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IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
Volume 48 Number 8, August 2000

Table of Contents for this issue

Complete paper in PDF format

A New Unequal Three-Tone Signal Method for AM-AM and AM-PM Distortion Measurements Suitable for Characterization of Satellite Communication Transmitters/Transponders

F. M. Ghannouchi, H. Wakana and M. Tanaka

Page 1404.

Abstract:

A new method for characterization of AM-AM and AM-PM distortion of power amplifiers (PA's) using only power measurements is proposed in this paper. This technique was found to be suitable for the characterization of satellite communication transmitters/transponders. It consists of using an unequal three-tone signal (UTTS) to drive either the base-station PA's transmitter or the satellite transponder's PA and to measure the level of this UTTS at the output of the transmitter/transponder. By comparison of the three tone levels at the input and output of the transmitter/transponder,one can calculate the AM-AM compression factor and AM-PM conversion coefficient of the transmitter/transponder PA using close-form expressions.

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