Doherty amplifier testing

Learn how to get the maximum performance from your design

Whether it is for 5G, SatCom or any other application demanding high performance and reproducibility, the challenges remain the same: how can you be sure that you are getting the maximum possible performance from your design and how can you evaluate its sensitivities and variations for series production?

Running a test campaign while changing the drive signals in the two Doherty paths enables complete amplifier design characterization. The R&S®SMW200A vector signal generator outputs two signals whose relative linear (amplitude and phase) or nonlinear (e.g. shaped) characteristics are precisely varied.

The R&S®FSW signal and spectrum analyzer not only returns scalar quantities such as spectral regrowth and EVM, but also AM/AM and AM/PM, gain and peak envelope power (using the R&S®FSW-K18 option).

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Related applications

Optimize Doherty power amplifiers

Speed up development, verify best performance and start up series production with confidence. Doherty designs achieve high efficiency, greater linearity and increased output power. Gain deep insight into your design with a dual-path, precisely synchronized source driving the Doherty amplifier, and improve your yield.

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Making effective use of Doherty amplifier architecture

With the evolution of 5G technology, the need for antenna array systems is growing. This increases the demand for efficient power amplifier implementations to support high-density setups. Imagine what it would be like if you could get 60 % more output power, 50 % more bandwidth and up to 20 % efficiency gain per amplifier in a MIMO antenna array setup? Would you spend time on rethinking your implementation plans? Let's take a closer look at how this can be achieved.

Measurement-aided Doherty amplifier design

Targeting Doherty amplifier developers, this document summarizes some of the technical challenges, limitations and implementations, and introduces a design methodology that allows maximized cost-performance to be achieved. The following sections (overview and links provided below) describe significant improvements in Doherty performance by addressing the input side. A measurement-aided methodology that allows you to extract and understand this performance provides more detailed, rigorous insight and enables shorter time-to-market and better cost-specification.

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Dual input Doherty amplifier

The dual input Doherty amplifier architecture enables RF PA designers to maximize efficiency, power, bandwidth and yield without compromising linearizability. Overcome design challenges such as optimum signal alignment and PA class by driving with linear and non-linear input signals. Measurements on a state-of-the-art GaN Doherty amplifier, enabled by unique signal generation and analysis solutions, illustrate the approach.

R&S®SMW200A vector signal generator

The R&S®SMW200A is the perfect tool for generating high-quality, complex, digitally modulated signals. The R&S®SMW is one of a broad portfolio of signal generators offering wide frequency ranges.

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R&S®FSW signal and spectrum analyzer

The high-performance R&S®FSW signal and spectrum analyzer meets demanding customer requirements. Offering low phase noise, wide analysis bandwidth and intuitive operation, the analyzer makes measurements fast and easy.

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RF power amplifier performance verification

RF power amplifiers are components used in RF systems such as 5G base stations. The device characterization is key to make sute the amplifier fits the system requirements.

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