Class-F power amplifier with 82.9% maximum PAE at 1.89GHz for LTE applications

A GaN HEMT class-F power amplifier (PA) achieving a high maximum power added efficiency (PAE) is presented. The class-F PA exhibits maximum PAE of 82.9% with an output power of 39dBm at 1.89GHz. The PA shows PAE higher than 75% over 100MHz frequency range from 1.8GHz to 1.9GHz. Source-pull and load-pull techniques in large signal analysis were conducted to satisfy the optimum load resistance at fundamental frequency, second and third harmonics.