Basic considerations and topologies of switched-mode assisted linear power amplifiers

This paper presents a combined power amplifier system consisting of a linear amplifier unit with a switched-mode (class D) current dumping stage arranged in parallel. With this topology, the fundamental drawback of conventional linear power amplifiers - the high loss - is avoided. Compared to a pure class D (switching) amplifier, the presented system needs no output filter to reduce the switching frequency harmonics. This filter (usually of multistage type) generally deteriorates the transient response of the system and impairs the feedback loop design. Furthermore, the low-frequency distortions of switching amplifiers caused by the interlock delay of their power transistors are avoided with the presented switched-mode assisted linear amplifier system. This can be considered as a master-slave system with a guiding linear amplifier and a supporting class D slave unit. The paper describes the operating principle of the system, analyzes the fundamental relationships for the circuit design, and presents simulation results. Finally, various further topologies of switched-mode assisted linear amplifiers are given. Index Terms - Class D converters, dc-ac power conversion, power amplifiers, switching amplifiers.