Optimized System Design of Hybrid Power Amplifiers

Abstract:
A hybrid amplifier is proposed which combines a switch mode amplifier and a linear amplifier by connecting the linear amplifier in series to the filter capacitor of the 4(exp th) order LC output filter. This results in an amplifier with very high bandwidth and very small output impedance. Optimal system design, including the LC filter is discussed and several possibilities to further improve system behavior are addressed. A linear amplifier stage based on discrete semiconductors is proposed and the resulting output impedance is analyzed. The performance of the proposed amplifier is verified using a simulation model considering the main system aspects.