Feed forward distortion minimization circuit

Abstract

A feed forward distortion minimization circuit which receives an input signal and routes the input signal along two signal paths is disclosed. One path, the main signal path, includes a distortion generator such as, for example, a power amplifier, which generates an output signal having a distortion component. The other path, the feed forward signal path, includes a delay line responsive to the input signal for feeding the input signal forward, without distortion. The output signal from the distortion generator is combined with a fed forward input signal to form an error signal representative of the distortion component. A feedback circuit is employed to detect a DC current or RF voltage proportional to the error signal's signal strength and to adjust the amplitude and the phase of signals in the feed forward or main signal paths to reduce the carrier to distortion ratio of the error signal. Thereafter, the error signal is subtracted from the main signal path to cancel any distortion components therein. The subtraction is controlled by circuitry which detects distortion at the main signal path output, and adjusts the amplitude and the phase of the error signal, so that when the error signal is subtracted from the main signal path, substantially all distortion is cancelled.