What is a power amplifier?
When dealing with RF signals, especially in the high frequency bands of 5G, the voltage levels can be very low. This is a challenge because electromagnetic (EM) signals are more susceptible to system-level noise (i.e., reduced signal-to-noise ratio) at lower amplitudes. In addition to this, lower voltage signals often lack the strength required to drive downstream circuits or antennas.
To address these challenges, developers used power amplifiers. An RF power amplifier is a circuit block used to increase the amplitude, power output or drive capability of an RF signal. Typically, RF power amplifiers are located near the system antenna and provide high-power signals to the transmit antenna.