Predistorion linearizcrs constitute an increasingly important building block of most satellite communication payloads. They enable an improved output amplifier linearity, thereby reducing power consumption requirements and increasing the transmit output power, while maintaining the required intermodulation performance. A novel MMIC lineariser chip [1] has been used in conjunction with a MMIC analogue phase shifter to implement a complete predistortion linearizer. The linearizer chip has been designed at ESTEC, and manufactured by Thomson foundry (F) (today UMS) using their MMIC process LN05. The analogue phase shifter chip has also been designed at ESTEC and manufactured by Daimler Benz (D) (today UMS) using their process E05. The capabilities of this linearizcr have been demonstrated by integrating it with a Ku-band Travelling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA).
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