CW vs Pulse RF Amplifiers

01 / ENGINEERING REVIEW

Define the waveform

CW operation uses a continuous signal. Pulse requirements additionally need pulse width, repetition frequency, duty cycle and peak power. For regular rectangular pulses, duty cycle = pulse width × repetition frequency. A 10 µs pulse at 1 kHz has a 1% duty cycle.

02 / ENGINEERING REVIEW

Peak and average are different

For ideal rectangular RF pulses with negligible output between pulses, average RF output is peak RF power × duty cycle. This arithmetic does not predict amplifier supply consumption or prove that a device supports a particular waveform.

03 / ENGINEERING REVIEW

Check timing as well as power

• Maximum pulse width and duty cycle.
• Permitted repetition rate and pulse-gating interface.
• Rise/fall time, droop and overshoot where specified.
• Peak output across the required frequency band.
• Cooling, protection and startup requirements.

Review the HD31621 datasheet as a pulse-product example. Follow its model-specific conditions; do not transfer its limits to other products.

04 / ENGINEERING REVIEW

Send a complete RFQ

State peak output, waveform, pulse timing, duty cycle and installation temperature. If operating mode is absent from a listing, request confirmation rather than assuming CW or pulse support.