Using Harmonic Balance

Homework 1: A Power Amplifier Simulation

• Make the amplifier
• Look at the DC IV curves
• Bias it up
• Putting a harmonic balance  port on
• Checking the harmonics
• What harmonic balance is and isn't
• Simulate linear S parameters and nonlinear S parameters

Lecture 1: Overview of Harmonic Balance Setup

• The world of circuit simulation
• Harmonic balance assumptions
• Advantages of harmonic balance
• What we need to set
• DC - IV curves ... using a 1/2 Watt amplifier example
• Setting the frequencies
• Setting the number of harmonics
• Harmonic balance ports
• The swept power port

Homework 2: Sweeping Over Power

• Swept Variables
• Swept power port
• Changing X axis to power in
• Note on script for power out
• Total power PT and PComp measurements for individual harmonics
• PHarm measurement  --Spectrum analyzer at output
• IV curves for a diode

Lecture 2: Using Harmonic Balance Ports

• Tones and harmonics
• 1 tone ports: PORT1 and PORT_PS1
• Incident and total power at the port
• PHarm and spectra for the ports
• Two tones and a mixer
• Typical setup for a mixer

Homework 3: IP3 Measurements for a Power Amplifier

• IP3 and power amplifiers
• The IP3 measurement
• The two tone swept port - PORT_PS2
• Selecting the right harmonics in the PComp measurement
• Making sure you have enough harmonics
• OIPN - The IP3 measurement
• Making a table
• Reading the table for the IP3 value

Lecture 3: Hot S22 and MProbes

• Measuring Hot S22
• Slaving a port's frequencies
• Making the LSSnm measurement for Hot S22
• Needing enough harmonics
• Dynamic load line measurerments
• Using and MProbe for voltage, current, and power measurements
• Using more than one MProbe