1. RF Power Amplifier Design and Testing By: Jonathan Lipski and Brandon Larison Advisor: Dr. Shastry

2. Why is this important? “Wherever there are wireless communications, there are transmitters, and wherever there are transmitters, there are RF power amplifiers” -Steve Cripps “Wherever there are wireless communications, there are transmitters, and wherever there are transmitters, there are RF power amplifiers” -Steve Cripps

3. Presentation Overview Project Goals Project Goals Power Amplifier Overview Power Amplifier Overview Branch-Line Coupler Branch-Line Coupler ADS Models ADS Models Simulation Results Simulation Results Final Results Final Results Concluding Remarks Concluding Remarks Questions Questions

4. Project Goals Building of Power Amplifier Module using:Building of Power Amplifier Module using: Commercially Available Power Amplifier Chip Commercially Available Power Amplifier Chip Power Splitter/Combiner designed from scratch Power Splitter/Combiner designed from scratch WiFi application (2.4-2.5 GHz)WiFi application (2.4-2.5 GHz) Output Power = 100mWOutput Power = 100mW

5. RFMD RF5622 Power Amplifier Input/Output Matching Input/Output Matching DC Bias Circuits DC Bias Circuits

6. RF5622 Power Amplifier Layout

7. Power Amplifier Module

8. Power Splitters/Combiners Why use them? Why use them? Same gainSame gain Higher powerHigher power Branch Line vs. Wilkinson Branch Line vs. Wilkinson Extra Resistor NeededExtra Resistor Needed

9. Branch Line Coupler Model

10. Branch Line Coupler Theory

11. Calculations Widths & Lengths Widths & Lengths MSTRIP.exeMSTRIP.exe Center Frequency and Characteristic ImpedanceCenter Frequency and Characteristic Impedance VT-42 Data Sheet (Micro Circuits)VT-42 Data Sheet (Micro Circuits) Height of substrate Height of substrate Dielectric Constant Dielectric Constant

12. First Iteration ADS Model: BLC

13. First Iteration ADS Results: BLC

14. Port Performance relative to Port 1

15. Return Losses

16. Phase Difference

17. Isolation Losses

18. Tuned ADS Model: BLC

19. Tuned ADS Model Results: BLC

20. Port Performance relative to Port 1

21. Return Losses

22. Phase Difference

23. Isolation Losses

24. ADS Layout: BLC

25. First Iteration ADS Model: PA Module

26. First Iteration ADS Results: PA Module

27. Port Performance relative to Port 1

28. Return Losses

29. Phase Difference

30. Isolation Losses

31. Tuned ADS Model: PA Module

32. Tuned ADS Results: PA Module

33. Port Performance relative to Port 1

34. Return Losses

35. Phase Difference

36. Isolation Losses

37. ADS Layout: PA Module

38. ADS Layout: PA Chip

39. PA Module

40. Testing Procedure WiMAX WiMAX Instrumentation cannot handle the power levels we’ll be usingInstrumentation cannot handle the power levels we’ll be using WiFi WiFi Requires much less powerRequires much less power

41. Testing Procedure Network Analyzer Network Analyzer Measures Return Losses, VSWR,Measures Return Losses, VSWR,S-Parameters Spectrum Analyzer Spectrum Analyzer Measures Output PowerMeasures Output Power

42. Final Results Board currently needs to be soldered Board currently needs to be soldered Testing will occur after Testing will occur after Results and Simulation comparisons will be documented in final report Results and Simulation comparisons will be documented in final report

43. Concluding Remarks Aspects we learned: Power Amplifier TheoryPower Amplifier Theory Power Divider/Combiner DesignPower Divider/Combiner Design Microstrip Line FabricationMicrostrip Line Fabrication

44. Concluding Remarks Recommendations for Future: Choose the design first, application secondChoose the design first, application second Estimate fabrication time, then double itEstimate fabrication time, then double it

45. References Cripps, Steve C. RF Power Amplifiers for Wireless Communications. Boston: Artech House, 1999. Print. Cripps, Steve C. RF Power Amplifiers for Wireless Communications. Boston: Artech House, 1999. Print. Gonzalez, Guillermo. "4.7-4.8." Microwave Transistor Amplifiers: Analysis and Design. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997. 352-74. Print. Gonzalez, Guillermo. "4.7-4.8." Microwave Transistor Amplifiers: Analysis and Design. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997. 352-74. Print. Grebennikov, Andrei. "Power Amplifier Design Fundamentals: More Notes from the Pages of History." High Frequency Electronics May 2010: 18-30. Grebennikov, Andrei. "Power Amplifier Design Fundamentals: More Notes from the Pages of History." High Frequency Electronics May 2010: 18-30. "High Power RF Amplifier." RF Power Amplifier | Powerful Amplification. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.. "High Power RF Amplifier." RF Power Amplifier | Powerful Amplification. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.. "RF Power Amplifier." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.. "RF Power Amplifier." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.. RFMD, comp. RF5622 Data Sheet. Greensboro, NC: RFMD, 2006. Print. RFMD, comp. RF5622 Data Sheet. Greensboro, NC: RFMD, 2006. Print.

46. Questions?