Patent ID: 6791417
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: H03F

Abstract:
An RF power amplifier circuit for optimally amplifying an RF signal over a broad range of power comprising:a) a carrier amplifier for amplifying the RF signal over a first range of power and with a power saturation level below the maximum of the broad range of power, b) a plurality of peak amplifiers connected in parallel with the carrier amplifier, each of the peak amplifiers being biased to sequentially provide an amplified output signal after the carrier amplifier approaches saturation, c) a signal splitter for splitting an input signal and applying the split input signal to the carrier amplifier and to the plurality of peak amplifiers, and d) an output for receiving and combining amplified output signals from the carrier amplifier and from the plurality of peak amplifiers, the output having an impedance, Z, the carrier amplifier and each of the peak amplifiers being connected to the output by individual output matching networks each presenting an optimized output impedance to an amplifier dependent on that network's impedance and effective phase length and differing from the impedance presented to other amplifiers.