A Low-Cost Dual-Band RF Power Amplifier for Wireless Communication Systems

Abstract

This paper presents a design of a low-cost concurrent dual-band power amplifier operating at 1.8 GHz and 2.6 GHz. The design combines the signal splitting and second harmonic suppression techniques. The power amplifier aims at achieving the high-efficiency while rejecting unwanted output mixing products when operating in the dual-band mode. These advantages are obtained by using a harmonic termination technique combining with a signal splitting method. The designed amplifier is tested at both small- and large-signal performance through simulations and measurements. The designed amplifier delivers 10.2 dB Gain, 41.2 dBm Pout, and PAE of 40.2 % at 1.8 GHz and 10.1 dB Gain, 41.1 dBm Pout, and PAE of 38.7 % at 2.6 GHz. The second harmonic suppression for 1.8 GHz band is 49 dBc while the second harmonic for the 2.6 GHz is nearly total suppression. In addition, by using the proposed circuit, the unwanted mixing products can be significantly reduced improving linearity performance.