15 research outputs found
A two-stage power amplifier design for ultra-wideband applications
In this paper, a two-stage 0.18 μm CMOS power amplifier (PA) for ultra-wideband (UWB) 3 to 5 GHz based on common source inductive degeneration with an auxiliary amplifier is proposed. In this proposal, an auxiliary amplifier is used to place the 2nd harmonic in the core amplified in order to make up for the gain progression phenomena at the main amplifier output node. Simulation results show a power gain of 16 dB with a gain flatness of 0.4 dB and an input 1 dB compression of about -5 dBm from 3 to 5 GHz using a 1.8 V power supply consuming 25 mW. Power added efficiency (PAE) of around 47% at 4 GHz with 50 Ω load impedance was also observed
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Design and Linearization of Energy Efficiency Power Amplifier in Nonlinear OFDM Transmitter for LTE-5G Applications. Simulation and measurements of energy efficiency power amplifier in the presence of nonlinear OFDM transmitter system and digital predistortion based on Hammerstein-Wiener method
This research work has made an effort to understand a novel line of radio frequency
power amplifiers (RFPAs) that address initiatives for efficiency enhancement and
linearity compensation to harmonize the fifth generation (5G) campaign. The objective
is to enhance the performance of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing-long
term evolution (OFDM-LTE) transmitter by reducing the nonlinear distortion of the
RFPA.
The first part of this work explores the design and implementation of 15.5 W class AB
RF power amplifier, adopting a balanced technique to stimulate efficiency enhancement
and redeeming exhibition of excessive power in the transmitter. Consequently, this work
goes beyond improving efficiency over a linear RF power amplifier design; in which a
comprehensive investigation on the fundamental and harmonic components of class F
RF power amplifier using a load-pull approach to realise an optimum load impedance
and the matching network is presented. The frequency bandwidth for both amplifiers was
allocated to operate in the 2.620-2.690 GHz of mobile LTE applications.
The second part explores the development of the behavioural model for the class AB
power amplifier. A particular novel, Hammerstein-Wiener based model is proposed to
describe the dynamic nonlinear behaviour of the power amplifier. The RF power amplifier
nonlinear distortion is approximated using a new linear parameter approximation
approach. The first and second-order Hammerstein-Wiener using the Normalised Least
Mean Square Error (NLMSE) algorithm is used with the aim of easing the complexity of
filtering process during linear memory cancellation. Moreover, an enhanced adaptive
Wiener model is proposed to explore the nonlinear memory effect in the system. The
proposed approach is able to balance between convergence speed and high-level
accuracy when compared with behavioural modelling algorithms that are more complex
in computation.
Finally, the adaptive predistorter technique is implemented and verified in the OFDM
transceiver test-bed. The results were compared against the computed one from
MATLAB simulation for OFDM and 5G modulation transmitters. The results have
confirmed the reliability of the model and the effectiveness of the proposed predistorter.Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal, under
European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme ... grant agreement H2020-MSCA-ITN- 2016 SECRET-722424
I also acknowledge the role of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)
Sokoto State Government
Petroleum Technology Trust Fund (PTDF
A Novel Power-Scalable Wideband Power Amplifier Linearization Technique
Global mobile traffic is expected to continue to increase at an astonishing rate in the future, due to the ever-increasing number of mobile phone subscribers and the adoption of smart devices which generate significantly more mobile traffic. To satisfy this growth in demand, it is envisioned that future 5th Generation (5G) mobile networks will utilize lower powered small-cell base stations and base stations with large antenna arrays to greatly improve network coverage and capacity. A power amplifier (PA) is a critical component in a base station’s transmitter, required to boost the signal power such that it is high enough for transmission to the intended receiver. The design of the PA for 5G base stations, however, presents new challenges to designers.
When driven with modern wideband communication signals, the PA must be both efficient and linear in order to minimize power consumption, improve reliability, maintain transmission accuracy, and avoid interference with neighbouring signals. In conventional high-powered macrocell base station designs, the aforementioned requirements are usually satisfied using a two-step procedure. First, the PA is designed using a Doherty power amplifier (DPA) topology, which has high efficiency, but poor linearity. Then, digital predistortion (DPD) linearization techniques are applied to ensure that the DPA attains the required linearity performance. However, for the lower-powered PAs needed in small cells and large antenna arrays, the relatively high power overhead of DPD techniques, which does not scale down as the power range of the PA decreases, make them unattractive PA linearization solutions.
