Modeling memory effects in RF power amplifiers applied to a digital pre-distortion algorithm and emulated on a DSP-FPGA board

•Emulation tool for modeling the nonlinearity order and memory effects for real power amplifiers.•It comprises Memory Polynomial Model and a learning technique like artificial neural networks.•The new proposed tool reduces design time as well as realizing the implementation of a DPD.•The overall performances have been properly verified by using AM as input signals.•A novel technique by combining a GUI as control stage, Simulink and the DSP Builder tool.

An emulation tool with the capability of modeling the nonlinearity order and memory effects for real power amplifier’s (PAs) conversion curves, is introduced. The proposed tool comprises special cases of Volterra series as the Memory Polynomial Model and a learning technique like artificial neural networks. The proposed system is a novel integrated one able to model the real behavior of radio frequency (RF)-PAs under different memory models. The developed system starts from a test bed able to acquire AM–AM and AM–PM distortion curves measurements. This procedure can predict the behavior and improve the analysis using it as a design tool.