Premium
Deriving a power amplifier linearizer from a physics‐based system‐level model
Author(s) -
Cunha Telmo R.,
Lima Eduardo G.,
Teixeira Hugo M.,
Cabral Pedro M.,
Pedro José C.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of rf and microwave computer‐aided engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1099-047X
pISSN - 1096-4290
DOI - 10.1002/mmce.20436
Subject(s) - linearizer , predistortion , amplifier , linearization , rf power amplifier , electronic engineering , engineering , nonlinear system , electrical engineering , computer science , topology (electrical circuits) , physics , cmos , quantum mechanics
The RF power amplifier (PA) is a nonlinear system with an intrinsic and dynamic feedback mechanism. The application of an adequate linearizer (which is also a nonlinear dynamic system) inserted at the input of the signal path (i.e., predistortion) is very important to maintain a linear transmission chain when the PA carries high power signals (avoiding spectral regrowth). This article presents a new PA linearizer model whose topology has support on the physical behavior of the general PA electronic circuit. As the proposed model is of a feed‐forward nature, it is suited for implementation on digital hardware devices, such as field programmable gate array and digital signal processor. Validation tests were performed on the linearization of a 900 MHz PA excited with WCDMA‐3GPP signals. Comparison with other state‐of‐the‐art linearizer models is included, demonstrating very good linearization results. Moreover, this model has potential to be an adequate linearizer for a wider range of applications since it has physical support. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2010.