Dual-Path Component Based Digital Receiver Linearization With a Very Non-linear Auxiliary Path

Abstract

This work introduces a digital adaptive approach for the cancellation of harmonic distortion and inter-modulation products present in any receiver architecture. Principally, the low-noise amplifier (LNA), that is the first block on the receiver chain, must tolerate interference and guarantee high sensitivity. Linearization techniques must tackle several challenges such as adding minimum power consumption, preserving noise figure, and maintaining high matching and gain. In this article, a digital dual-path component based linearization technique will be introduced. The linearization is implemented by adding a nonlinear auxiliary path along with two constant coefficients used to cancel out the third order nonlinearities from the main path. Interestingly and unlike similar two path linearization techniques, the idea proposed in this paper requires a more non-linear auxiliary path, effectively relaxing the specifications to design the second path.