In response, a new PA linearization technique is proposed and developed in this thesis. It is based on the design and addition of a linearization amplifier (LA), an approach which can help the PA attain the required linearity even when it is driven with modern communication signals with very wide bandwidths. Of particular note, the LA’s power consumption is relatively low, it scales with the PA’s power range, and it does not increase with signal bandwidth. These qualities make it highly suitable for use with PAs in future 5G small-cell base stations and base stations with large antenna arrays.
To validate the proposed technique’s effectiveness, a prototype circuit was designed, fabricated and applied to a high peak efficiency 6 W class AB PA with a centre frequency of 850 MHz. When stimulated by a wideband 40 MHz signal, the PA’s adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) was improved by up to 13 dB after the addition of the LA. This enabled the PA to achieve an ACLR of about -45 dBc without the use of any other linearization techniques. Significant ACLR improvements were also observed for signals with even wider bandwidths of up to 160 MHz. Moreover, it was shown that the LA could be used in conjunction with a simple predistorter to further improve the efficiency and linearity of the class AB PA.
Next, the LA is augmented with a conventional DPA design to form a new linear DPA topology that was able to achieve a better linearity-efficiency trade-off compared to the linearized class AB PA. To accomplish this, a study of the interactions between the LA and DPA circuitries was conducted and a design strategy was developed to determine the circuit parameters that maximized ACLR improvement while minimizing power consumption. For validation purposes, this strategy was applied to design a proof-of-concept prototype with a centre frequency of 800 MHz and a peak envelope power of 12 W. With the addition of the LA, a more than 11 dB improvement of the ACLR was obtained at the prototype’s output when it was driven with signals with up to 40 MHz of modulation bandwidth: an ACLR of about -45 dBc or better was achieved over wide average power range. As expected, the efficiency of the linear DPA topology remained significantly higher than the linearized class AB PA for all signals tested.
Another challenge faced in particular by PAs in a large antenna array, is that it will experience dynamic load impedance variations due to antenna coupling. This unwanted variation in the load impedance can cause instability and significant distortions at the output of the PA that is difficult to remedy using conventional techniques. To address these issues, it is shown in the last part of this thesis that the LA can be used to mitigate this problem by minimizing the amount of load impedance variation seen by the PA due to antenna coupling, such that it remains closer to its optimal value, and by maintaining excellent linearization across a wide range of load impedance values
Wideband CMOS Data Converters for Linear and Efficient mmWave Transmitters
With continuously increasing demands for wireless connectivity, higher\ua0carrier frequencies and wider bandwidths are explored. To overcome a limited transmit power at these higher carrier frequencies, multiple\ua0input multiple output (MIMO) systems, with a large number of transmitters\ua0and antennas, are used to direct the transmitted power towards\ua0the user. With a large transmitter count, each individual transmitter\ua0needs to be small and allow for tight integration with digital circuits. In\ua0addition, modern communication standards require linear transmitters,\ua0making linearity an important factor in the transmitter design.In this thesis, radio frequency digital-to-analog converter (RF-DAC)-based transmitters are explored. They shift the transition from digital\ua0to analog closer to the antennas, performing both digital-to-analog\ua0conversion and up-conversion in a single block. To reduce the need for\ua0computationally costly digital predistortion (DPD), a linear and wellbehaved\ua0RF-DAC transfer characteristic is desirable. The combination\ua0of non-overlapping local oscillator (LO) signals and an expanding segmented\ua0non-linear RF-DAC scaling is evaluated as a way to linearize\ua0the transmitter. This linearization concept has been studied both for\ua0the linearization of the RF-DAC itself and for the joint linearization of\ua0the cascaded RF-DAC-based modulator and power amplifier (PA) combination.\ua0To adapt the linearization, observation receivers are needed.\ua0In these, high-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) have a central\ua0role. A high-speed ADC has been designed and evaluated to understand\ua0how concepts used to increase the sample rate affect the dynamic performance
Caracterização, modelação e compensação de efeitos de memória lenta em amplificadores de potência baseados em GAN HEMTS
Gallium nitride (GaN) high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) have
emerged as the most compelling technology for the transmission of highpower
radio-frequency (RF) signals for cellular mobile communications and
radar applications. However, despite their remarkable power capabilities, the
deployment of GaN HEMT-based RF power amplifiers (PAs) in the mobile
communications infrastructure is often ruled out in favor of alternative siliconbased
technologies. One of the main reasons for this is the pervasiveness of
nonlinear long-term memory effects in GaN HEMT technology caused by thermal
and charge-trapping phenomena. While these effects can be compensated
for using sophisticated digital predistortion algorithms, their implementation
and model-extraction complexity—as well as the power necessary for
their real-time execution—make them unsuitable for modern small cells and
large-scale multiple-input multiple-output transceivers, where the power necessary
for the linearization of each amplification element is of great concern.
