Real-Time Amplifier Load-Impedance Optimization for Adaptive Radar Transmitters Using a Nonlinear Tunable Varactor Matching Network

Future radar transmitters will need to be able to quickly reconfigure their radio-frequency circuitry to change operating frequency and spectral output while maintaining high power-added efficiency (PAE). In this paper, fast tuning of a tunable-varactor matching network is demonstrated to optimize the PAE while meeting requirements on the adjacent-channel power ratio. The tunable varactor network, a first-level prototype of a tunable radar amplifier matching network, incurs nonlinear performance, providing possible challenges to measurement accuracy. To address the issue of nonlinearities while maintaining ability to quickly reconfigure, the tunable-varactor network is characterized at different input power levels to allow useful performance in its nonlinear regime. The power-dependent characterization is used in an algorithm for optimization of an amplifier's PAE, by looking up the matching network characterization performed at the power estimated to be output by the amplifier. Measurement results show that this characterization enhances the consistency of the optimized PAE. Using the tunable varactor network reduces the optimization time to one-fourth of the time required when using the algorithm with a traditional mechanical load-pull tuner.