Overcoming Nonlinear Measurement Challenges

Until recently, power amplifier design for wireless
communication has been focused on specified fractional
bandwidths of 5% or less, primarily due to the utilization of
a single amplifier per defined spectrum allocation. With both
a focus on reducing power consumption and cost, coupled
with emerging applications like 4G and WiMax utilizing new
spectrum allocations, amplifier designs are simultaneously
attempting to address wider bandwidth operation to reduce
parts count and increase efficiency. These factors influencing
the development of power amplifiers has caused designers to
work with newer technologies, such as GaN HFETs, to achieve
higher power and higher efficiency amplifiers across wider
bands of operation. Optimizing the performance of a power amplifier, PA,
requires an understanding of the performance in it's nonlinear
region.