The fast growth in modern wireless communication systems has set in motion a never-ending quest for greater capacity and higher data rates in radio access networks. These demands must be met within the existing radio base stations where cooling capacity and size are limited. At the same time, operators want to cut their expenses, of which energy consumption is a significant factor.
Linear radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers (PA) play a major role in terms of energy consumption and heat dissipation. More efficient base station power amplifiers are thus a crucial factor in the context of mobile system evolution.
In this conference, basic concepts for high efficiency power amplifier design will be reviewed, followed by the best known transmitter architectures and their application. Finally, a brief introduction in different linearization techniques will be given.