Power Efficiency of Modulation

Schemes 21/8/13
Power efficiency is an important aspect of
various modulation techniques
Constant and Variable-Envelope signals
behave differently in a nonlinear system
x(t) = A(t) cos[W
c
t + (t)] constant envelope if
A(t) does not vary with time, 3
rd
order
memoryless nonlinearity

Let A(t) = A(c)


First term,
W=3W
c
modulated
Signal, bandwidth of the
Original signal
is much less than w
c
Now consider a variable-envelope signal applied
to non-linear PA


Since these components generally exhibit a broader spectrum than do

and , we say spectrum grows when a variable-envelope signal
passes through a nonlinear system
Fig. Amplification of constant and variable-envelope signals and the effect of
Their spectra
Spectral Regrowth
Fig. Effect of band limiting on the envelope of QPSK waveform
Greater
variations
in its envelope as the
Filter BW decreases
LPF limits the bandwidth of the signal suppresses
leakage into adjacent channel
PA amplifies and delivers required signal level to
antenna

What is the effect of filtering on a digitally
modulated signal refer fig
What is the implication of envelope variation
Band-limited spectrum and time varying envelope
indicates that if PA is to maintain the spectrum to
limited BW, then it must also amplify envelope
variations linearly

Modulated waveform

If PA exhibits significant nonlinearity, then the shape of and
is not preserved and the spectrum is not limited to the desired bandwidth
This effect is called spectral regrowth and quantified by the relative
adjacent channel power

Abrupt phase changes in a digitally modulated waveform, for eg. QPSK, result
in envelope variations if a filter limits the bandwidth. Such variations in turn
require a linear power amplifier so as to avoid spectral regrowth