Abstract: Nonlinear RF analogue power
amplifiers (PAs) and front-ends are essential components in every smartphone
and mobile network basestation. To tackle their design challenge nonlinear
measurement systems are becoming an increasingly popular R&D tool, which
allow to base the design process and models on actual data. These measurement
systems are far more than just a verification tool for confirming theoretical
PA concepts. It was actually the fundamental insight obtained when utilising such
systems while searching for ideal PA modes of operation that triggered new
ideas and concepts such as the new continuous class-J, class-F or the harmonic
injection PA modes, with some now widely adopted within mobile communication
industry. The presentation will provide an overview of nonlinear measurement
systems, their application and explore some new developments in this field,
which target the RF device and circuit manufacturing market.

 Johannes Benedikt received the Dipl.-Ing Degree in electrical
engineering from the University of Ulm, Germany in 1997 and shortly after he
started with his PhD degree at Cardiff University in 1998. During his PhD
project he developed a £0.5M research project with Nokia on RF power amplifiers
and took on the position of senior research associate at Cardiff University
starting at October 2000. He was awarded a PhD degree in 2002 and was appointed
as a Lecturer in 2004 and a Senior Lecturer from May 2009. In 2009 – 15 he took
on the position of a CTO at Mesuro Ltd, leading the commercial introduction of
new measurement solutions that enable systematic waveform engineering at RF and
microwave frequencies. His main research focus is on the development of systems
for the measurement and engineering of RF current and voltage waveforms and
their application in complex power amplifier designs. He has been involved in
the development of a number of time-domain characterisation and active harmonic
load pull systems.