Application of the unequal two-tone method for AM-AM and AM-PM characterization of MMIC power amplifiers

Author

Campbell, C.F. ; Brown, S.A.

Author_Institution

TriQuint Semicond. Texas, Richardson, TX, USA

fYear

2001

fDate

10-11 Sept. 2001

Firstpage

103

Lastpage

106

Abstract

The unequal 2-tone method is reviewed and applied to K-Band MMIC power amplifiers. The technique can be used to simultaneously characterize AM-AM, AM-PM conversion coefficients and insertion phase under drive as well as estimate third order intermodulation ratio and intercept point. The method may be applied by making a simple modification to existing equal 2-tone or mixer test systems. Test results are presented in-fixture for a 1 W power amplifier MMIC at 22 GHz and on-wafer in a production environment for two 20 GHz power amplifier MMIC.

Keywords

MMIC power amplifiers; amplitude modulation; intermodulation distortion; phase modulation; 1 W; 20 GHz; 22 GHz; AM-AM conversion coefficients; AM-PM conversion coefficients; K band; MMIC power amplifiers; communication systems; insertion phase; intercept point; mixer test systems; power amplifier linearity; third order intermodulation ratio; unequal 2-tone method; K-band; Linearity; MMICs; Millimeter wave measurements; Nonlinear equations; Phase estimation; Power amplifiers; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; System testing; Transfer functions;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

BroadBand Communications for the Internet Era Symposium digest, 2001 IEEE Emerging Technologies Symposium on

Conference_Location

Richardson, TX, USA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7161-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ETS.2001.979433

Filename

979433