Comparative Evaluation of Optimum Power and Efficiency Terminations Predicted by Alternative Methods for GaN Ka-band Power Amplifier Design

Ferdinando Costanzo, Patrick E. Longhi, Mikko Kantanen, Rocco Giofre, Walter Ciccognani, Sergio Colangeli, Roberto Quaglia, Mikko Varonen, Paul Tasker, Ernesto Limiti

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

    Abstract

    A comparative evaluation is provided in this paper regarding two design approaches for Ka-band Gallium Nitride Power Amplifiers. The first approach uses the standard electrical models provided by the foundry, while the alternative approach uses a custom model derived from in-house load-pull characterization. Both Power Amplifiers are designed to provide 30 dBm output power and 30% efficiency in the 31 - 35 GHz bandwidth. It is shown that the PA based on the custom model has a better PAE performance by about 4% and higher output power by 0.3 dB.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2022 International Workshop on Integrated Nonlinear Microwave and Millimetre-Wave Circuits, INMMiC 2022
    PublisherIEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
    ISBN (Electronic)978-1-66547-845-8, 978-1-6654-7844-1
    ISBN (Print)978-1-6654-7846-5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2022
    MoE publication typeA4 Article in a conference publication
    Event2022 International Workshop on Integrated Nonlinear Microwave and Millimetre-Wave Circuits, INMMiC 2022 - Cardiff, United Kingdom
    Duration: 7 Apr 20228 Apr 2022

    Publication series

    SeriesInternational Workshop on Integrated Nonlinear Microwave and Millimetre-Wave Circuits

    Conference

    Conference2022 International Workshop on Integrated Nonlinear Microwave and Millimetre-Wave Circuits, INMMiC 2022
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    CityCardiff
    Period7/04/228/04/22

    Funding

    ACKNOWLEDGMENT Research activity here reported is funded by the European Union within the H2020-COMPET-2017 framework whose support is gratefully acknowledged (Contract id. 776322, MiGaNSOS “Millimetre wave Gallium Nitride Space evaluation and application to Observation Satellites"). The Authors would like to thank Mr. Enzo De Angelis and Dr. Filippo Bolli for their assistance in characterizing the MMICs.

    Keywords

    • Gallium Nitride
    • Ka-band
    • MMIC
    • Power Amplifiers

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