POWER AMPLIFIER TEST: FROM CW VIA LOAD PULL TO MODULATED TEST - Markus Lörner, Market Segment Manager for RF & Microwave Components
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POWER AMPLIFIER TEST: FROM CW VIA LOAD PULL TO MODULATED TEST Markus Lörner, Market Segment Manager for RF & Microwave Components
BROAD PORTFOLIO
SOLUTIONS FOR ALL STAGES OF THE DESIGN CYCLE
R&D and Design Validation Characterization Production
2 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier Test
SOLUTIONS AT A GLANCE
Modulated measurements in R&D / validation
Envelope Tracking Frequency coverage
Measurement-aided Doherty design Gain, gain compression, P1dB, Psat..
Digital pre-distortion Power consumption/ gain
Efficiency/ PAE
Harmonics
High-throughput modulated measurements in Matching
characterization and production Small signal S-parameters
Pulsed S parameter
Noise figure
Intermodulation measurements Intermodulation
LO substitution / LO source
Test fixture calibration
Source calibration / alignment
DUT biasing and power on/ off
Accurate gain and reflection measurements
3 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier Test
BROAD PORTFOLIO
Vector Signal Generators Analog Signal Generators Spectrum & Signal Analyzers Network Analyzers
SMW200A ZNA
FSW
≤ 44 GHz ≤ 43.5 GHz
SMA100B ≤ 90 GHz
≤ 2 GHz BW ≤ 4 Sources
≤ 67 GHz ≤ 2 GHz BW
+38 dBm ZVA
SMBV100B
≤ 110 GHz
≤ 6 GHz FSVA3000
≤ 4 Sources
≤ 500 MHz BW ≤ 44 GHz
ZVAX ext.
SMZ ≤ 400 MHz
SGT100A ≤ 67 GHz
50 - 170 GHz
≤ 6 GHz
ZNB
SZU100A ≤ 40 GHz
58 - 65 GHz ≤ 2 Sources
Power Supplies Broadband Amplifiers Oscilloscopes Power Meters
HMP4000
3 or 4 Channels RTP NRQ6
384W, 32V, 10A BBA130 4-8 GHz BW ≤ 6 GHz
≤ 6 GHz ≤ 4 Channels
NGL200 NRP
22W - 4200W 20 GSample/s
≤ 2 Channels ≤ 110 GHz
120W, 20V, 6A
4 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier Test
SOLUTIONS FOR PA R&D – CW TESTS
Selected instruments for CW / pulsed measurements
Goals Up to 43.5 GHz (more to
Quickly verify against come)
design goals 4 sources
Tune design Pulsed S parameter
Shorten time-to- R&S®ZNA 170 dB max dynamic range
market Power sweep over 100 dB
Spectrum analyzer for spur
search
Test considerations Integrated combiner for
No compromises intermodulation test
Maximum flexibility Compression point
Right tools
Speed 4 channels, 384 W total
Up to 32V /10A per channel
DUT protection
Characterize all RF parameters with one R&S®HMP4040 Fully programmable
calibrated RF connection
5 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier Test
SOLUTIONS FOR PA R&D – CW TESTS
High power intermodulation test
► Intermodulation tests sometimes ask for levels beyond capabilities of standard test instruments
R&S ZNA: max 20 dBm per port
► How to get more power?
Broadband amplifier like BBA 130 or 150 up to 6 GHz
High power signal generator up to 67 GHz: R&S SMA100B
Above 30 dBm up to 18 GHz
20 dBm up to 60 GHz
R&S®SMA100B DUT
RF power combiner
Attenuator
Analyzer
R&S®SMA100B
6 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier Test
SOLUTIONS FOR PA R&D – ON-WAFER TESTING
► Modelling
Highest accuracy needed
Pulsed measurements avoid thermal heating
ZVA + ZVAX-TRM pulsed to 60 GHz or ZNA up to 43.5 GHz
Wafer probes: partner with
work also with others
7 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier Test
SOLUTIONS FOR PA R&D – LOAD PULL
► Evaluation of key non-linear performance (output power,
gain ,efficiency, …) as function of load impedance
► Passive or active tuners needed
Partner with
and
On-wafer load pull: Delta tuners from Focus fit to
MPI/FormFactor positioner
► Behavioural model for non-linear effects:
Mesuro Cardiff models from
Enhanced polyharmonic distortion (EPHD) models from
8 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier Test
VNA
WHY USE LOAD-PULL?
