Power amplifier characterization: an active load-pull system based on six-port reflectometer using complex modulated carrier

Author

Bensmida, Souheil ; Bergeault, Eric ; Abib, Ghalid Idir ; Huyart, Bernard

Author_Institution

Dept. Commun. et Electronique, Ecole Nat. Superieure des Telecommun., Paris

Volume

54

Issue

6

fYear

2006

fDate

6/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2707

Lastpage

2712

Abstract

An original measurement system for nonlinear RF power-transistor characterization is presented. This new setup enables measurement and optimization of output power, power-added efficiency (PAE), or linearity using active fundamental tuning and six-port reflectometers as vector network analyzers. High- and low-frequency bias-tees are inserted at both ports of transistors in order to control source and load impedances at the baseband (envelope) frequency. Experimental results at 1.575 GHz show an adjacent channel power ratio improvement of 20 dB for a commercial GaAs MESFET power transistor operating in class AB. Moreover, the output power and PAE are increased by 1 dB and ten points, respectively

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; UHF power amplifiers; gallium arsenide; measurement systems; multiport networks; power MESFET; reflectometers; 1.575 GHz; GaAs; GaAs MESFET power transistor; PAE; active fundamental tuning; active load-pull system; adjacent channel power ratio; complex modulated carrier; high-frequency bias-tees; low-frequency bias-tees; nonlinear RF power-transistor characterization; output power; power amplifier characterization; power-added efficiency; six-port reflectometer; vector network analyzers; Baseband; Gallium arsenide; Impedance; Linearity; Power amplifiers; Power generation; Power measurement; Radio frequency; Radiofrequency amplifiers; Tuning; Load–pull contours; low-frequency impedance; power amplifier characterization; power amplifier linearity; six-port reflectometer;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TMTT.2006.874870

Filename

1643607