Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T02:54:20.785Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

13 - Testing and calibration techniques

from Part III - Testing and manufacturability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2015

Earl McCune
Affiliation:
RF Communications Consulting, Santa Clara
Get access

Summary

It is unfortunately very easy to set up a DPS transmitter design project that is immediately doomed to failure. The reason is that if the implementation technology selection is not carefully matched to the project performance objectives, then, when it comes time to connect the new DPS with the RF PA it will be used with and to do full testing, the chances of it all working together are actually quite small.

The way to succeed is no different from any other complicated project: plan ahead and do the required component and subsystem testing so that a substantial well-understood foundation is established for the system operation. For DPST operation, the testing is much more complicated than for conventional designs because the variable power supply adds a new degree of freedom. Familiar analysis methods based on curves must change to operate on surfaces, for example. Add to this a completely new interface that is fundamentally not well-behaved and the project gets even more interesting. Careful characterization of this new interface is vitally important.

This chapter provides significant detail on the testing required in DPS transmitter development in order to have near certainty of project success. This test pro fi le is the result of 20 years' experience this author has with making DPST designs work. Each of these tests has its important place on the path to project success. Many of the unusual tests in these lists are the result of unpleasant surprises in the test lab.

Characterization planning

The three major blocks of characterization testing required for any successful DPS transmitter design are: (1) the DPS itself, (2) the RF power amplifier on its own, and (3) the transistor used within the RF PA. These blocks are illustrated in Figure 13-1. At this writing, the manufacturers of dynamic power supplies and RF power amplifiers are different companies. This necessitates their interconnection to be considered as a new interface.

Type
Chapter
Information
Dynamic Power Supply Transmitters
Envelope Tracking, Direct Polar, and Hybrid Combinations
, pp. 421 - 462
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2015

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[13-1] S.Schell, Schell,, “Method and Apparatus for Accurate Measurement of Communication Signals,” US Patent 6724177, issued April 20, 2004.
[13-2] D.Flowers, Flowers, “Mode Shift Calibration in Power Amplifiers,” US Patent 8000663, issued August 16, 2011.

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×