Linearity — Lesson 11

This lesson covers the concept of linearity in amplifier circuits. It delves into the relationship between output and input in a memoryless system, explaining how linearity affects this relationship. The lesson also introduces the concept of the compression point, a key figure in characterizing the linearity of a system. It further discusses the impact of multiple frequencies on gain reduction and introduces the concept of intermodulation. The lesson concludes by discussing methods to improve linearity, such as power combining and feed forward linearization.

Video Highlights

00:15 - Introduction
04:26 - Concept of linearity, its impact on gain and compression point
11:42 - Intermodulation and its impact on desired channels
19:30 - Output of a cascaded nonlinear stages
23:42 - Power combining as a method to improve linearity
28:54 - Conclusion and summary of the module

Key Takeaways

- Linearity in microwave integrated circuits is a crucial concept, especially in active circuits design.
- The output and input relationship in a memoryless system can be affected by linearity.
- The 1 dB compression point is a key figure used to characterize the linearity of a system.
- The presence of multiple frequencies can impact gain reduction.
- Intermodulation is a significant distortion caused by interference between two different frequency tones.
- Techniques such as power combining and feed forward linearization can be used to improve linearity.