Novel Techniques for 5G/6G Power Amplifier Operation Constraints Mitigation for Satellite-Cellular Applications

Altaf, Arslan, Ekpo, Sunday Cookey ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9219-3759, Ijaz, Muhammad ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0050-9435, Gibson, Andy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2874-5816 and Aaen, Peter H (2024) Novel Techniques for 5G/6G Power Amplifier Operation Constraints Mitigation for Satellite-Cellular Applications. In: The Second International Conference on Adaptive and Sustainable Science, Engineering and Technology (ASSET 2023), 18 July 2023 - 20 July 2023, Ikot Akpaden, Nigeria and Manchester, UK.

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Abstract

This paper presents the constraints and mitigation strategies imposed on a radio frequency power amplifier (RF PA) design for satellite-cellular wireless communication. These are demonstrated using a novel 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) user equipment (UE) wideband single-stage class AB PA design. This is based on a 0.25 um GaN on SiC HEMT technology at sub-6 GHz 5G. This range targets the n77, n78 and n79 5G new radio (NR) bands of interest mandated by the third-generation partnership project (3GPP). Our systematic simulation design approach applies careful impedance matching network tuning to address the challenges of 5G multi-band/multi-standard PA operation. The proposed PA demonstrates a baseline class-AB ideal peak efficiency of 58%. The input return loss is less than -10 dB for the whole band. A saturated power of 34 dBm is obtained which is sufficient for FWA power requirements. The gain compression is also 2.7 dB and the compressed power gain at peak PAE is 9.1 dB. It maintains a flat small signal response gain response with a modest in-band ripple less than 3 dB. Moreover, the PA has a stability factor of 2.6 accounting for manufacturing tolerances and ensuring reliable performance in real-world conditions within an additively manufactured electronics technology.