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Design and test of a pulse-width modulator and driver for space-borne GaN switch mode power amplifiers in P-band

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2015

I. S. Ghosh ,
U. Altmann ,
L. Cabria ,
E. Cipriani ,
P. Colantonio ,
N. Ayllon ,
A. Chowdhary ,
O. Kersten ,
M. Quibeldey  and
R. Follmann
I. S. Ghosh*
Affiliation:
IMST GmbH, Kamp-Lintfort, Germany
U. Altmann
Affiliation:
IMST GmbH, Kamp-Lintfort, Germany
L. Cabria
Affiliation:
TTI (Technologies of Telecommunication and Information), Albert Einstein 14, 39012, Santander, Spain
E. Cipriani
Affiliation:
University of Roma Tor Vergata, Dept. Electronic Engineering, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133, Roma, Italy
P. Colantonio
Affiliation:
University of Roma Tor Vergata, Dept. Electronic Engineering, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133, Roma, Italy
N. Ayllon
Affiliation:
European Space Research and Technology Centre ESTEC-ESA, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
A. Chowdhary
Affiliation:
European Space Research and Technology Centre ESTEC-ESA, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
O. Kersten
Affiliation:
IMST GmbH, Kamp-Lintfort, Germany
M. Quibeldey
Affiliation:
IMST GmbH, Kamp-Lintfort, Germany
R. Follmann
Affiliation:
IMST GmbH, Kamp-Lintfort, Germany
*
Corresponding author I. S. Ghosh Email: ghosh@imst.de
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Abstract

In this paper, the design and test of a single-chip RF pulse-width modulator and driver (PWMD) aimed at exciting a high-power class-E GaN high-power stage at 435 MHz is described. For the required buffer size, avoiding potential ringing of the pulses within the buffer structure presents a major challenge in the design process. Therefore, a smaller test chip capable of driving capacitive loads of up to 5 pF was initially designed, fabricated, and tested. An approach based on three-dimensional electromagnetic simulations was used to validate the test results and offers excellent simulation accuracy. Based on the results obtained for test chip an enlarged PWMD chip capable of driving a 40 W high-power stage has been designed and tested on passive loads representing the targeted final stage.

Keywords

Circuit Design and ApplicationsPower amplifiers and linearizers
Type
Industrial and Engineering Paper
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 7 , Special Issue 3-4: European Microwave Week 2014 , June 2015 , pp. 297 - 305
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2015 

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References

REFERENCES

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