Resonant pulse-shaping power supply for radar transmitters

The final radiofrequency power amplifier (PA) of a radar transmitter module is a large factor in system efficiency. Typical radar transmitter signals are frequency-modulated with constant-amplitude pulse envelopes in order to optimize efficiency, resulting in spectral broadening and power radiated outside of the radar frequency band. This paper demonstrates a PA with a dynamic power supply which enables high efficiency while reducing the spectral emissions. The resonant pulse-shaping power supply generates a raised-cosine pulse envelope waveform with efficiency greater than 90% and peak envelope power around 6 W. Measured results with a 2.14-GHz GaN power amplifier with an efficiency of 76% at peak power demonstrate over 67% transmitter efficiency.