Pulse power device characterization for amplifier design

Date
2004-12
Authors
Fourie, Paul
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Bi-polar Si transistors optimized for pulse conditions is still the most popular choice as amplification element in the final stages of solid-state radar amplifiers in L and S band. With the radar market being small, the design data for these devices is normally fairly limited and it is up to the designers to thoroughly characterize them for their designs. This is normally done through loadpull experiments. Professional automated load-pull equipment is very expensive especially at the higher power levels. In spite of being automated and under computer control, load-pull exercises still is very time consuming and as such expensive. For small companies that only occasionally need to design such amplifiers it is not economically viable to acquire such equipment and different strategies have to be found to stay competitive. This report investigates such a strategy and its implementation. A procedure to quickly and accurately characterize such devices was developed and two amplifiers were designed and build with this procedure and compared to their traditional counterparts for verification. The results were very promising and with a bit more work, the technique can likely be used to characterize these devices for design work outside of the parameters designated by the manufacturers.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bipolere Silikon transistors wat vir werking onder gepulsde toestande geoptimiseer is, is nog steeds die mees gewilde keuse as versterkingselement in die finale stadiums van vastetoestand radar versterkers in die L en S bande. Met die radar mark wat geredelik klein is, is die ontwerp inligting vir hierdie elemente gewoonlik redelik karig en is dit die taak van die ontwerpers om die elemente te karakteriseer vir hulle ontwerp doeleindes. Dit word normaalweg gedoen deur lastrek eksperimente. Geoutomatiseerde lastrek toerusting is baie duur, veral as dit onder hoë drywingstoestande moet werk. Al is die toerusting geoutomatiseer en onder rekenaar beheer, is lastrek oefeninge nog steeds baie tydrowend en daarom dan ook baie duur. Vir klein maatskappye wat net nou en dan nodig het om sulke versterkers te ontwerp is dit gewoon nie ekonomies regverdigbaar om sulke toerusting aan te skaf nie, en ander strategië moet gevind word om ekonomies kompeterend te bly. Hierdie verslag ondersoek so 'n strategie en die implimentering daarvan. n Prosedure om gepulsde bipolere transistore vinnig en akkuraat te karakteriseer is ontwikkel en twee versterkers is met die prosedure ontwerp en gebou. Die versterkers is geverifieer deur hulle met hulle tradisionele eweknië te vergelyk. Die resultate lyk baie belowend en met n bietjie meer werk kan die metode waarskynlik ook gebruik word om die transistors buite die toepassings gebied, soos deur die vervaardigers aangedui, te gebruik.
Description
Thesis (MSCIng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
Keywords
Microwave amplifiers, Amplifiers, Radio frequency, Theses -- Electronic engineering, Dissertations -- Electronic engineering
Citation