Power amplification of a multi-tone test signal

摘要

Disclosed are a circuit and method for amplifying the power of a multi-tone input signal. The multi-tone input signal is filtered separating out one signal having a tone at a fundamental frequency from another signal having additional tones at additional frequencies. The signal having the tone at the fundamental frequency is amplified and then filtered removing any harmonics added during amplification. The signals are then recombined generating a multi-tone output signal, wherein the tone at the fundamental frequency is boosted (i.e., has a higher power in the multi-tone output signal than in the multi-tone input signal), but the additional tones at the additional frequencies are not (i.e., the additional tones at the additional frequencies have essentially the same power in the multi-tone output and input signals). Also disclosed herein are embodiments of a testing system and method incorporating the above-described circuit to allow for testing of high power devices.

主权项

1. A signal amplification circuit comprising:
a first signal processor receiving a multi-tone input signal having a first tone at a fundamental frequency and a first drive power and further having additional tones at additional frequencies different from said fundamental frequency, said first signal processor filtering said multi-tone input signal in order to output two discrete signals, said two discrete signals comprising:
a first signal having said first tone at said fundamental frequency and with said first drive power; and,a second signal having said additional tones at said additional frequencies; a second signal processor amplifying said first signal in order to output a third signal having said first tone at said fundamental frequency and with a second drive power that is higher than said first drive power; a third signal processor filtering said third signal in order to output a fourth signal having said first tone at said fundamental frequency and with said second drive power, said filtering of said third signal terminating harmonics added to said third signal by said second signal processor; and a fourth signal processor combining said second signal and said fourth signal in order to output a multi-tone output signal, said multi-tone output signal having said first tone at said fundamental frequency and with said second drive power and further having said additional tones at said additional frequencies.