Classifying load-pull contours of a broadband high-efficiency power amplifier using a support vector machine

Abstract

This paper develops an advanced method to classify load-pull contours for the design of a broadband high-efficiency power amplifiers (PA) using the technique of a support vector machine (SVM). The classifier models for load-pull contours are verified through their accuracy in test and design validation. Comparisons reveal that the proposed method significantly outperforms commercial electronic design automation (EDA) software in a 10-W PA designs from 1.5 to 2.5 GHz. Measured results show that the optimized PA using the proposed method achieves high efficiency across the band, as well as good linearity with digital predistortion (DPD).