Power Amplifier Design Using Filtering Matching Network for Sub-6-GHz 5G/6G Applications

Abstract

This paper presents a high-efficiency power amplifier (PA) with seamlessly integrated filtering functionality. The proposed architecture employs a bandpass filter (BPF) based on the signal interference technique as the output matching network (OMN), enabling both impedance transformation and filtering functionality. The filtering mechanism is realized through a combination of an open coupled-line structure and a stepped-impedance modified I-type (SMII) transmission line, incorporating short-circuited stubs in transmission paths 1 and 2, respectively. To validate the proposed approach, a broadband filtering PA example is designed and implemented using the Cree 10 W GaN HEMT transistor. Operating over the 3.0–4.0 GHz frequency range, the proposed PA achieves a drain efficiency of 60 %-70.4 %, while delivering saturated output power levels between 39.3 dBm and 41.5 dBm.