Current State and Advanced Architectures of Doherty Power Amplifiers

Abstract

Power amplifiers are critical components of wireless communication systems, providing the necessary power to transmit signals over long distances. Among various power amplifier solutions, the Dougherty power amplifier (DPA) remains a popular choice due to its high efficiency, speed, and power combination. However, conventional DPAs suffer from limited bandwidth and linearity, which have been major challenges in contemporary DPA design. This paper discusses the status, challenges, and potential solutions for improving the bandwidth and linearity of the DPAs. The limited bandwidth of conventional DPAs has been a challenge for their use in wireless data communication. Furthermore, concerning DPA linearity, this paper discusses the importance of linearity for modern wireless communication and potential DPA linearization techniques. The paper proposes several emerging DPA architectures, namely the Asymmetric Dougherty Power Amplifier, Multi-Stage Dougherty Power Amplifier, and Digital Dougherty Power Amplifier. The findings of this paper provide insights into the current status and future development of DPA technology, particularly in terms of bandwidth and linearity.