Nonlinear RF Circuits and Nonlinear Vector Network Analyzers

Abstract

With increasingly low-cost and power-efficient RF electronics being demanded by today's wireless communication systems, it is essential to keep up to speed with new developments. This book presents key advances in the field that you need to know about and emerging patterns in large-signal measurement techniques, modeling, and nonlinear circuit design theory supported by practical examples. Topics covered include: • novel large-signal measurement techniques that have become available with the introduction of nonlinear vector network analyzers (NVNAs), such as the LSNA, PNA-X, and SWAP • direct extraction of device models from large-signal RF dynamic loadlines • characterization of memory effects (self-heating, traps) with pulsed RF measurements • interactive design of power-efficient amplifiers (PAs) and oscillators using ultra-fast multi-harmonic active load-pull • Volterra and poly-harmonic distortion (X-parameters) behavioral modeling • oscillator phase noise theory • balancing, modeling, and poly-harmonic linearization of broadband RFIC modulators • development of a frequency-selective predistorter to linearize PAs

High-efficiency X-Band MMIC GaN power amplifiers operating as rectifiers

“…The measurement setup is based on a 4-channel timedomain receiver, operating as a large signal network analyzer (LSNA) [11]. Bi-directional couplers are implemented in the instrument to acquire absolute incident and reflected waves at the DUT's input and output ports.…”

X-band 10W MMIC high-gain power amplifier with up to 60% PAE

“…Additionally Fig.7 shows the resulting performance between 10 and 10.5 GHz. It is seen that the PA shows over 48% efficiency in almost the entire 500-MHz range, with a power above 10 W. The peak PAE is measured at 10 GHz to be 61% with an associated output power level of 14 W. The measurement setup is based on a 4-channel timedomain receiver, operating as a large signal network analyzer (LSNA) [11]. Bi-directional couplers are implemented in the instrument to acquire absolute incident and reflected waves at the DUTs input and output ports.…”

A Generalized Architecture for the Frequency- Selective Digital Predistortion Linearization Technique

“…For the third-and fifth-order cases, these IMD terms are readily found from Volterra theory [5] to be given by (1) in addition to , , , and . Note that the equations reported above recast the thirdorder frequency-selective theory in a more compact way than previously reported in [3] while adding the targeted new fifthorder corrections.…”

“…A preliminary account of the fifth-order extension was presented in the IMS presentation [6]. Note that this approach can be further modified using memory polynomials to address in-band memory effects in each individual band as was proposed in [5] and demonstrated in [8], [9]. In this paper, we further generalize the proposed algorithm to handle multiple bands.…”

“…With this feature, the in-band and interband linearization could be successfully tuned independently. However, this architecture was limited to third order, did not fully utilize the advantage of the reduced feedback bandwidth requirement, and did not incorporate the time-selective dimension of memory polynomials [5], [8] [9].…”