An algorithm for determining the output frequency range of Volterra models with multiple inputs

A new algorithm for determining the output frequency range and the frequency components of Volterra models under multiple inputs is introduced for nonlinear system analysis. For a given Volterra model, the output frequency components corresponding to a multi-tone input can easily be calculated using the new algorithm

Evaluation of output frequency responses of nonlinear systems under multiple inputs

In this paper, a new method for evaluating output frequency responses of nonlinear systems under multiple inputs, defined as a sum of sinusoids of different frequencies, is developed. The method circumvents difficulties associated with the existing “frequency-mix vector” based approaches and can easily be applied to investigate nonlinear behaviors of practical systems, including electronic circuits, at the system simulation and design stages. Application of the method to the analysis of nonlinear interference and distortion effects in communication receivers is studied, and specific procedures are proposed which can be directly used in practice for this analysi

Linear parameter estimation for multi-degree-of-freedom nonlinear systems using nonlinear output frequency-response functions

The Volterra series approach has been widely used for the analysis of nonlinear systems. Based on the Volterra series, a novel concept named Nonlinear Output Frequency Response Functions (NOFRFs) was proposed by the authors. This concept can be considered as an alternative extension of the classical frequency response function for linear systems to the nonlinear case. In this study, based on the NOFRFs, a novel algorithm is developed to estimate the linear stiffness and damping parameters of multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) nonlinear systems. The validity of this NOFRF based parameter estimation algorithm is demonstrated by numerical studies

A novel approach for nonlinearity detection in vibrating systems

This paper proposes a novel approach for nonlinearity detection in vibrating systems. The approach is developed based on a new concept recently proposed by the author known as nonlinear output frequency response functions (NOFRFs) and the properties of the NOFRFs for nonlinear systems with multiple degrees of freedom (mdof). The results of numerical simulation studies verify the effectiveness of the approach. Nonlinear components often represent faults in practical mdof systems including beams. The proposed approach therefore has significant potential in the fault diagnosis of practical mdof engineering systems and structures

Nonlinear output frequency response functions of MDOF systems with multiple nonlinear components

In engineering practice, most mechanical and structural systems are modeled as Multi-Degree-of-Freedom (MDOF) systems. When some components within the systems have nonlinear characteristics, the whole system will behave nonlinearly. The concept of Nonlinear Output Frequency Response Functions (NOFRFs) was proposed by the authors recently and provides a simple way to investigate nonlinear systems in the frequency domain. The present study is concerned with investigating the inherent relationships between the NOFRFs for any two masses of nonlinear MDOF systems with multiple nonlinear components. The results reveal very important properties of the nonlinear systems. One significant application of the results is to detect and locate faults in engineering structures which make the structures behave nonlinearly

The properties of output frequencies of nonlinear volterra systems

Nonlinear systems usually have complicated output frequencies in the frequency domain. For the class of nonlinear Volterra systems, some interesting properties for system output frequencies are studied in this paper. These properties provide a novel insight into the output frequencies of Volterra systems, i.e., the periodicity of the output frequencies. They also demonstrate several novel frequency characteristics of system output spectrum such as the opposite property, and reveal clearly the nonlinear effects on system output spectrum from different nonlinearities. These new results have significance in the analysis and design of nonlinear systems and nonlinear filters in order to achieve a specific output spectrum in a desired frequency band by taking advantage of nonlinearities, and provide an important guidance to applications of Volterra system theory in practices for analysis and design of nonlinear systems. Examples and discussions are given to illustrate these new results

Metodologia Per la Caratterizzazione di amplificatori a basso rumore per UMTS

In questo lavoro si presenta una metodologia di progettazione elettronica a livello di sistema, affrontando il problema della caratterizzazione dello spazio di progetto dell' amplificatore a basso rumore costituente il primo stadio di un front end a conversione diretta per UMTS realizzato in tecnologia CMOS con lunghezza di canale .18u. La metodologia è sviluppata al fine di valutare in modo quantititativo le specifiche ottime di sistema per il front-end stesso e si basa sul concetto di Piattaforma Analogica, che prevede la costruzione di un modello di prestazioni per il blocco analogico basato su campionamento statistico di indici di prestazioni del blocco stesso, misurati tramite simulazione di dimensionamenti dei componenti attivi e passivi soddisfacenti un set di equazioni specifico della topologia circuitale. Gli indici di prestazioni vengono successivamente ulizzati per parametrizzare modelli comportamentali utilizzati nelle fasi di ottimizzazione a livello di sistema. Modelli comportamentali atti a rappresentare i sistemi RF sono stati pertanto studiati per ottimizzare la scelta delle metriche di prestazioni. L'ottimizzazione dei set di equazioni atti a selezionare le configurazione di interesse per il campionamento ha al tempo stesso richiesto l'approfondimento dei modelli di dispositivi attivi validi in tutte le regioni di funzionamento, e lo studio dettagliato della progettazione degli amplificatori a basso rumore basati su degenerazione induttiva. Inoltre, il problema della modellizzazione a livello di sistema degli effetti della comunicazione tra LNA e Mixer è stato affrontato proponendo e analizzando diverse soluzioni. Il lavoro ha permesso di condurre un'ottimizzazione del front-end UMTS, giungendo a specifiche ottime a livello di sistema per l'amplificatore stesso

Linear Operation of Switch-Mode Outphasing Power Amplifiers

Radio transceivers are playing an increasingly important role in modern society. The ”connected” lifestyle has been enabled by modern wireless communications. The demand that has been placed on current wireless and cellular infrastructure requires increased spectral efficiency however this has come at the cost of power efficiency. This work investigates methods of improving wireless transceiver efficiency by enabling more efficient power amplifier architectures, specifically examining the role of switch-mode power amplifiers in macro cell scenarios. Our research focuses on the mechanisms within outphasing power amplifiers which prevent linear amplification. From the analysis it was clear that high power non-linear effects are correctable with currently available techniques however non-linear effects around the zero crossing point are not. As a result signal processing techniques for suppressing and avoiding non-linear operation in low power regions are explored. A novel method of digital pre-distortion is presented, and conventional techniques for linearisation are adapted for the particular needs of the outphasing power amplifier. More unconventional signal processing techniques are presented to aid linearisation of the outphasing power amplifier, both zero crossing and bandwidth expansion reduction methods are designed to avoid operation in nonlinear regions of the amplifiers. In combination with digital pre-distortion the techniques will improve linearisation efforts on outphasing systems with dynamic range and bandwidth constraints respectively. Our collaboration with NXP provided access to a digital outphasing power amplifier, enabling empirical analysis of non-linear behaviour and comparative analysis of behavioural modelling and linearisation efforts. The collaboration resulted in a bench mark for linear wideband operation of a digital outphasing power amplifier. The complimentary linearisation techniques, bandwidth expansion reduction and zero crossing reduction have been evaluated in both simulated and practical outphasing test benches. Initial results are promising and indicate that the benefits they provide are not limited to the outphasing amplifier architecture alone. Overall this thesis presents innovative analysis of the distortion mechanisms of the outphasing power amplifier, highlighting the sensitivity of the system to environmental effects. Practical and novel linearisation techniques are presented, with a focus on enabling wide band operation for modern communications standards