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0.7–1.8 GHz multiband digital polar transmitter using watt-class current-mode class-D CMOS power amplifier and digital envelope modulation technique for reduced spurious emissions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 April 2013

Toshifumi Nakatani ,
Donald F. Kimball ,
Lawrence E. Larson  and
Peter M. Asbeck
Toshifumi Nakatani*
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Phone: +1 858 822 6944
Donald F. Kimball
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Phone: +1 858 822 6944 MaXentric Technologies, LLC, San Diego, CA 92122, USA
Lawrence E. Larson
Affiliation:
School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
Peter M. Asbeck
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Phone: +1 858 822 6944
*
Corresponding author: T. Nakatani Email: t1nakatani@ucsd.edu
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Abstract

A polar transmitter driven by digital input signals for envelope and phase is demonstrated, using a band-switching output resonator to achieve multiband operation. A new digital pulse width modulation algorithm is also shown to partially suppress spurious signals associated with the digital input envelope signal. The transmitter consists of a current-mode class-D (CMCD) CMOS power amplifier (PA), together with a buck converter with a dead-time generator for improved efficiency. The CMCD PA is tuned by band-switching capacitors that can handle up to 9 V, and is measured to have approximately 30 dBm output power with 31–35% drain efficiency under single-tone testing. The proposed spurious signal reduction technique works to partially suppress quantization noise without increasing power consumption. Overall efficiencies of 27.1/25.6% are obtained at 30.2/28.9 dBm continuous wave (CW) output powers and 0.85/1.75 GHz carrier frequencies, respectively. Spur suppression of 9–10 dB peak is achieved when the proposed algorithm is applied with wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) modulation.

Keywords

Power amplifiersBuck convertersCMOSDigital pulse width modulationPolar transmittersDither
Type
Research Papers
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 5 , Special Issue 3: European Microwave Week 2012 , June 2013 , pp. 271 - 284
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2013 

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References

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