Title:  Analog Predistortion for Improvement of RF Amplifier Efficiency and Linearity

Committee:

Dr. Steve Kenney, ECE, Chair , Advisor

Dr. Hua Wang, ECE

Dr. David Anderson, ECE

Dr. Stephen Ralph, ECE

Dr. Luca Dieci, Math

Abstract: 

The objective of this research is to implement analog systems that enable highly efficient and linear operations of the RF PAs used in wireless communication systems. Particularly, Analog Pre-Distortion (APD) techniques have been developed while providing higher levels of performance required by 4G cellular systems in this work. Analog circuits for use in this APD system were identified and designed, and their performances are experimentally verified. Last but not least, an APD system was implemented in board levels by utilizing the fabricated circuits on printed circuit boards. Digital control capabilities were added to this system and maximized the performance of the APD system. Measured results show that a 5 dB improvement of ACPR was achieved at 28 dBm output power for a LTE BW 10 MHz signal.