Study and experiment of a novel class of error envelope feedback linearizers

In this paper a new solution for the power amplifiers (PA) linearization is studied. The proposed technique is based on the feedback of the distortion envelope (amplitude and phase) generated by the PA; the proposed architecture is first studied analytically for deriving the requirements imposed by stability. Then, using system simulations (complex envelope signals), the effects of various mismatch errors are investigated. Finally the measurements from a fabricated prototype of the novel linearizer are presented; with a two-tone signal a reduction of 22 dB of the third-order intermodulation is obtained, while, using a GSM-EDGE modulated signal the EVM (Error Vector Magnitude) is reduced from 3.89% to 0.46%.