A 0.25–1.25-GHz High-Efficiency Power Amplifier With Computer-Aided Design Based on Optimized Impedance Solution Continuum

A design approach based on optimized impedance solution continuum with a computer-aided design for broadband power amplifiers (PAs) is proposed. It contributes to restricting optimized load impedance space under specific performance constraints. Data containing preliminary power and power-added-efficiency contours are exported from load-pull data and transformed to optimized impedance solution continuum which is adopted as the impedance solutions in the computer-aided implementation of the matching network (MN). With the aid of a mathematical tool dealing with expanded target impedance space, the performance of a broadband MN will be quickly achieved compared with the manual setting. For example, PA operating from 0.25 to 1.25 GHz is designed based on this design approach. The measured results show that 11.89-14.46 dB of gain, 40.75-42.31 dBm of output power, and 66.3%-70.4% of drain efficiency are delivered.