FPGA realization of RF power amplifiers models

This chapter presents a low-cost system for simulating/emulating AM/AM and AM/PM distortion curves in RF power amplifiers (PAs). In addition, this chapter also discusses the theory for modeling AM/AM and AM/PM behaviors, and gives a review of an emulation testbed based on an FPGA development board. Related theories, simulation, and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the phase and amplitude distortion curves, retaining its desired performances but enhancing its flexibility of reading the digitalized PA behavior or adding a PA as device under test through an FPGA development board. The experimental results show that the system properly fits to the expected results, allowing the digitalized PA behavior by using memory polynomial (MPM), Wiener and Hammerstein models. Finally, the developed FPGA-based system can be reconfigured to modify or to improve the desired design according to the application requirements.