Class E high-efficiency switching-mode tuned power amplifier with only one inductor and one capacitor in load network-approximate analysis

A class E high-efficiency switching-mode tuned power amplifier can be realized with only one inductor and one capacitor in the load network; previously published class E circuits contained at least two inductors and two capacitors. Switch conduction duty ratio and network loaded Q cannot be chosen independently as they can in the circuits published previously. This simplified circuit is appropriate for applications in which the harmonic content and the phase-modulation noise of the output are not important criteria, e.g. in providing RF energy for heating, for generation of sparks, arcs, or plasmas, for communications jamming, or for input drive to a higher power stage; or to a rectifier so that the entire circuit functions as a high-efficiency DC/DC converter. Experimental results and an approximate analysis are given; the two are in good-to-fair agreement.