► Small signal, 50 Ω S-parameters provide
information about linear response of the device
under test (DUT)
► RF/Microwave transistors exhibit non-linear
behavior:
harmonic generation
frequency mixing, etc.
► Transistor performance is highly dependent on
its load impedance
► Load-pull enables characterization of the non-
linear DUT behavior under large-signal
excitations and non-50 Ω load impedances
► DUT performance can be measured as a
function of source and load impedance
9 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier Test
What Is Load-Pull?
Non-linear
region
► PAs are operated in non-linear modes (compression) for
maximum output power
Small signal S-Parameters aren’t valid
But we can still measure vector wave quantities (a1, b1, a2, b2)
► Raw PA die and MMICs are not 50Ω devices
PA input and output are low impedance (usually less than 10
Ohms)
Matching networks are required – It’s a 50Ω world
On wafer test usually involves PIV testing
► Vector Load-pull is an empirical, iterative technique
Change the source and load impedance at the DUT Equal
Performance
Measure DC current and wave quantities at input and output contours
Optimal ZL
Calculate PAE, Output power, NF… Maximum
ZGaindBDscr
ZGaindB
Performance
Map the electrical parameters on the Smith chart of load
impedance
10 Rohde & Schwarz IndexGaindB (1.000 to 52.000)
IndexGaindBDscr (1.000 to 1.000)SOLUTIONS FOR PA R&D – MODULATED TESTS
Goals Test considerations Selected instruments for modulated measurements
Check compliance with No compromises
design targets Maximum flexibility Single RF up to 44 GHz
Optimize design Right tools Dual RF up to 20 GHz
Shorten design cycle Speed 2 GHz RF BW
R&S®SMW200A DPD, ET, Doherty suites
Up to 85 (90) GHz
2 GHz internal analysis BW
60 dBc SF dynamic range
PA measurement suites
R&S®FSW
4 channels, 384 W total
Up to 32V /10A per channel
Excellent performance out of the box for DUT protection
R&S®HMP4040 Fully programmable
modulated tests during R&D and design validation
11 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR PA R&D
Dedicated applications to speed up the design cycle
K541 Digital Pre-distortion
Realtime polynomial/ table DPD K18 Amplifier Measurements
Realtime polynomial DPD
K540 Envelope Tracking together with SMW-K541
Realtime envelope calculation, EVM, ACLR, AM/AM, AM/PM,
shaping, delay and DPD PAE, gain compression, …
SMW control for PA tests
K546 Doherty
Two precisely aligned signals, K18D Direct DPD
with adjustable phase, timing Ideal pre-distortion (including
and amplitude relationship memory effect)
Realtime shaping and DPD
12 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR PA R&D
Simple setup for real-time Digital Pre-distortion (DPD)
LAN for control and data transfer
R&S®FSW-K18/ -K18D
R&S®SMW-K541
DUT
Realtime configuration and control of SMW
Many reference waveform options: from
Realtime amplitude and phase offset on every generator, customized, user-generated
I/Q sample (Ideal) Memory DPD with upper performance
Polynomial shaping, manual DPD Table bound characterization (FSW-K18D)
Automatic DPD Table transfer from FSW-K18 Extraction of pre-distorted waveform
13 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR PA R&D
Polynomial-based or memory DPD
LAN for control and data transfer
DUT
R&S®FSW-K18 polynomial based R&S®FSW-K18D Direct DPD
Iterative approach for a given test signal
Faster Slower than polynomial DPD
Applied in real time to any test signal Compensates for memory effects
Parameters can be used for other types of Better performance especially for amplifiers
signals with memory effects
Limited performance for amplifiers with Can be used as a reference pre-distortion
memory effects Suppliers typically do not have
Typically used in lower power, low bandwidth access to DPD algorithms used by
amplifiers system integrators
Mostly UE work Free Matlab toolkit (1EF105) offers DPD
modelling
14 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier Test Mostly Infrastructure workSOLUTIONS FOR PA R&D
One-box solution for Envelope Tracking (ET)
LAN control and data transfer (for DPD)
RF signal RF analysis
Envelope
