Revealing the secrets of power amplifiers
Power amplifiers are laboratory instruments that can amplify AC and DC signals and produce maximum power output to drive a certain load under given distortion conditions. They are widely used in MEMS testing, ultrasonic testing, electromagnetic field driving, wireless power transmission, and electronic experimental testing in colleges and universities. Do you know the history of power amplifiers? Today, Aigtek will share with you~
The history of power amplifier development can be traced back to the early 20th century. With the continuous advancement of electronic technology, power amplifiers have also gone through several important development stages. The main development periods of power amplifiers are as follows in chronological order:
In 1906, American De Forest invented the vacuum triode, which laid the foundation for the development of power amplifiers.
In 1920, people began to study power amplifiers and designed traditional analog power amplifiers including Class A, Class B, Class AB and Class C;
In 1936, in order to solve the problems of power falloff and reduced efficiency of Class AB, the Class D power amplifier was proposed.
In 1958, the first high-efficiency class F power amplifier was proposed:
In 1975, scholar Sokal proposed the basic model of Class E power amplifier in a paper.
In 1980, digital pre-distortion (DPD) was first proposed, solving the problem of power amplifier linearization technology. Subsequently, DPA received research attention.
In 1990, due to the urgent need to compromise between linearity and efficiency, AB and B class power amplifiers were vigorously researched and developed rapidly:
In 2000, Russian Gerzbennikov re-analyzed the Class F power amplifier and designed a third harmonic peaking load network, which solved the problem of low efficiency of the Class F power amplifier, and then the inverse Class F power amplifier came into being.
In 2003, DPD was first combined with the application of class AB power amplifiers to improve the efficiency and linearity of PAs;
In 2005, the inverse class E power amplifier was introduced to reduce the peak voltage of the class E PA transistor, thereby reducing the risk of its breakdown and improving the reliability of the overall circuit;
Image source: Keysight Design Software video tutorial How to Design an RF Power Amplifier: Class E
With the further demand and rapid development of wireless communication systems,
In 2006, in order to solve the problems of low efficiency and narrow bandwidth of power amplifiers, the Class J power amplifier was proposed, and in 2009, the Cripps team first realized the physical design of the Class J power amplifier.
In 2010, high-efficiency, broadband continuous class F power amplifiers came out. At the same time, to solve the problem that traditional class AB power amplifiers must operate in the less efficient power back-off region, envelope tracking (ET) power amplifiers came out.
Aigtek has always been committed to deepening its roots in the field of electronic testing instruments and tackling cutting-edge technologies in the industry. As a domestic high-tech enterprise specializing in the research, development, production and sales of measuring instruments such as power amplifiers, since the launch of the first cost-effective and high-precision signal amplifier in 2011, Aigtek has gone through years of development and has now become an instrument and equipment supplier with a wide range of power amplifier product lines in the industry and a considerable scale.
Aigtek has launched more than 100 products of different models, and many of its core technologies are in the leading position in the industry, breaking the foreign monopoly. Among them, the ATA-L series underwater acoustic power amplifier, which was launched in 2014, has filled the gap in my country's marine equipment.
ATA-L series underwater acoustic power amplifier
In the future, Aigtek will continue to uphold the corporate philosophy of rigor, professionalism and innovation, continue to seize the opportunities of the times, and through its own technical research and accumulation in the field of power amplifiers, through product improvements and upgrades, continue to exert efforts in the field of electrical testing, accelerate the expansion of application areas and customer coverage, and provide engineers around the world with better quality power amplifier products!
About Antai Electronics
Xi'an Antai Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. (Aigtek) is a leading high-tech enterprise in China engaged in the research and development, production and sales of measuring instruments. The company is committed to the research and development and production of related industry test solutions with power amplifiers, power signal sources, metrology and calibration sources as the core products. It provides free prototype trials, free professional engineer training, and free testing technology exchanges.
Official website: www.aigtek.com
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