The present invention provides an advanced adaptive
predistortion linearization technique to dramatically reduce
nonlinear distortion in power amplifiers over a very wide
instantaneous bandwidth (up to 2 GHz) and over a wide range of
amplifier types, input frequencies,
signal types, amplitudes, temperature, and other environmental and
signal conditions. In an embodiment of the invention, the
predistortion linearization circuitry comprises (1) a higher-order polynomial model of an
amplifier's
gain and phase characteristics—higher than a third-order polynomial model; (2) an adaptive calibration technique; and (3) a
heuristic calibration technique. The higher-order polynomial model is generated by introducing, for example, a plurality of multi-tone test signals with varying
center frequency and spacing into the power
amplifier. From the power amplifier's corresponding output, the nonlinearities are modeled by employing a higher-order curve fit to capture the irregularities in the
nonlinear transfer function. Different
distortion transfer functions can be implemented for different operating conditions. The adaptive calibration technique is based on a
feedback analysis technique, which updates the applicable
distortion transfer function by analyzing the
error signal between the introduced input
signal and the output signal in real-time. The
heuristic calibration technique implements different
distortion transfer functions based on historical operating conditions and optimal configurations of the power amplifier.