A new high efficiency, high power transmitter system for wireless communications

High data rate transmitters for wireless applications for communication on the move, airborne, space-borne and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms suffer from poor DC to RF efficiency. The primary reason is that they incorporate power amplifiers that run in either Class A or Class AB mode and have efficiencies of up to only 20%. Therefore, massive heat sinks and air and/or liquid cooling are required, which adds both complexity and weight and reduces time to failure. Solutions are being sought to significantly improve efficiency to 60% and greater thereby reducing the prime power consumption of the transmitter while also reducing associated size and weight. Artisan Laboratories Corporation has in development a new transmitter concept called ultralight fiber optic link (patent pending) for amplifying, distributing and controlling high power microwave signals for wireless transmitters. This technology can achieve power added efficiency (PAE) in excess of 60% while simultaneously offering the added advantage of fiber optic signal distribution. Artisan's technology offers true high efficiency power amplification over fiber. The use of fiber optic distribution within a platform can provide improved isolation between systems, reduced system weight and power consumption. The approach uses low-level microwave signals to generate optical pulses that are transmitted over optical fiber to drive a novel microwave photonic amplifier which then amplifies the microwave signals with unsurpassed efficiency. We have demonstrated power distribution, control and amplification with an amplifier efficiency of 80% and a PAE of 55%