RF Power Amplifiers Vi (2010) - Base Stations

RF Power Amplifiers VI
Power Amplifier Solutions
for Base Stations
G. Ghione, M. Pirola, R. Quaglia
Agenda
Base stations
Doherty Power Amplifier
Linearity Enhancement Techniques
Digital Predistortion
Feed Forward
Base stations
Base stations are the front-end of the mobile
infrastructure
I nteract with:
Mobile Terminal
Down link: Base station TX
Up link: Base station RX
Backhaul (BSC)
Core of the network
Cable, fiber or microwaves
Base stations
Standards
GSM : 950 MHz and 1850 MHz, 50-100 W
UMTS: 2100 MHz, 50-100 W
WiMax: 3500 MHz, 4 W
LTE: 2100-2500 MHz, 50-100 W
Figures of merit
Cost
Linearity
Efficiency
Re-configurability
A basestation power budget
Linearity/Efficiency as linked issues
Power amplification of variable-envelope signals
(variable-power signals):
LINEARITY: AM and also PM distortion take
place if the PA is used at its full-rated RF power
level
EFFICIENCY: Conventional design of high-
efficiency PA leads to good solution only near the
maximum rated power; if the power is backed off
efficiency drops sharply
I ssues: linearity and/or efficiency enhancement
techniques
Why variable-power signals
I ndependent of the variable-envelope issue, the
output power of a PA is not constant:
In single-channel PAs, because the output power is
adapted to receiving station conditions (location,
environment)
In multiple-channel PAs (basestations) because the
total multichannel power undergoes statistical
fluctuations related to location, traffic pattern,
environment
This implies back-off vs. optimum PA operating
conditions
Defining backoff
Suppose that a reference operating condition
for a PA occurs with a given (reference) input
power
We say that the PA operates with a given backoff
(e.g. 3 dB, 10 dB...) with respect to the reference
condition when the input power isreducedby 3,
10... dB with respect to the reference input
power
Alternatively: the PA is backed off 3, 10... with
respect to the reference condition
Two examples of backoff
A class A PA is backed off with respect to the 1
dB compression point in order to increase
linearity reduce I MPs
An amplifier is backed off with respect to the
optimum efficiencycondition because the slowly
varying average input power is decreased
Backoff usually improves linearity, decreases
efficiency; the efficiency deterioration is
maximum in highly linear (class A) amplifiers
Efficiency vs. backoff: class A and B
Max.
class A
power
The multichannel amplifier
Basestation amplifiers for
multichannel systems (e.g. CDMA)
require I MP3 levels of the order of
60-80 dBc as compared to the usual
20-30 dBc in single-channel PAs
This requirement is extremely
severe and can be avoided only by
using a multiplex demultiplex
structure with an array of single-
channel amplifier in the place of
the multichannel one
Cons: MUX-DEMUX design, fixed
channel, less flexible structure
Channelized PA
Multi Channel PA
The linearization issue
Usually the -30 dBc I MP3 requirement can be satisfied by
working in class A at 1 dB compression point, with ~30-50%
efficiency
To obtain 70 dBc the class A amplifier must work with 20 dB
backoff with respect to 1 dB compression point
Suppose a 100 W amplifier absorbing 200 W DC power is
working at 20 dB backoff the output power will be only 100
W/100 =1 W with a 0.5% efficiency!
I f we need real 100 W output power the DC power will be 20
kW!!!
Therefore, simple backoff does not solve the problem in an
acceptable way we need to improve the amplifier linearity at
high input power
Agenda
Linearity, efficiency tradeoff, variable-
power signals, backoff
Feed Forward
I nvented in 1936 by W.H. Doherty
Used with MW tubes and modulated signals
Multistage Power Amplifier
High efficiency also in back-off region
Based on 3 concepts
Load Modulation
Active Load Pull
Impedance Inversion
Load Modulation
Why a Class B is inefficient in back-off?
Maximum drive level
Load Modulation
Maximum drive level
R
L
= R
opt
P
out
= P
MAX
q 78%
Load Modulation
Half drive level
Load Modulation
Half drive level
R
L
= R
opt
P
out
= P
MAX
-6dB
q 41%
Load Modulation
Half drive level
R
L
= R
opt
P
out
= P
MAX
-6dB
q 41%
Voltage does not
reach zero:
efficiency drop!
