Estimation and Sensitivity of Average Efficiency of RF PAs under Modulated Signal Stimulus

On this paper, we focus on how to estimate modulated signal average efficiency from Radio Frequency (RF) Power Amplifier’s (PA) Continuous Wave (CW) metrics. Though this is a simple proposition, oftentimes we find misleading, or imprecise, inferences on this average metric, from the RF PA’s CW behavior. After establishing the calculation methodology, we apply it to current modulation standards, and then derive the sensitivity of the average efficiency to changes in the CW efficiency curve, for these types of modulation.