Clipper Classes [Microwave Bytes

Abstract

It was, admittedly, rather early in my own business traveling career that the then most prominent U.S. airline, Pan Am, introduced the “Clipper Class” cabin, which had a bit more room, no movies, and a more continuous supply of booze. This of course evolved into the now familiar, and much coveted, business class, the exorbitant cost of which I never cease to be amazed that companies are still willing to pay. I once suggested the above title to my publisher, for a book in which I would throw a few wrenches into conventional power amplifier (PA) waveform theory. It did not receive a very positive response, (the title itself that is, rather than the subject matter), mainly because they were all too young to remember “Clipper Class.” However, my statutory <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">double entendre</i> still stands, and I will discuss some issues that relate to, and to a significant extent modify, the “textbook” concepts of high-efficiency PA “Classes,” by taking account of the clipping process that occurs when the device voltage dips into the “knee” region of the device.