Linear RF power amplifier with optically activated switches

摘要

A linear power amplifier amplifies a linear baseband signal having I and Q components. An up-converting mixer uses optically activated switches to mix the amplified baseband signal with a local oscillator signal at specified carrier frequency. The optically activated switches are activated according to a switching sequence that produces a constant impedance over each carrier frequency cycle. In this way, the optically activated switches prevents introduction of non-linearities during the up-conversion process.