Linear and Efficient Half-Sinusoidally Driven Harmonic-Control Amplifier

We optimized a haif-sinusoidally driven harmonic-control amplifier (hHCA) for power-added efficiency (PAE) and carrier-to-intermodulation-distortion distance (C/I) at two-tone stimulus. The second harmonic input power which is necessary to drive the hHCA is generated by a resistively loaded class B amplifier. This promotes overall linearity and PAE. We show that for an hHCA the design criterion for optimum PAE and optimum C/I is the same. The realization of such an amplifier has demonstrated a PAE of 50% at a C/I of -41 dBc and of 58% at -30 dBc.