A new methodology aimed at assessing the large-signal stability of nonlinear driven circuits in the large-signal regime is presented. The procedure combines the conversion matrix approach with a transient envelope simulation and can be implemented with most commercial nonlinear microwave CAD tools. A method for the analysis of the onset of spurious oscillation in nonlinear circuits operating in large-signal conditions is also given and criteria for the evaluation and modification of the critical loads that give rise to spurious frequencies are provided. This approach has been successfully tested on a medium-power amplifier.

References

1. 1)
  - 5. Pantoli, L., Leuzzi, G.: ‘Stability analysis by conversion matrix and transient envelope simulations’. 2010 Workshop on Integrated Nonlinear Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Circuits (INMMIC), Goteburg, Sweden, April 2010, pp. 123–126.
2. 2)
  - 4. Ngoya, E., Larchevèque, R.: ‘Envelope transient analysis: a new method for the transient and steady state analysis of microwave communication circuits and systems’, IEEE MTT-S Dig., 1996, 3, pp. 1365–1368.
3. 3)
  - 1. Cappelluti, F., Traversa, F.L., Bonani, F., Guerrieri, S.D., Ghione, G.: ‘Large-signal stability of symmetric multibranch power amplifiers exploiting Floquet analysis’, IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., 2013, MTT 61, (4), pp. 1580–1587 (doi: 10.1109/TMTT.2013.2248017).
4. 4)
  - M. Ohtomo . Proviso on the unconditional stability criteria for linear twoport. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. , 5 , 1197 - 1200
5. 5)
  - 6. Pantoli, L., Suarez, A., Di Paolo, F., Leuzzi, G.: ‘Complete and systematic simulation tools for frequency divider design’, IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., 2008, 56, (11), Part 1, pp. 2442–2452 (doi: 10.1109/TMTT.2008.2005872).
6. 6)
  - 9. Platzker, A., Struble, W., Hetzler, K.T.: ‘Instabilities diagnosis and the role of K in microwave circuits’, IEEE MTT-S Int. Microw. Symp. Dig., 1993, 3, pp. 1185–1188.
7. 7)
  - 7. Pantoli, L., Leuzzi, G., Di Paolo, F.: ‘Conversion matrix extraction by commercial CAD software for the stability design of autonomous circuits’, Int. J. RF Microw. Comput.-Aided Eng., 2010, 20, (3), pp. 313–320 (doi: 10.1002/mmce.20435).
8. 8)
  - S. Mons , J.C. Nallatamby , R. Quéré , P. Savary , J. Obregon . Unified approach for the linear and nonlinear stability analysis of microwave circuits using commercially available tools. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. , 12 , 2403 - 2410
9. 9)
  - 2. Iglesias, V., Suárez, A., Garcia, J.L.: ‘New technique for the determination through commercial software of the stable-operation parameter ranges in nonlinear microwave circuits’, IEEE Microw. Guid. Wave Lett., 1998, 8, (12), pp. 424–426 (doi: 10.1109/75.746763).
10. 10)
  - 5. Pantoli, L., Leuzzi, G.: ‘Stability analysis by conversion matrix and transient envelope simulations’. 2010 Workshop on Integrated Nonlinear Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Circuits (INMMIC), Goteburg, Sweden, April 2010, pp. 123–126.

Transient-based conversion matrix approach for nonlinear stability analysis

References

Related content