Nonlinear Distortion — Lesson 3

This lesson covers the non-linear distortion. It explains the concept of noise figure in an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and how it affects the system's signal-to-noise ratio. The lesson further discusses different receiver architectures, the role of mixers, amplifiers, and the impact of nonlinearity on the system. It also delves into the effects of nonlinearity in amplifiers and the concept of memory effects in solid-state power amplifiers. The lesson concludes with an analysis of two tone intermodulation products and their impact on the system.

Video Highlights

00:18 - Intro and recap of previous lesson
01:55 - Nonlinearity in Tx/Rx
04:07 - Role of power amplifiers and nonlinearity due to amplifiers
11:40 - Power amplifier design challenges
13:20 - Distortion parameters and how they work
20:09 - Two-tone intermodulation
28:54 - Frequency allocation in a two tone
30:12 - PA output for two tone test signal

Key Takeaways

- Non-linear distortion in software-defined radios can significantly affect the system's performance.
- Noise figure in an ADC plays a crucial role in determining the system's signal-to-noise ratio.
- Nonlinearity in amplifiers can lead to undesired effects and distortions in the system.
- Solid-state power amplifiers exhibit medium nonlinearity and memory effects.
- Third-order intermodulation products can significantly impact the system's performance.