Envelope signal DC modulator Voltage / current
Power sweeps analysis
Realtime DPD Distortion analysis
VCC
RF Realtime DPD
PA
PIN POUT
R&S®SMW-K540 Envelope Tracking
1 GHz envelope bandwidth
Realtime envelope calculation and shaping (K540)
or user-defined envelope signal (dual ARB)
Realtime polynomial or table DPD (K541)
Envelope to RF delay adjustment
Differential or single-ended analog I/Q OUT
15 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR PA R&D DSP DAC Up-
Simplified Block Diagram
Analog Main Doherty
Unit Converter Splitter PA Combiner
Measurement-aided Doherty design Classic
Doherty
R&S®SMW-K546 Doherty
Auxiliary
PA
DSP DAC Up- Main Doherty
Unit Converter PA Combiner
Dual-input
Doherty
Hardware Test Setup
Auxiliary
PA
Couple two RF paths with precise Up to 2x 20 GHz Doherty
DUT
power, phase and timing alignment 2 GHz bandwidth
Power split and input-power
dependent phase delta in real time Unprecedented insight into sensitivities and performance
Realtime shaping and DPD tradeoffs to help choose the best input split design
16 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR PA R&D DSP DAC Up-
Simplified Block Diagram
Analog Main Doherty
Unit Converter Splitter PA Combiner
Measurement-aided Doherty design Classic
Doherty
R&S®SMW-K546 Doherty
Auxiliary
PA
DSP DAC Up- Main Doherty
Unit Converter PA Combiner
Dual-input
Doherty
Hardware Test Setup
Auxiliary
PA
Couple two RF paths with precise Up to 2x 20 GHz Doherty
DUT
power, phase and timing alignment 2 GHz bandwidth
Power split and input-power
dependent phase delta in real time Unprecedented insight into sensitivities and performance
Realtime shaping and DPD tradeoffs to help choose the best input split design
17 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestACCURATE GAIN AND REFLECTION MEASUREMENT
► Power meters offer highest accuracy
► NRP series is recognized in the industry as fast and accurate
Reflected Forward In Forward Out
Measure modulation
accuracy (EVM)
Provide 5G waveforms
PA
18 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR PA DESIGN VALIDATION
Goals Test considerations Selected instruments
Ensure reliable operation High performance
of designs under real- Maximum coverage
world conditions Speed
R&S®SMW200A R&S®SMBV100B R&S®SMA100B
R&S®FSW R&S®FSVA3000 R&S®ZNA
Broad range of solutions with wide test coverage R&S®HMP4040 R&S®NRPxxS/SN R&S®BBA130
R&S®NRPxxT/TN
19 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR PA DESIGN VALIDATION
Realtime de-embedding of test fixtures
Frequency response correction (K544)
Extends frequency and phase
calibration to the DUT plane
Pre-distorts waveform in baseband
to compensate for response of test
fixtures
Works in real time
Supports different levels of
correction
Also available for
User correction files (*.uco) Frequency response files (*.fres) S-parameter files (*.snp)
ı Amplitude and phase correction ı Amplitude and phase correction
ı Amplitude correction
ı Measure with equalizer function of ı Corrections for reflections and absolute level
ı Measure with a power meter
spectrum analyzer ı Measure with a VNA
20 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR PA DESIGN VALIDATION
Easily configure and analyze standard-conform test signals
R&S®SMW200A
R&S®FSW
R&S®SMBV100B R&S®FSVA3000
21 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestINTEGRATED AMPLIFIER TEST SOLUTION
► Dedicated Application (FSW-K18) to measure Power Amplifiers, all results in one shot
► System approach controlling spectrum analyzer and signal generator from one GUI
► Runs directly on the FSW and is 100% remote programmable
► Integrated solutions for DPD
► Works with any kind or ARB file and any modulation
Power Amplifier Test 22
Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020PARAMETER SWEEP MODE EXAMPLE MULTIWINDOW 23 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier Test
SOLUTIONS FOR PA DESIGN VALIDATION
Ultra high RF output power to compensate for losses and for intermodulation tests
SMW200A Output Power up to 40 GHz
SMW200A STD, measured
BBA Family of Broadband Amplifiers
ı Air-cooled from 9 kHz to 6 GHz
ı Output power from 22 W to 4200 W (BBA130) or
