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Envelope tracking
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<p>Envelope tracking (ET) describes an approach to <a href="/facts/Radio_frequency/aWku7h4R">radio frequency</a> (RF) <a href="/facts/Amplifier/pnRgxncC">amplifier</a> design in which the <a href="/facts/Power_supply/4A8zBRHn">power supply</a> voltage applied to the <a href="/facts/RF_power_amplifier/zGWS965K">RF power amplifier</a> is continuously adjusted to ensure that the amplifier is operating at peak efficiency for power required at each instant of transmission. </p><p>A conventional RF amplifier designed with a fixed supply voltage operates most efficiently only when operating in <a href="/facts/Gain_compression/AT6saPpo">compression</a>. </p><p>Amplifiers operating with a constant supply voltage become less efficient as the <a href="/facts/Crest_factor/blwdPwdU">crest factor</a> of the signal increases, because the amplifier spends more time operating below peak power and, therefore, spends more time operating below its maximum efficiency. </p>