Power Amplifier ABC's - Web Classroom

Course 216

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Summary

This course aims to bring participants up to speed on the basics of RF power amplifier design and operation in the shortest possible amount of time. Considerable attention is devoted to defining, classifying, and improving the efficiency and linearity of power amplifiers. Numerous design examples are provided for participant exploration. The class offers approximately one day's worth of material, but is typically offered in five 90-minute sessions (9:00am to 10:30am Pacific time) via web-classroom. Each daily session is a live online event but the recording can be made available on demand and online to support students requiring a more convenient viewing time. For on demand students, simply register online or by contacting the office and you will receive the login details for 30 day access to the recording. Please contact the office for details at info@besserassociates.com.

This course is intended for registered students only. Please contact us for group rates at info@besserassociates.com or 650-949-3300. Recording, copying, or re-transmission of classroom material is prohibited.

Students will receive a signed Certificate of Completion on request.

Learning objectives

Upon completing the course you will be able to:

  • Design low distortion and efficient power amplifiers.
  • Bias power amplifiers for class A, A/B, B, and C operation
  • Understand the tradeoffs among the classes of operation.
  • Design amplifiers for gain or power or a compromize of the two.
  • Describe several techniques used to linearize power amplifier output.
  • Utilize modern circuit simulators and a simple system simulator.
  • Understand the effect of harmonics on PA performance.

Target Audience

Component and system level designers, as well as engineering managers will benefit from this course. RF/wireless engineers who wish to expand their circuit design skills from basic linear design techniques to nonlinear methods, or just wish to understand power amplifier performance at the design level. Basic knowledge of microwave measurements and transmission line (Smith Chart) theory is assumed.

Outline

PA Design - Five 90 Minute Web Classroom Sessions

Getting Started with Power Amplifiers
 • Introduction • Amplifiers classes A through Z • Straightforward (Cripps) approach • Real device characteristics and their impact • Modelling with harmonic balance and SPICE • Design of a class AB amplifier
Improving Efficiency
 • Class B and C amplifiers - gain, load line, efficiency enhancement • Class E, F and harmonic termination amplifiers: realistic expectations • Push- pull amplifiers, bipolar and FET
Multistage design theory
 • Driver amplifiers and interstage matching, some solutions • Balanced amplifiers, a solution to some matching problems • Design of a 2 stage amplifier
Linearization Techniques
 • Predistortion • Feed-forward • Lossless feedback

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