EER–LINC RF transmitter architecture for high PAPR signals using switched power amplifiers

Digital radio communications uses nowadays different modulation schemes with high data rate possibilities. Designing a multi-standard linearized transmitter is an interesting goal for which OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) modulation is the worst case at the moment. Transmission of multi-carrier signals like OFDM ones are subject to high dynamic variation, quantified by the PAPR (Peak to Average Power Ratio) signal property. Nonlinearities occurring at the power amplification part implies the transmitter to be linearized for preserving the information integrity. This paper presents a new multi-standard linearized RF transmitter architecture based on both EER and LINC techniques. The goal is to cancel the influence of the high PAPR of an OFDM signal as soon as possible in the different steps of the transmitter. In order to maintain the overall efficiency, the use of switched PAs is promoted, which is possible thanks to the constant (envelope) power property occurring by the proposed EER–LINC method. New circuit designs are necessary, and comparison with classical EER and LINC solutions is discussed.