Characterizing linearity of amplifiers
First Claim
1. A method for assessing a capability of an amplifier, the method comprising:
- defining a first figure of merit for a power amplifier based on a loss of linearity relative to a predefined linearity requirement for said power amplifier to characterize linearity of said power amplifier;
applying a signal stimulus to said power amplifier to test a loss of linearity of said power amplifier; and
measuring the linearity of said power amplifier in response to said signal stimulus to compare said power amplifier with another power amplifier based on the first figure of merit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for assessing a capability, for example, linearity of an amplifier, such as that of a power amplifier including a radio frequency amplifier. In one embodiment, the method comprises defining a first figure of merit for a power amplifier based on a loss of linearity relative to a predefined linearity requirement for the power amplifier and/or defining a second figure of merit based on the first figure of merit and dependent upon a minimum frequency within a predefined frequency band for the power amplifier, characterizing the linearity thereof. In this manner, using a test setup, for digital mobile communication networks deploying one or more higher order modulation schemes with complex wireless transmission that results in non-constant envelope signals, linearity of power amplifiers in transceivers, such as a mobile station or a base station, may be sufficiently described. Moreover, the two defined figures of merit may be used to compare different amplifiers for these higher modulation schemes, making possible a comparison of different amplifiers independent of their implementation technology or design structure.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for assessing a capability of an amplifier, the method comprising:
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defining a first figure of merit for a power amplifier based on a loss of linearity relative to a predefined linearity requirement for said power amplifier to characterize linearity of said power amplifier; applying a signal stimulus to said power amplifier to test a loss of linearity of said power amplifier; and measuring the linearity of said power amplifier in response to said signal stimulus to compare said power amplifier with another power amplifier based on the first figure of merit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a test setup to assess a capability of an amplifier; and a power amplifier coupled to said test setup, wherein said test setup defines a first figure of merit for said power amplifier based on a loss of linearity relative to a predefined linearity requirement for said power amplifier to characterize linearity of said power amplifier and said power amplifier amplifies a complex modulated signal for a wireless communication, applies a signal stimulus to said power amplifier to test a loss of linearity of said power amplifier, and measures the linearity of said power amplifier in response to said signal stimulus to compare said power amplifier with another power amplifier based on the first figure of merit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An amplifier that amplifies a complex modulated signal to provide a desired output power level for a wireless communication, said amplifier comprising:
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an input test interface coupled to said amplifier to receive a signal stimulus to test a loss of linearity of said amplifier; and an output test interface coupled to said amplifier to measure the linearity of said amplifier in response to said signal stimulus to compare said amplifier with another amplifier based on the loss of linearity of said amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A telecommunication system comprising:
a transceiver having a power amplifier that amplifies a complex modulated signal to provide a desired output power level for a wireless communication, wherein for said power amplifier a first figure of merit is defined based on a loss of linearity relative to a predefined linearity requirement for said power amplifier to characterize linearity of said power amplifier, the power amplifier being configured to receive a signal stimulus that can be applied to said power amplifier to test a loss of linearity of said power amplifier, and the linearity of said power amplifier can be measured in response to said signal stimulus to compare said power amplifier with another power amplifier based on the first figure of merit. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method for testing a capability of a first and a second power amplifier each of which configured to transmit an input signal modulated using a higher modulation scheme, the method comprising:
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defining a first figure of merit for said first and second power amplifiers based on a loss of linearity relative to a predefined linearity requirement for said first and second power amplifiers; receiving the input signal at said first and second power amplifiers to amplify into a wireless communication; and characterizing the linearity of said first and second power amplifiers to satisfy a linearity requirement for the input signal while maintaining a desired output power level for the wireless communication. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification