Itt Corporation

Michael D Pollman

Inder J Bahl

Edward L Griffin

David A Willems

Roger D Sweeney

William L Pribble

A test system for measuring the characteristics of an active circuit employs a pulsed bias technique for periodically biasing the input control port of the active circuit into the active region of operation. Biasing is achieved with a bias voltage that is periodically pulsed ON and OFF. An RF source is pulse modulated ON and OFF synchronously with the pulsed bias voltage and applied to the input control port of the active circuit. The pulsed RF occupies a portion of the time interval encompassed by the pulsed bias voltage. These voltages are combined and applied to the input port of the active circuit which operates only during the presence of the pulsed bias voltage and which is OFF during the absence of the pulsed bias voltage. A DC supply is utilized to bias the output port. The amplified RF power is then measured at the output port of the circuit, after the RF power has been separated from the DC bias by a non-reciprocal device.

Method and apparatus for testing circuits containing active devices

A high efficiency harmonic injection power amplifier has a power amplifier circuit, and at least a second-harmonic termination circuit which is coupled in parallel with the power amplifier circuit so to sample a small portion of the input signal and to inject into the power output signal an amplified harmonic signal which is phase-shifted for proper harmonic termination. The second-harmonic termination circuit includes a frequency multiplier for multiplying the frequency of the sampled input signal to twice the fundamental frequency, i.e., to 2f.sub.o, an amplifier for amplifying the 2f.sub.o signal to the level of the corresponding harmonic component of the power amplifier output signal, and a phase shifter for shifting the phase of the second-harmonic signal for proper harmonic termination. Additional harmonic termination circuits may be provided for terminating third- and higher-order harmonics.

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Roanoke, VA, United States of America

Michael D Pollman