Choosing the suitable RF Power Amplifier is a critical thing that ensuring optimal performance, efficiency, and reliability in RF systems.This article will explain the role of several main parameters of power amplifiers and how they affect the working performance of the amplifier.
Different output power corresponds to different purposes. You need to know your application's power requirements to choose the amplifier with the right output power capability. Whether you require amplification with low power or high-power capabilities, choosing the amplifier with the correct output power is essential to the general functionality of your system.
Your application determines either the signal level you want your amplifier to produce (in watts or dBm) or the amount of gain you require. If you require a specific signal level, the difference between that power level and the peak power of your signal is the minimum degree of amplification, or gain, you require. If you have a specific gain requirement then your signal peak power added to the gain will provide the minimum power out necessary for the amplifier to produce.
Power Out (dBm) – Peak Power In (dBm) = Gain (dB) Required
An efficient RF power amplifier offers the best method to reduce power consumption and heat dissipation, ensuring the best system performance possible.In the process of converting input power into output power, there will inevitably be power loss. Efficiency and linearity are contradictory. The following is the definition of the efficiency of general amplifiers:
Collector efficiency=Pout/Pdc=Pout/Udc*ldc;
Power additional efficiency PAE=Pout-Pin/Pdc;
Total efficiency=Pout/Pdc+Pin.
Signal integrity is of paramount importance regarding wireless communications. Linearity is a very important characteristic of a radio frequency power amplifier because it guarantees the output signal as a replica of the input signal without other distortions. When choosing the amplifier, very close attention should be paid to the characteristics of linearity that can meet your application requirements to save signal fidelity enhancing total system performance. In Class AB RF amplifiers, with increasing input signal the amplifier shows linearity up to P1dB point and then becomes nonlinear till it achieves saturated power Psat point. Depending on the application, P1dB and Psat are crucial parameters for RF system integrators.
We provide broadband and narrowband RF power amplifiers up to 40 GHz, with options for high linearity, ruggedized packaging, and custom design. Whether you need a compact module for integration or a high-power amplifier for field testing, our engineers are here to help.
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