RF and Microwave Power Amplifier and Transmitter Technologies — Part 4

Linearization techniques are incorporated into power amplifiers and transmitters for the dual purposes of improving linearity and for allowing operation with less back-off and therefore higher efficiency. This article provides a summary of the three main families of techniques have been developed: Feedback, feedforward, and predistortion. 8a. FEEDBACK Feedback linearization can be applied either directly around the RF amplifier (RF feedback) or indirectly upon the modulation (envelope, phase, or I and Q components).