Amplifier driver

1. A method of driving a push-pull amplifier, the push-pull amplifier comprising a push transistor and a pull transistor, the method comprising:

driving the push transistor with a first pulsed RF signal; and

driving the pull transistor with a second pulsed RF signal different from the first pulsed RF signal;

wherein the first and second pulsed RF signals are pulsed microwave signals.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pulsed RF signals are pulse-width-modulated RF signals.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pulsed RF signals are substantially unfiltered.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating the first pulsed RF signal using a first tuned class D amplifier; and

generating the second pulsed RF signal using a second tuned class D amplifier.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the each of the first and second tuned class D amplifiers are tuned to operate in a class DE mode.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the method is performed with an efficiency of at least 70%, wherein efficiency is a ratio of a total input power driving the push and pull transistors to an output power delivered at an output of the push-pull amplifier.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second pulsed signals comprises a square or trapezoidal waveform.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pulsed RF signal has a first duty cycle that is different from a second duty cycle of the second pulsed RF signal.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein one of the first and second duty cycles is less than 50% and another one of the first and second duty cycles is greater than 50%.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the push-pull amplifier differentially drives a load.

11. A circuit for amplifying a signal, the circuit comprising:

a push-pull amplifier comprising a push transistor and a pull transistor;

a first class D amplifier that drives the push transistor of the push-pull amplifier with a first RF signal; and

a second class D amplifier that drives the pull transistor of the push-pull amplifier with a second RF signal different from the first RF signal;

wherein the first and second RF signals are pulsed microwave signals.

12. The circuit of claim 11 , wherein the first and second RF signals are first and second pulsed signals.

13. The circuit of claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second pulsed signals comprises a square or trapezoidal waveform.

14. The circuit of claim 12 , wherein the first pulsed signal has a first duty cycle that is different from a second duty cycle of the second pulsed signal.

15. The circuit of claim 11 , wherein the push-pull amplifier is a first push-pull amplifier, and wherein the first class D amplifier comprises a second push-pull amplifier and the second tuned class D amplifier comprises a third push-pull amplifier.

16. The circuit of claim 15 , wherein the first, second and third push-pull amplifiers are each tuned to operate in a class DE mode.

17. The circuit of claim 11 , wherein the circuit has an efficiency of at least 70%, wherein the efficiency is a ratio of input power to output power.

18. The circuit of claim 11 , wherein the first and second RF signals are substantially unfiltered.

19. The circuit of claim 11 , further comprising:

a second push-pull amplifier comprising a push transistor and a pull transistor;

a third class D amplifier that drives the push transistor of the second push-pull amplifier with a third RF signal; and

a fourth class D amplifier that drives the pull transistor of the second push-pull amplifier with a fourth RF signal different from the third RF signal.

wherein the push-pull amplifier is a first push-pull amplifier;

wherein the first push-pull amplifier and the first and second class D amplifiers are configured as a first portion of a differential amplifier;

wherein the second push-pull amplifier and the third and fourth class D amplifiers are configured as a second portion of the differential amplifier.

20. The circuit of claim 19 , wherein the first and second portions of the differential amplifier are coupled to a balun to differentially drive a load.

21. The circuit of claim 20 , further comprising a shunt inductor coupled to an output of the first class D amplifier and to a terminal that is grounded during operation of the circuit.

22. The circuit of claim 19 , further comprising:

a first shunt inductor coupled to an output of the first class D amplifier;

a second shunt inductor coupled to an output of the second class D amplifier;

a third shunt inductor coupled to an output of the third class D amplifier; and

a fourth shunt inductor coupled to an output of the fourth class D amplifier;

wherein the first shunt inductor is coupled to the third shunt inductor;

wherein the first and third class D amplifiers are driven such their outputs are approximately 180° phase-shifted with respect to one another and the first and third shunt inductors are coupled together at a virtual ground node;

wherein the second shunt inductor is coupled to the fourth shunt inductor;

wherein the second and fourth class D amplifiers are driven such that their outputs are approximately 180 ° phase-shifted with respect to one another and the second and fourth shunt inductors are coupled together at a virtual ground node.