METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN OUTPUT VOLTAGE IN A POWER AMPLIFIER

Power amplifier (PA) apparatus that includes: a PA device operating at a fundamental frequency and having a maximum operating frequency that is higher than the fundamental frequency, an output current having a fundamental component at the fundamental frequency and a plurality of harmonic components at different harmonic frequencies of the fundamental frequency, and an output voltage based on the output current; a first matching circuit coupled to the PA device and corresponding to the fundamental component; and a second matching circuit coupled between the PA device and the first matching circuit and corresponding to at least one of the harmonic components, wherein the first and second matching circuits maintain the PA output voltage at a value that is no more than a predetermined maximum value, which is less than a breakdown voltage for the PA device.