Load Modulation
What happens if I change the load?
Half drive level
Load Modulation
Half drive level
R
L
= 2R
opt
P
out
= P
MAX
-3dB
q 78%
Load Modulation
Half drive level
R
L
= 2R
opt
P
out
= P
MAX
-3dB
q 78%
Voltage
reaches zero!
Load Modulation
I f the load varies from 2R
opt
to R
opt
when input
passes from half drive to full drive the efficiency
stays high (near 78%)
How can this be realized?
We need to change dynamically the load
Active load pull
Active Load Pull
Principle of working
The load presented at device 1 depends on the
current pumped by device 2 into the common
load
We need decreasingof Z
1
if input increases
|
|
.
|
\
|
+ =
|
|
.
|
\
|
+
= =
1
2
1
2 1
1
1
1
I
I
R
I
I I
R
I
V
Z
Impedance Inversion
Permits the right modulation of the load
I
2
= 0 Z
1
= R
I
2
= I
0
Z
1
= R/2
Choosing R = 2R
opt
gives exact results
|
|
.
|
\
|
+
=
|
|
.
|
\
|
+
=
=
|
|
.
|
\
|
+
=
2 0
2
2 0
0
0
2 0
2
1
1
I I
I
R
I I
I
R
I
I I
R
R
Z
Schematic Representation
90 degrees line permits the phase adjustment
M: main amplifier, P: peak amplifier
Behavior of the peak must be studied
M
P
Z Inverter
90 Degrees
L
O
A
D
Peak Amplifier
Peak amplifier is turned off up to half drive
v
in
i
out
v
in
v
out
v
in
q,P
out
78%
P
MAX
-6dB
Peak Amplifier
Peak amplifier is turned off up to half drive
Then it turns on with double g
m
respect to Main
At the end, the two amplifiers deliver the same
power, that is 6dB higher respect to half drive
v
in
i
out
v
in
v
out
v
in
q,P
out
78%
P
MAX
P
MAX
-6dB
Peak Amplifier
Peak amplifier is commonly realized as
Class C amplifier
Class B with input control
The class C configuration is more common
Input control implies more added complexity
I n both cases, a greater gain respect to the main
amplifier is needed
Due to the slow wake up of class C amplifier,
the ratio is 2.5, not 2
Peak Amplifier: practice
I n the original implementation, tubes where used
g
m
was controllable
With solid states device two solutions are adopted
Peak periphery greater respect to Main one
Gain, PAE Linearity, Hybrid circuits
Uneven input power splitting
Same devices, linearity Gain, PAE
Base station realizations require high linearity
Same devices, small unbalancing of inputs
20% of PAE improvement is commonly obtained
Doherty: Practical realization
I f this is a Doherty:
I f this is a Doherty:
.is this a power amplifier?
