Design and Optimizing of a GaN HEMT Power Amplifier Based on the Inclined Planes System Optimization Algorithm for Wireless Applications

Power amplifier is one of the main components in the RF transmitters. It must provide various stringent features that can lead to complicating the design. In this paper, a new optimizing method based on the inclined planes system optimization algorithm is presented for the design of a discrete power amplifier. It is evaluated in a 2.4-3 GHz power amplifier, which is designed based on “Cree’s CGH40010F GaN HEMT”. The optimization goals are input and output return losses, Power Added Efficiency, and Gain. Large signal simulation of the optimized power amplifier shows a good performance across the bandwidth. In this frequency range, the input and output return losses are about lower than -10 dB, the Power Added Efficiency is greater than 51%, while the Gain is higher than 13.5 dB. A two-tone test with a frequency space of 1 MHz is applied for the linearity evaluation of the designed power amplifier. The obtained result shows that the power amplifier has good linearity with a low memory effect.