In order to address these issues and further the deployment of high-powerdensity
high-efficiency GaN HEMT-based RF PAs in next-generation communications
and radar applications, in this thesis we propose novel methods for
the characterization, modeling, and compensation of long-term memory effects
in GaN HEMT-based RF PAs. More specifically, we propose a method
for the characterization of the dynamic self-biasing behavior of GaN HEMTbased
RF PAs; multiple behavioral models of charge trapping and their implementation
as analog electronic circuits for the accurate real-time prediction
of the dynamic variation of the threshold voltage of GaN HEMTs; a method
for the compensation of the pulse-to-pulse instability of GaN HEMT-based
RF PAs for radar applications; and a hybrid analog/digital scheme for the
linearization of GaN HEMT-based RF PAs for next-generation communications
applications.Os transístores de alta mobilidade eletrónica de nitreto de gálio (GaN HEMTs)
são considerados a tecnologia mais atrativa para a transmissão de sinais
de radiofrequência de alta potência para comunicações móveis celulares e
aplicações de radar. No entanto, apesar das suas notáveis capacidades de
transmissão de potência, a utilização de amplificadores de potência (PAs)
baseados em GaN HEMTs é frequentemente desconsiderada em favor de
tecnologias alternativas baseadas em transístores de silício. Uma das principais
razões disto acontecer é a existência pervasiva na tecnologia GaN
HEMT de efeitos de memória lenta causados por fenómenos térmicos e de
captura eletrónica. Apesar destes efeitos poderem ser compensados através
de algoritmos sofisticados de predistorção digital, estes algoritmos não são
adequados para transmissores modernos de células pequenas e interfaces
massivas de múltipla entrada e múltipla saída devido à sua complexidade
de implementação e extração de modelo, assim como a elevada potência
necessária para a sua execução em tempo real. De forma a promover a
utilização de PAs de alta densidade de potência e elevada eficiência baseados
em GaN HEMTs em aplicações de comunicação e radar de nova geração,
nesta tese propomos novos métodos de caracterização, modelação,
e compensação de efeitos de memória lenta em PAs baseados em GaN
HEMTs. Mais especificamente, nesta tese propomos um método de caracterização
do comportamento dinâmico de autopolarização de PAs baseados
em GaN HEMTs; vários modelos comportamentais de fenómenos de captura
eletrónica e a sua implementação como circuitos eletrónicos analógicos para
a previsão em tempo real da variação dinâmica da tensão de limiar de condução
de GaN HEMTs; um método de compensação da instabilidade entre
pulsos de PAs baseados em GaN HEMTs para aplicações de radar; e um
esquema híbrido analógico/digital de linearização de PAs baseados em GaN
HEMTs para comunicações de nova geração.Programa Doutoral em Telecomunicaçõe
Baseband linearization schemes for high efficiency power amplifiers
High efficiency and high linearity microwave power amplifiers (PAs) are a critical element in modern wireless applications. Over recent years, modern communica-tions systems and the complex modulated signals they use have presented signif-icant challenges in terms of maintaining acceptable efficiency and achieving the high degrees of linearity required in microwave radio frequency power amplifier (RFPA) designs. The next ‘big’ challenge is the deployment of the fifth-generation (5G) mobile network, which is scheduled for commercial launch in 2020. Although the specification for 5G is not completely known at this point, the expectations in terms of what 5G will bring most certainly are; including 1000x more capacity, less than 1ms latency and 100x network energy efficiency. New 5G systems will need to provide higher spectral efficiency, wide and fragmented signal spectra and dy-namic spectrum access (DSA). As a result, the waveforms used in 5G systems will be characterised by high peak to average power ratio (PAPR) and high bandwidth, especially for high data rate applications, which brings additional challenges in terms of achieving system efficiency and linearity. Digital Predistortion (DPD) has been widely and very successfully applied in modern communication systems to linearize PAs and meet system require-ments. However, as the signal bandwidth widens and carrier aggregation be-comes commonplace in 5G system, higher complexity DPD algorithms and an
Abstract
II