The Doherty is an intrinsically narrow band circuit, due
to impedance inverters
All devices have parasitic elements that influence the
matching
I f an imaginary part is involved in the load of the Main,
the impedance inverter does not satisfy the rules of
impedance rotation studied before
Solution:
Insertion of an offset line
The bandwidth is still reduced
When the peak is off, it is necessary that it does not
influence the common load
I t has to appear as an open circuit
Presence of output parasitic change the impedance
Solution:
Insertion of an offset line
S
22
of the peak must be 1
The bandwidth is still reduced
Typical bandwidth of a Doherty is near to 5%
Typical bandwidth of a Doherty is near to 5%
M
P
Z

I
n
v
e
r
t
e
r
9
0
+
o
D
e
g
L
O
A
D
OMN
Offset Line
IMN
IMN OMN
Offset Line
Doherty: Problems
Theoretical efficiency curve is never reached in practical
realizations, for many reasons
Knee voltage
Slow wake up of Class C
Trade-off with linearity
Fine tuning is necessary in base-station to achieve the
best linearity, in particular on the gate bias levels
Bandwidth is limited because the efficiency, but also and
mainly the linearity (AM-PM), drop fast
Doherty: Examples
J aewoo Sim et. al., Proceedings of Asia-Pacific
Microwave Conference 2007
Colantonio et. al., High efficiency solid state power
amplifiers, J ohn Wiley and Sons
Doherty: Examples
Agenda
Feed Forward
Predistortion
Predistortion: the input signal of the power
amplifier is conditioned to compensate its non-
linear effects
PA
Predistortion
Predistortion: the input signal of the power
amplifier is conditioned to compensate its non-
linear effects
I n actual base-stations, conditioning is acted on
the modulation signal, during digital processing
PA
Pre-
distortion
Linearized
Output
RF Predistortion
~10 dB improvement of I M3, moderate efficiency improvement,
better improvements require careful trimming
Still used at high microwaves and mm-waves
The pre-emphasis characteristics can be realized by subtracting a
linear and a non-linear signal path; sometimes only a cubic pre-
emphasis is generated to decrease IM3s (cubic predistorter)
Implemented
with diodes
Baseband Analysis
Baseband signal can be described by a complex
envelope analysis
Signal is down-converted from the carrier
frequency to baseband
I-Q components completely describe the signals
This description depends on the chosen center
frequency
Careful must be adopted: also the absolute
reference of power is lost during conversion
Baseband models
Baseband models relates the input and output
complex envelopes of a circuit, in our case of the
Power Amplifier
Two main categories
No memory: output depends only on the
instantaneous input
With memory: output depends also on the past
inputs
Power Amplifier
Baseband Model
x(t) y(t)
Baseband models
Extraction of the baseband models can be
performed on time-domain measurement of the
complex envelope
Time is discrete: x[k], y[k]
Training algorithms depends strongly on the
structure of the model itself
Least square meaning
Iterative algorithms
Remember: a model has a good behavior on the
domain where it was extracted
Baseband models
Examples of models
Look Up Table
No memory
Easy to extract
Memory Polynomial
Parallel structure
Odd monomia +FI R
Effective with LDMOS
Easy to train
Neural Networks
Base on tanh() function
Versatile
Hard training
Baseband predistortion
Baseband predistortion implements a baseband
model also for the predistortion function
To extract the predistorter two strategies are
adopted
Direct learning: first a PA model is extracted; then
the DPD model is the inverse model of the PA
Indirect learning: DPD model is extracted directly
from measurements; it is in reality a post-distorter
implemented as a predistorter
Design and testing
Both for extraction and validation of the Digital
predistorter, it is necessary to measure the
complex envelope of the signals at the ports of
the power amplifier
A baseband setup is needed
We have to
Generate a modulated signal
Measure the output complex envelope
Extract the predistorter
Verify its effectiveness (measuring ACPR, q)
Design and testing
Typical baseband setup
VSA: programmable
receiver that permits
envelope measurement
ADS: microwave CAD
with instrument
interfaces
I n reality, all chain
between digital signal
and output is predistorted
Implementation
A predistorter can be implemented on a FPGA
Constrains
Area
Consumption
Elaboration Speed
These must be considered since the design of the
Power Amplifier: predistortability
Best solutions includes dynamic adaptation
A feedback from receiver is necessary
The setup includes FPGA
Design and testing
Examples
Meenakshi Rawat et. al., MTT Transactions, 2010
Examples
R. Quaglia et. al., EUMC 2009
Conclusions
Digital Predistortion is widely adopted in Basestations
and permits signicative amelioration in terms of
linearity vs efficiency tradeoff
Main constrain of its implementation is the need to act
on a power amplifier with acceptable AM-AM and AM-
PM distortion, otherwise a too complex predistorter is
needed
Costly
Power consuming
Not adaptive
Agenda
Feed Forward
Feedforward
Very old idea, invented by Black together with the negative
feedback in the 20s
Basic principle: to sum to the output of the power amplifier an
error signal compensating for the NL part of the response
Ideal Feedforward Analysis I
Ideal Feedforward Analysis II
Ideal Feedforward Analysis III
Ideal vs. real feedforward
Amplitude and phase control
Feedforward performances I
Feedforward performances II
High linearity PA example

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