Cripps' analysis

Updated July 20, 2009

Click here to go to our page on load pull

Cick here to go to our page on power amplifiers

New for August 2009! This page will explain the simple technique devised by Dr. Steve Cripps, for predicting output power of microwave amplifiers based on load-line analysis. The so-called Cripps technique has substituted for large-signal models and load pull data quite successfully. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ideas, and this is a case in point.

Dr. Cripps has two books on microwave power amplifiers that you can find in any reputable engineering library:

RF Power Amplifiers for Wireless Communications

Advanced Techniques in RF Power Amplifier Design

Cripps first published his idea in 1983 in A theory for the prediction of GaAs FET load-pull power contours,” in the IEEE MTT Symposium Digest.

Here's a photo of Dr. Cripps receiving a "best paper" award in 2003... probably not his first, nor his last. You can read his resume here.

More to come!