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High-performance digital predistortion test platform development for wideband RF power amplifiers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2013

Lei Guan
Affiliation:
School of Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Ray Kearney
Affiliation:
School of Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Chao Yu
Affiliation:
School of Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Anding Zhu*
Affiliation:
School of Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
*
Corresponding author: Anding Zhu Email: anding.zhu@ucd.ie

Abstract

In this paper, a complete design procedure, together with robust system validation approaches, is presented for implementing a high-performance re-configurable digital predistortion (DPD) test platform for compensating for nonlinear distortion and memory effects induced by radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers (PAs) in the transmitters of modern wireless communication systems. This hardware and software co-operated test system not only enables effective validation for DPD algorithm development, but also provides a high-performance and reliable hardware-based linearization test platform. The experimental test was applied on a medium power Doherty amplifier, which was designed for 3 G/4 G wireless communication base stations. By applying our DPD algorithms on the proposed platform, more than 30 dB improvements in adjacent channel power ratio can be achieved for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System and long-term evolution signal excitations.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2013

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