Improving linearity utilising adaptive predistortion for power amplifiers at mm-wave frequencies

Improving linearity utilising adaptive predistortion for power amplifiers at mm-wave frequencies

Verbetering van Lineariteit deur die gebruit van aanpassende predistorsie vir drywingsversterkers by mm-golffrekwensies

By/deur Joe Valliarampath, SMIEEE
Supervisor/Studieleier: Prof. Saurabh Sinha, SMIEEE, FSAIEE, Pr Eng

In his thesis, the promovendus investigated the optimal method to reduce the distortion components found in power amplifiers at 60 GHz. A mathematical approach using Volterra series analysis was derived to identify and characterise these distortion components, allowing for the first time the implementation of an adaptive predistortion linearisation technique on a power amplifier in the 60 GHz frequency range. The power amplifier and adaptive system were implemented using a 130 nm technology node from IBM to provide a complete on-chip solution. The linearisation technique was applied to the prototyped power amplifier and compared to one without linearisation. Using the linearisation technique, a reduction in the distortion components in the power amplifier was observed. This technique provides future power amplifier designers the ability to improve the performance of the power amplifier and allow the integration of more efficient systems in the transmitter at 60 GHz.

Peer-reviewed journal and conference publications associated to this thesis presenter:
J. Valliarampath and S. Sinha, "Linearity Improvement Analysis for PAs at mm-Wave Frequencies," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters (Wiley), Vol. 56, No. 3, Mar. 2014, pp. 743-748.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10...

J. Valliarampath and S. Sinha, “Designing linear PAs at mm-wave frequencies using Volterra series analysis,” Canadian Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 232-237, Sept. 2015.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/CJECE.2015....