Radio Frequency Pulsewidth Modulation

The width of a train of square pulses can be varied to produce a modulated carrier at the pulse repetition frequency. When the pulse train is generated by switching (class D) transistors, highefficiency operation is possible. The efficiency of this type of amplifier can be significantly higher than that of conventional pulsewidth modulation amplifiers, since the switching rate is reduced. In addition, the spectrum of a bipolar pulse train so modulated has the highly desirable property of all spurious products being band limited near the odd harmonics of the carrier.