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Multilevel outphasing system using six-port modulators and doherty power amplifiers

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Abstract

In this paper, a simple and efficient architecture for implementation of multilevel outphasing systems is presented. The architecture consists of a six-port modulator and a Doherty power amplifier in each outphasing branch. Pin diodes are used as variable impedances of the six-port modulator and their parasitic elements are analytically compensated. A prototype of the variable load is fabricated and the results show the effectiveness of compensation method to prepare pin diodes as variable loads for a six-port modulator. As a proof of concept, a standard 2.4 GHz Doherty power amplifier is designed with 65% efficiency at peak power and 46% efficiency at 6 dB back off. The proposed system is simulated in advanced design system using a 20 MHz WLAN signal with 7.5 dB PAPR and 5 level outphasing. Simulation results show 31.6% power added efficiency for the Doherty-Outphasing system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microwave/mm-wave and Wireless Communications Laboratory, Institute of Communications Technology and Applied Electromagnetics, Department of Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Hamidreza Moazzen, Abbas Mohammadi & Rashid Mirzavand

  2. Intelligent Wireless Technology Laboratory, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Rashid Mirzavand

Authors
  1. Hamidreza Moazzen
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  2. Abbas Mohammadi
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  3. Rashid Mirzavand
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Correspondence to Hamidreza Moazzen.

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Moazzen, H., Mohammadi, A. & Mirzavand, R. Multilevel outphasing system using six-port modulators and doherty power amplifiers. Analog Integr Circ Sig Process 90, 361–372 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10470-016-0908-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10470-016-0908-9

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