15 W to 3000 W (BBA150)
ı Adjustable operating class
ı Suitable for amplitude, frequency, phase and
pulse modulation
24 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR PA DESIGN VALIDATION
Measure the true DUT performance
EVM of 5G NR signal with ACLR of 5G NR signal with
R&S®SMW200A and R&S®FSW R&S®SMW200A and R&S®FSW
Excellent EVM and ACLR out of the box without any additional calibration procedures
25 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR PA DESIGN VALIDATION
Measure the true DUT performance
EVM of 5G NR signal with ACLR of 5G NR NR-TM1.1,
R&S®SMBV100B and R&S®FSW R&S®SMBV100B and R&S®FSW
Excellent EVM and ACLR out of the box without any additional calibration procedures
26 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR PA DESIGN CHARACTERIZATION
Goals Test considerations Selected instruments
Determine and verify design Linearity and repeatability
specifications Speed
R&S®SGT100A R&S®SMW200A
Modulation quality metrics Intermodulation tests
Distortion Linearity
R&S®SMA100B R&S®FSVA3000
Power consumption Efficiency / PAE
S-Parameter Tests Noise Figure
R&S®HMP4040
Frequency coverage Matching R&S®ZNA
R&S®NRPxxS/SN R&S®ZVA
Compact and fast solutions with excellent performance R&S®NRPxxT/TN w ZVAX
27 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR CW PA PRODUCTION TESTING
Fast solution for quick pass-or-fail decision
R&S®ZNB midrange VNA
ı Up to 40 GHz, 2 and 4 port versions
ı Right performance for demanding production test
ı High speed enables high throughput
ı Large HW dynamic range of 140 dB enables
faster testing with adopted IF bandwidth
ı Wide, electronically adjustable power sweep
range from up to –85 dBm to +13 dBm enables
fast analysis of the linear and nonlinear
characteristics of small- and large-signal
amplifiers
28 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR CW PA PRODUCTION TESTING
Fast solution for quick pass-or-fail decision
► Extended power range option R&S®ZNBx-B2x enables wider electronic power
sweep range of internal source.
typ > 100 dB (-100 dBm…+15 dBm @ 1 GHz)
► Highly linear receivers with high power handling.
High 0.1 dB compression point
> +20 dBm without receiver step attenuator
> +27 dBm with elec. receiver step attenuator (R&S®ZNBx-B3x)
Low uncertainty with switching step attenuators after calibration.
Typical damage level > 30 dBm
► Measurement of power added efficiency.
4 high resolution DC inputs to measure power consumption
► Higher accuracy with error corrected wave-quantities
► Use of preamplifers for higher stimulus power with 4 Port ZNB(T) and re-
defined S-Parameters.
29 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestSOLUTIONS FOR MODULATED PA PRODUCTION TESTING
Compact and fast solutions for automated use
R&S®SGT100A with R&S®WinIQSIM2 PC Software
ı Compact and fast
ı Optimized for automated use
ı Up to 6 GHz RF, 240 MHz BW
ı Excellent RF performance for
EVM and ACLR
R&S®NRQ6 Frequency-Selective Power Sensor
ı Compact, highly precise and fast
ı 6 GHz RF, 100 MHz BW
ı IQ Capture
ı ACLR, Harmonics and EVM
30 Rohde & Schwarz 9/10/2020 Power Amplifier TestPOWER SERVOING ► Fast and automatic search of compression point ► Dedicated serial communications channel between R&S®NRQ6 and R&S®SGT100A over the optional setup trigger connectors ► Typical set time from 1 ms to 1.5 ms ► R&S®NRQ6 can perform power measurements too ► Optional SPA (or second NRQ6) for maximum performance and speed
SERVER BASED TESTING ► Speed improvements for extensive calculations like EVM series ► Factor of 5 in this example ► Seperate RF capture and date evaluation ► Parallelization and asynchronous operation
SERVER BASED
TESTING
► Sampled RF data pushed to
Job Controller
SBT server
► Multiple microservices do
EVM for example in parallel
► Scalable: one or more
Data Controller
capture devices like FSV3k
► Maximised use of RF system
– no idle time
► On premise
► Customer is data ownerSUMMARY ► Rohde & Schwarz offers a wide range of T&M solutions for PA design, validation and production test ► We add partners for LoadPull and OnWafer where needed to offer complete solutions
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