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

The 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 multi-stage 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.