. The Class-A power amplifier is essentially a linear power amplifier. From the theory of power amplifier[1], once nonlinear distortion sets in, the maximum power delivered at the fundamental frequency will cease to increase. Any increase in input power to the amplifier will be converted to power at the harmonics.

Determining the Optimum Load Impedance:

· Set the source power at a starting value, say –20dbm.

· Perform the load-pull test. Find load impedance for maximum output power.

· Check that DR < 0.05.

· Increase source power, say to –15dbm.

· Repeat the load-pull test. You should see that the new load impedance for maximum output power only changes slightly. Check that DR still less than 0.05.

· Increase source power further to –10dbm. Repeat load-pull test until DR > 0.05.

· The load impedance for maximum output power is the optimum load impedance.

Figure 2 – The load-pull test result when DR is just less than 0.05.

From Figure 2, a good power amplifier should have large isopower contour area. This signifies that the delivered output power is insensitive to load. The power amplifier can deliver considerable power to a wide range of load with little change in output power level from its maximum value. However this is usually difficult to fulfill. In Figure 2, the result is reasonable. The maximum power the power amplifier can supply without significant nonlinear distortion is 8.304dbm or 6.7mW.

Step 3: Measure the large signal input impedance and Performing Input Impedance Matching

Since Class-A power amplifier is almost linear, we can measure the input impedance when the output is terminated with optimum load. The schematic to do this is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 – The schematic for measuring input impedance at optimum condition.

The input impedance can be computed as:

Z_in = V_in[1]/(-I_in[1]) = 10.302 – j10.491

The square brackets are used to access the fundamental harmonic terms. After obtaining Z_in we then proceed to match the source impedance of 50Ohms to Z_in using conjugate matching method. The L impedance transformation network is chosen and the matching circuit is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 – The input impedance matching circuit.

Step 4: Gain Compression Test

The complete circuit of the Class-A power amplifier is shown in Figure 5.1. The simulation settings in the schematic is also used to perform the gain compression test. Basically we sweep the source power level “Pin” linearly from –30dBm to 0dBm. From Figure 5.2, the 1dB gain compression occurs at available source power P_in:

Pin_{1dB Compression} = -16.55dBm

Also shown in Figure 5.2 are the time domain waveforms for input and output voltage/current Pin = -16.55dBm. Therefore we notice that the actual useful output is actually:

P_out(1dB) = +2.10dBm

The nominal power gain when output is terminated with optimum load is:

P_gain(opt) = 19.68dB

Figure 5.1 – The schematic for Gain Compression test.

Output power at fundamental frequency versus source input power

Power gain at fundamental frequency versus source input power

Output and input current

Output and input voltage

Figure 5.2 – Gain compression test results.

Step 5: Third Order Intercept (TOI) Point Test

The schematic used for performing TOI is similar to the schematic of Figure 5.1. The only change is we are now performing Harmonic Balance simulation with two frequencies (or two tones). Therefore mixing components must be taken into account. The simulation control variable “MaxOrder” must be set to at least 3 to access the (2f₁-f₂) and (2f₂-f₁) frequencies components. Refer to the online help on ADS for further information. The source must provide two frequency components at f₁ = 410MHz and f₂=411MHz respectively. Thus the 1-tone power source is replaced with an N-tone power source. For the TOI test both source magnitude must be similar[2].

Figure 6.1– Schematic for performing TOI test.

From Figure 6.2, the third order intercept (TOI) point occurs at P_in = -9.487dBm.

Figure 6.2 – Result of TOI analysis.

Summary: Performance of the Class-A Power Amplifier

Power Supply Voltage	3.0V
Operating Frequency	410MHz
Source impedance	50 W
Optimum Load Impedance	Z_L(opt) = 438.05 + j0 W
Maximum Output Power with Negligible Harmonic Distortion.	P_out(max) = +8.304dBm
Large Signal Input Impedance at Optimum Load.	Z_in(opt) = 10.302 – j10.491 W
Power gain when input is conjugately matched to source and at Optimum Load.	19.68dB
1dB Gain Compression Level for Available Source Power	-16.55dBm
Output Power at 1dB Gain Compression Level.	+2.10dBm
TOI input level (for Available Source Power), for f₁=410MHz and f₂=411MHz.	-9.49dBm
TOI output level (P_IP)	9.53 dBm
Required Available Source Power to produce P_out(max) at output	-0.5 dBm