Time-reversal duality of high-efficiency RF power amplifiers

Abstract

The similarity between RF power amplifiers and rectifiers is discussed. It is shown that the same high-efficiency harmonically-terminated power amplifier can be operated in a dual rectifier mode. Nonlinear simulations with a GaN HEMT transistor model show the time-reversal intrinsic voltage and current waveform relationship between a class-F amplifier and rectifier. Measurements on a class-F−1 amplifier and rectifier at 2.14 GHz demonstrate over 80% efficiency in both cases.