Two-input two-output band-pass power amplifiers model extraction by integrating linearized large-signal vector measurements

This paper introduces a procedure for extracting a two-input two-output nonlinear behavioral model for band-pass microwave power amplifiers, based on linearized large-signal vector measurements. The proposed method consists in integrating the time-varying linear characterization of the PA, driven into a nonlinear state by a large signal. The experiment design and the measurement set-up are enabled by the unique features of a mixer-based large-signal network analyzer. An extensive, independent, experimental validation considered a 950 MHz PA prototype fabricated with surface mount components assembled in microstrip technology on a FR4 as a case study. The experimental results include large-signal gain, harmonics generation, large-signal output\input reflections at carrier, WCDMA envelope signal test and S-parameters.