Low cost AM/AM and AM/PM characterization setup based on scalar measurements

This paper presents a fast and low cost AM/AM and AM/PM characterization technique. A simple and functional measurement setup based only on scalar power measurements allows both magnitude and phase single carrier characterization of the device under test (DUT). The proposed solution to evaluate nonlinear distortion of the DUT avoids the use of expensive systems, like vector network analyzer (VNA) and its calibration methods. To be implemented, the setup requires a RF source, four power sensors, a Wilkinson power splitter and a quadrature hybrid coupler. The proposed technique has been validated measuring a commercial PA at 3 GHz and comparing the results with the ones obtained by using a VNA. A very good agreement has been obtained.