Characterization of switched mode LDMOS and GaN power amplifiers for optimal use in polar transmitter architectures

In this paper, switched mode power amplifiers classes of operation and device technologies are characterized versus input power and output supply voltage. The results are used to identify optimal control schemes for use in polar transmitter architectures. Then the effects of different control schemes on the requirements for the power amplifier, and the envelope amplifier, as the main building blocks of this architecture, are investigated.