increased number of associated parameters will be required. This will inevitably result in a more complex DPD systems with higher power consumption and overall, lower system efficiency. This is especially problematic when systems advance into massive multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) scenarios, where the distrib-uted systems are smaller in size and massive in number. The research work in this thesis starts by analysing the different nonlinear distortion mechanisms present in the typical microwave power transistor devices that would be deployed in an RFPA within a 5G system. A tunable analytical device model is established to investigate the individual contributions of key nonlinear el-ements in the device. A number of important observations, such as “sweet-spots”, sideband asymmetry and drive dependent optimum baseband termination have been discovered and analysed in detail. Using the developed analytical model, a linearity optimization strategy in circuit design has been discussed and applied to a commercially available and widely used nonlinear device model CGH60015D from Cree (now Wolfspeed). For the first time, a systematic study of all main non-linear components has been done and the interaction between these components has been discussed. In the second part of the thesis, a pair of novel system-level envelope do-main linearization techniques are presented and analysed. They are applied at the input node and output node of the power amplifier, respectively. The envelop line-arization techniques have been demonstrated with both the analytical model, de-veloped in this thesis, and the nonlinear device model CGH60015D. The
Abstract
III
advantages of envelope linearization has been discussed as well as the challenges such an approach presents. The Linearizability of a system, both in terms of circuit design and lineariza-tion techniques are discussed. In fact, linearity and linearizability of power amplifi-ers forms the central thread that runs through this thesis together with linearity, which provides guidance for a top-to-bottom level PA linearization strategy
Vidutinių dažnių 5G belaidžių tinklų galios stiprintuvų tyrimas
This dissertation addresses the problems of ensuring efficient radio fre-quency transmission for 5G wireless networks. Taking into account, that the next
generation 5G wireless network structure will be heterogeneous, the device
density and their mobility will increase and massive MIMO connectivity
capability will be widespread, the main investigated problem is formulated –
increasing the efficiency of portable mid-band 5G wireless network CMOS power amplifier with impedance matching networks.
The dissertation consists of four parts including the introduction, 3 chapters, conclusions, references and 3 annexes.
The investigated problem, importance and purpose of the thesis, the ob-ject of the research methodology, as well as the scientific novelty are de-fined in the
introduction. Practical significance of the obtained results, defended state-ments and the structure of the dissertation are also included.
The first chapter presents an extensive literature analysis. Latest ad-vances in the structure of the modern wireless network and the importance of the power amplifier in the radio frequency transmission chain are de-scribed in detail. The latter is followed by different power amplifier archi-tectures, parameters and their improvement techniques. Reported imped-ance matching network design methods are also discussed. Chapter 1 is concluded distinguishing the possible research vectors and defining the problems raised in this dissertation.
The second chapter is focused around improving the accuracy of de-signing lumped impedance matching network. The proposed methodology of estimating lumped inductor and capacitor parasitic parameters is dis-cussed in detail provi-ding complete mathematical expressions, including a summary and conclusions.
The third chapter presents simulation results for the designed radio fre-quency power amplifiers. Two variations of Doherty power amplifier archi-tectures are presented in the second part, covering the full step-by-step de-sign and simulation process. The latter chapter is concluded by comparing simulation and
measurement results for all designed radio frequency power amplifiers.
General conclusions are followed by an extensive list of references and a list of 5 publications by the author on the topic of the dissertation.
5 papers, focusing on the subject of the discussed dissertation, have been
published: three papers are included in the Clarivate Analytics Web of Sci-ence database with a citation index, one paper is included in Clarivate Ana-lytics Web of Science database Conference Proceedings, and one paper has been published in unreferred international conference preceedings. The au-thor has also made
9 presentations at 9 scientific conferences at a national and international level.Dissertatio