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4-Channel, time-domain measurement system using track and hold amplifier for the characterization and linearization of high-power amplifiers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 November 2011

Sajjad Ahmed ,
Mohammad Saad El Dine ,
Guillaume Neveux ,
Tibault Reveyrand ,
Denis Barataud  and
Jean-Michel Nebus
Sajjad Ahmed*
Affiliation:
University of Limoges, XLIM, UMR n 6172, 123, Av. A. Thomas, 87060 Limoges cedex, France.
Mohammad Saad El Dine
Affiliation:
University of Limoges, XLIM, UMR n 6172, 123, Av. A. Thomas, 87060 Limoges cedex, France.
Guillaume Neveux
Affiliation:
University of Limoges, XLIM, UMR n 6172, 123, Av. A. Thomas, 87060 Limoges cedex, France.
Tibault Reveyrand
Affiliation:
University of Limoges, XLIM, UMR n 6172, 123, Av. A. Thomas, 87060 Limoges cedex, France.
Denis Barataud
Affiliation:
University of Limoges, XLIM, UMR n 6172, 123, Av. A. Thomas, 87060 Limoges cedex, France.
Jean-Michel Nebus
Affiliation:
University of Limoges, XLIM, UMR n 6172, 123, Av. A. Thomas, 87060 Limoges cedex, France.
*
Corresponding author: Sajjad Ahmed Email: Sajjad.ahmed@xlim.fr
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Abstract

We propose in this paper a 4-channel time-domain test bench for the characterization and linearity enhancement of microwave power amplifiers (PAs). The proposed time-domain measurement system utilizes four track and hold amplifiers (THAs) for direct subsampling of radiofrequency (RF) signals. The use of wideband THAs to replace samplers or mixers enables reducing analog IF circuit complexity. It permits direct digitization of RF signals like CW, two-tone and pulsed modulated signals, bringing more flexibility in the receiver's performance by enhancing the dynamic range and bandwidth. This test bench is capable of completely extracting the phase, amplitude, and transfer characteristics of non-linear devices excited with CW or modulated RF signals. In this work, two-tone transfer characteristics of a 50 W GaN HEMT Nitronex PA were extracted and processed for applying digital pre-distortion linearization to enhance linearity performance. Time-domain envelope and carrier waveforms (voltage and current) along with third-order inter-modulation distortion (IMD) products with and without digital pre-distortion scheme are also presented.

Keywords

Track and hold amplifiersGaN power amplifiersSub-harmonic samplingDispersive effectsTime-domain measurementDigital pre-distortion
Type
Research Papers
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 4 , Special Issue 1: IJMWT Special Issue on the 2011 National Microwave Days in France , February 2012 , pp. 71 - 79
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2011

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References

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